Nighttime skincare should always include washing your face – especially after wearing makeup all day – exfoliating and moisturizing.
When washing your face make sure you’re using a cleanser for your skin type. Is your skin oily, combination, or dry? Using the wrong product could cause your skin to get too dry or result in excess oils. Note: Washing you face too much could also result in excess oils. When you wash your face more than twice a day, you might think you’re refreshing your skin, however you’re fooling the oils into thinking your skin needs more. Cleansing your face in the morning and at night is a good regime to follow – don’t over do it.
Another skincare regime people either neglect or over do is exfoliation. You should exfoliate your face twice a week if you’re in your 20s, three times a week if you’re in your 30s, and up to four times a week if you’re in your 40s. Exfoliation lifts dry, dull skin and gets rid of excess oils unclogging your pores. Note: Exfoliation shouldn’t hurt you – gently massage the scrub over your face and rinse with warm water, then pat dry and don’t forget to moisturize.
Moisturizer acts as a temporary barrier retaining water in the outermost layer of your skin protecting sensitive skin, improving skin tone and overall texture, and masking imperfections. Ingredients like occlusives, which prevent water loss in heat and wind, humectants, which attract water to skin cells, and emollients, which smooth rough and flaking skin, allow the moisturizer to lock in water. Always remember, hydration is key to healthy, glowing skin.
But there are other skincare habits that will be sure to keep your skin glowing:
Sunscreen! Never bake in the sun during the summer or jump into a tanning booth during the winter – the sun damages your skin and will result in wrinkles and who wants to encourage aging?
Don’t neglect your neck! Our neck shows more age than our faces, so don’t neglect it when washing up, exfoliating, moisturizing, and applying sunscreen.
Don’t touch your face! It can be a nervous habit or just something people seem to do (myself included) but it is really important to keep your hands away from your face.
Wipe down your phone! After a busy day of running around from place to place, your phone collects those germs and bacteria found in public places so you want to avoid bringing those bad guys into your home or onto your face.
Change your pillowcases! Every night the oils from your skin – and some from your hair – get into the fabrics of your pillowcases, so rather than exposing your skin to dirt and oils every night, just toss those pillowcases in the wash, either daily or at least once a week.
Put your hair up! Another way oils can creep into your skin during the night is by sleeping with your hair down. You can’t help your hair from getting messy throughout the night, but by pulling it up into a bun or a ponytail, the oils from your hair go into your pillow, rather than directly onto your face (another reason to change your pillowcases).
Clean your makeup brushes! Your foundation covered bristles collect dust and bacteria throughout the day so it is important to keep your brushes clean since they’re being brushed all over your face.
Get regular facials! Although it can be quite expensive, facials are the ultimate skincare treatments. You can discuss any issues you’re having with your aesthetician and chose a treatment that would work best for your skin type. Those with oily skin should schedule an appointment every 3-6 weeks, those with dry skin every 4 weeks, those with combination skin every 4-6 weeks, those with normal skin every 6-8 weeks, and those with sensitive skin every 8 weeks.
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