Your skin has to go through a lot every day - pollution, sun rays, makeup, and whatnot. Whether you're a teenager or an adult, using good skincare products is the only surefire way to help your skin cells put up a good fight.
But a lot of people aren't so sure when it comes to anti aging night creams and wrinkles prevention. When should you start using them? Are they necessary? How are they any different from regular face creams?
This post answers all those questions in detail, along with some useful tips and recommendations. So if you're unsure about investing in a night cream, keep reading!
What are Anti Aging Night Creams Exactly?
There's a reason why it's called 'nightly skincare routine' - it's different from your daily skincare regimen. These products are specially formulated for use at night, while regular moisturizers can be used at any time of the day. But why is this so?
It turns out, our skin rests at night, just like we do. While it's busy fending off pollution during the sunlight hours, it goes into restoration mode at night. The cell renewal rate increases and the skin actively starts healing from any damage, such as scars or burns.
So it makes sense to use products that aid in this process, right? This is where night creams come in, which provide your skin with a heavy dose of nutrients that it needs to repair and rejuvenate.
Anti aging contain ceramides, anti-wrinkle agents such as niacinamide, and cell-repairing stuff like Vitamin A. However, ingredients vary from cream to cream, as there are different formulas for each skin type (more on this later).
Unlike day creams, which are usually light for a grease-free look, night creams are formulated to be super hydrating.
This is because your skin's sebum production reduces at night, which might leave it dry and itchy when you wake up. And if you want a refreshed and radiant looking skin, it's important to keep it hydrated.
So you see? Night creams are very different from day creams. Where day creams protect your skin, night creams repair and restore.
How Can Anti Aging Night Creams Benefit the Skin?
Now that you know how night creams differ from regular moisturizers, let's talk a bit more about why they're essential:
Better Absorption
Your skin permeability increases during the night. This means that the skin's barrier lets its defenses down, and stuff can go in and out more easily. Night creams take advantage of this and provide all the proteins and vitamins needed to target your skin concern.
This is also why it's a good idea to use a dermaroller before applying night creams to make absorption even more effective.
Anti-aging
One of the most known benefits of using a night cream is its anti-aging properties. With the correct formulation, these moisturisers can prevent wrinkles, fine lines, and saggy skin.
Hydrates
For your skin to protect itself, it needs to be hydrated and prepared for the task. Applying a night cream will provide this much-needed moisture and make the skin healthy enough to fight for itself.
This will also allow you to wear light formulas in the morning that focus on protecting, as there won't be much need for hydration.
When Should you Start Using an Anti Aging Night Cream?
You must have seen tens of ads about age-reversal creams. 'Look ten years younger,' they say, but think about it this way: why not prevent the issue to avoid the tedious reversal process altogether?
This is why night creams are essential for everyone and not just aged men and women. As your skin gets the nutrients it needs, so it stays young and healthy, much like the rest of your body.
Now the question arises, when is the right time to start using a night cream? Several studies and their data indicate that women start aging as early as their mid-twenties - yep, you read that right. It may not be apparent at first, but fine lines and saggy skin starts to develop as soon as you hit 25.
And even worse? A 2017 study concluded that Aussie women are aging 20 years faster than other women. Yikes! While there are several reasons as to why this might be so, it's not something unavoidable.
As experts suggest, how fast your skin ages depends on how well you take care of it. Protecting it from UV rays from the sun, keeping it hydrated, and helping it repair - all of that determines how quick you age.
So it's essential that you include night creams in your skincare routine as soon as you hit your mid-twenties. This will help prevent wrinkles, fine lines and increase skin elasticity and radiance.
In sum: everyone should use night creams, and there are no age restrictions on them. Even if you're in your mid-teens and have super dry and rough skin, feel free to start using night creams that target hydration.
What's the Right Night Cream for Me?
Okay, so you're convinced that you need to start using night creams. Great! But what type of cream should you use?
There's a wide variety of night creams available today that target different skin issues. Here's our quick guide for different skin types and some recommendations:
Night Cream for Dry Skin:
As mentioned earlier, skin tends to dry out overnight. This is bad news if you've got dry skin, as you might wake up with a dull, dry, and irritated face.
If that's your skin type, go for night creams that focus mainly on hydration.
Our recommendation: Ella Bache Ultra-Nourishing Cream. This luscious formula will coat your skin in buttery cream and ensure radiance and dewy, glowy skin.
Night Cream for Oily Skin
Having oily skin doesn't mean you can't use creams overnight. You can always use a light formula that doesn't over-hydrate but is jam-packed with nutrients.
Our recommendation: Moon Fruit Superfruit Night Cream. Packed with herbal extracts and hyaluronic acid, this cream will ensure it delivers all the goodies to your skin without making it too oily.
Night Cream for Aging Skin
With aging skin, you want to use night creams that are anti-wrinkle and promote collagen production.
Our recommendation: ASAP Anti-aging Night Cream. With ceramides and AHAs, this Aussie-made cream increases skin cell turnover rate, revealing firm, wrinkle-free skin.
Night Cream Sensitive/Acne-prone
Don't hesitate to use creams if you've got acne-prone or sensitive skin. With the right product, you can enjoy all its benefits without risking reactions and breakouts.
Our recommendation: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra Creme. This super light, non-greasy, and toxin-free formula will hydrate and nourish without causing irritation or breakouts.
How to Use A Night Cream?
Here's our quick guide to applying night creams:
- Use your favorite cleanser to remove dirt and excess oil from your face.
- This is an optional step, but it's a good idea to dermaroll your face at this point to accelerate absorption and get the skin regeneration process going. We suggest Dermrollers' 0.20 mm roller for the face, which you can use every other night due it's very tiny needles. Here’s a complete guide to dermarolling at home.
- Apply your usual serums and oils, giving your skin a two-minutes break between each product.
- Wait for 10 to 15 minutes for the serums to soak in.
- Finally, apply an appropriate amount of the night cream and massage it into the skin using circular motions. Don't forget your neck!
- Wait for another 10 minutes before laying your head on the pillow.
Bottom Line
It doesn't matter if you're in your twenties and have got glowy and fully-elastic skin; you should still include night creams in your beauty regimen. Instead of using your daily moisturizer as the last step to your nightly skincare routine, replace it with a night cream.
They won't only help nourish your skin but also prevent any signs of premature aging. About twenty years later, you'll be thanking yourself for this decision.