My Skincare Secrets: the Nighttime Edition

I wrote a blog post a few weeks ago on my daytime skincare essentials: products I’m using and have loved for quite some time. It was only fitting that I would follow up with a nighttime routine as well, given that I’m using different products and that my daytime post has been so well received (a BIG thank you and virtual hugs to all of you out there who’ve read my previous post, which you can find here). So here it goes…

Inner Beauty

I want to start off by saying that I strongly believe that our bodies are our temple. Life truly is a gift and an amazing opportunity. To be an active participant in life, you have to start by taking good care of your mind and body before anything else.

Having a wholesome nighttime skincare routine is high priority. When we sleep is when our bodies are more receptive to recover from the stresses of the day and repair the damage from the day’s pollution and sun. We all probably know by now and have heard countless times about the importance of getting sufficient sleep. We’ve all heard about beauty sleep. In reality, the concept of beauty sleep is not something most of us can pull off. For me, it’s called motherhood to a 17 month old rambunctious little boy who is excited about everything around him and loves to explore. Before that, it was commuting and working a very demanding corporate job. And before that, it was being a full time student in school and having the desire and ambition to excel.  All reasons aside, researchers recommend going to bed before 11-11:30pm (most say 10pm is what’s ideal), getting seven to eight hours of rest and going to bed and waking up at the same time. Seeing that at night is when our bodies recover and heal, it is essential that we prep and prime the skin for optimal results.

Surface Beauty

Eye Cream

The La Mer Eye Concentrate is what I have used at night for the past six or seven years. It is the longest I’ve ever used a product especially since this is not natural in formulation and not free of parabens. But it’s that good that I cannot resist using. I use it sparingly and only at night, as the price is quite steep for the quantity you’re getting. I have swayed and tried other eye creams along the way, but this to me appears to be the most effective and I don’t usually go too long before going back to it. The concentrate is formulated with hematite, a mineral that helps diminish the appearance of dark circles, discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles. My under-eye area is my problem spot. I have noticed that over time, consistent use of this cream has helped soften my fine lines and the under eyes appear smoother, brighter and more youthful-looking. The cream comes with an applicator that I find so easy and perfect to use. I dab the applicator into the cream and gently sweep onto the eye area in circular motions along the orbital bone.

Face Serum

Face Serums typically come with a hefty price tag, but in my opinion, they’re worth incorporating into the skincare routine. Unlike a traditional moisturizer, serums leave out heavier ingredients to better penetrate deeper into the layers of the skin and deliver a higher concentration of active ingredients. I tend to easily spend a lot of money on makeup to cover my face, so why not spend roughly or slightly a little more on something that actually improves the overall look of my skin without makeup?

My favorite serums for nighttime are Sunday Riley Luna Oil and Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate. The Luna Oil is a retinol complex formulated with blue tansy (which gives it the blue appearance and soothing scent), chamomile, cold pressed avocado, chia and concord grape seed oil. All these ingredients work wonders on the skin to help reduce pore size, improve the appearance of damaged skin, discoloration, wrinkles and to restore dry and dehydrated skin.

The Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate is an overnight treatment 99.8% naturally-derived that works to regenerate and replenish the skin with moisture. It’s enriched with omega-6 fatty acids, primrose oil, lavender essential oil, squalene (a botanical lipid derived from olives that is similar in molecular structure to natural skin lipids).

I adore both these serums and use them interchangeably depending on my bed times. If I have at least 15 min before bed, I apply the Luna Oil, as it does take some time to get absorbed into the skin. Otherwise I’ve noticed it stains the bedsheets, although the stains are faint and do come out with washing.  With each serum, 2-3 drops on cleansed skin is what’s recommended, but I find that I need more than that (more like 4 drops).  I first gently press the serum into the skin before massaging it in. In the morning, my skin feels radiant, moisturized and plump.

Nighttime Cream

There is a difference between daytime and nighttime moisturizer, in that the former are lighter in consistency and often times include SPF. Kate Sommerville Ret-a-Sphere is a paraben-free nighttime cream that I’ve been using for the past 4 years. It is formulated with retinol and hyaluronic acid, or in other words my new best friends! Retinol works to help collagen-depleted skin, reduce pore size and improve the appearance of fine lines and deep wrinkles. Hyaluronic Acid is a substance that is already naturally present in the human body. The magic of it lies in its ability to retain moisture, thus plumping the surface and reducing wrinkles. This is important given that as we age, our skin loses its moisture content resulting in a loss of firmness. Using products formulated with hyaluronic acid results in a more youthful looking skin. I apply this nighttime cream once a day in the evening by using circular and upward motions. My skin is sensitive with an oily T-zone and prone to breakouts. I have not experienced any irritation or flaking or any sensitivity caused by the mild retinol from this product. I have noticed that since using this cream, my face feels tighter, brighter and generally more radiant.

Lip and Hand Treatment

No surprise here. I conclude my nighttime routine by applying Dior Crème de Rose (read my review here) onto my lips and veiling my hands in L’Occitane lotion (read my review here).

Now it’s your turn. What are some of your favorite nighttime skincare products?

This is NOT a sponsored post but it does contain referral links. Read my Disclaimer policy for more info.