6 Tips to help choose the best Night Cream
A good night’s sleep is an essential part of being healthy. It becomes even more essential as we mature. At night, the body repairs itself and so does our biggest organ-our skin. Night time is when our skin rests and has its highest permeability, i.e. the power to absorb. This high permeability means that all the active ingredients in our moisturizer go deeper within the skin and help repair and rejuvenate it. So always remember to wash and deep clean your face before you apply your night time moisturizer for the best results. But how do you decide what constitutes a good moisturizer? Here are 6 tips to keep in mind when deciding on a good Night cream:
It doesn’t need to have the word ‘Night’ to describe it
The difference between a night cream and any other is that it doesn’t have UV protection or any sunscreen ingredients in it. Hence you don’t necessarily need to use a cream that uses the word ‘night’ to define it. So long as the cream does not contain sunscreen, works well with your skin type and is rich in active ingredients, you are good to go!
High Concentration of Active Ingredients
As skin matures, it leans towards different tendencies. Some may develop age spots and others fine lines or wrinkles. Your night cream needs to address your specific skin concerns and have active ingredients that will repair and nourish your skin accordingly. So pay close attention to these in the bottle. A night cream should contain active ingredients that target the 3 main causes of ageing:
(i) Loss of elastin and collagen
(ii) Low levels of hyaluronic acid
(iii) and presence of free radicals
So look for components such as boswellia serrata, coffee bean extract, centella asiatica, andrographis, liquorice, coleus forskolin, horse chestnut, oils, vitamins like E and C and other antioxidants to name a few. In addition to these, actives need to be highly concentrated to address specific mature skin issues.
Deep Penetrating and Light Weight in Texture
Ensure the cream texture is light, penetrates deeply and is comfortable for your skin. Try avoiding creams that sit on the skin’s surface and don’t get absorbed well, causing the skin to feel oily.
Choose a night cream that is compatible with your skin type
This step may require some trial and error. Whether your skin is oily, dry or combination, there is a perfect solution for you out there. Find a moisturizer that is compatible with your specific skin type. Try testing the cream on the back of your hand before you buy it. The product should sink into your skin easily and leave a dewy look. That is a good sign that this cream may work well for you.
What to Avoid
Avoid creams that contain synthetic fragrances and colorants as these type of ingredients can actually dry out and irritate your skin. A good nighttime moisturizer should also be free of parabens, allergens and harmful chemical ingredients. Definitely avoid alcohol based creams if you suffer from sensitive skin issues like eczema, rosacea, contact dermatitis etc.
Ensure the night cream has no UV filters
Ensure the night cream does not contain sunscreen ingredients such as zinc oxide and other UV filters. A moisturizer containing SPF is supposed to be used in the daytime to avoid any sun damage. Night creams are needed to ensure complete repair and restoration of the skin.
So as the day winds down and you head off for that much deserved and needed rest, take 5 minutes to look after your skin. It too needs and deserves help to repair and rejuvenate itself. So remember to wash your face well and apply a good Night cream before you tuck yourself into those covers. Beauty may be only skin deep, but good skin is always beautiful. So remember to love the skin you are in and stay ‘Beauty Eternal’.
