I first started taking better care of my skin at 17, and since then there’s one rule I’ve always stuck to: a nighttime skincare routine is as essential as brushing your teeth. Even though we’re quarantined away from one another, it’s still vital to take care of our skin, especially at the end of the day (Is anyone else suffering from maskne?) I think of skincare in conjunction with the circadian rhythm. During sleep, the whole body is repairing itself. Because the skin goes into a state of rejuvenation at night, you want to make sure you’re arming your skin with what it needs to repair itself while you sleep. And there’s a way to do this that’ll ensure you’ll wake up with a glow. And when I say glow, I’m talking about skin feeling healthy and hydrated, no matter your age or skin type.
SET (REALISTIC) EXPECTATIONS
In skincare, there will be both immediate benefits and long-term benefits, so be realistic about when you’ll see specific results. An easily measurable and readily available test of your routine is: how comfortable and hydrated does your skin feel immediately after use?
If you’re looking for more long-term results—like keeping your skin clear from blemishes or reducing oil production—you should wait about one full cell turnover cycle before expecting results. (For most adults, that’s an average of 28 days.)
CLEANSE
I like to wash off the grime of the day with a gentle daily cleanser like Youth To The People’s Superfood Cleanser. Make it a point to cleanse your face and neck for at least 30-60 seconds to get the full benefits.
[Editor’s note: Check out Laura Cline’s guide to cleansing. Turns out there’s a right way to wash your face!]
EXFOLIATE
Based on the type and thickness of your skin, you ideally want to incorporate an exfoliating product into your nighttime routine. My general rule of thumb is to exfoliate a couple of nights per week, but always make sure to follow the suggested usage of your favorite exfoliator. Though physical and enzymatic exfoliators like the Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Facial can be used morning or evening, chemical exfoliators like the Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power Toner are designed to be used at night, so your skin can have a bit more recovery time before exposing it to the sun. Pro tip: If you’re exfoliating with the Kombucha Power Toner, let the product sit on your skin for two minutes before moving on to the next step.
PREP
Hyaluronic acid is important all day, but especially at night. After exfoliating and before moisturizing, I prep my skin with a humectant like the Adaptogen Soothe + Hydrate Activated Mist and the Superfood Firm + Brighten Serum. Both humectants are rich in vegan hyaluronic acid; they’re an ideal pick-me-up between steps and they keep my skin more moisturized in the long run.
MOISTURIZE
It’s essential to focus on hydration while you sleep, because overnight we lose moisture and water in our skin. Oils like moringa oil and squalane—both found in YTTP’s award-winning Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask—are ideal for preventing transepidermal water loss without congesting your skin.
The Dream Mask is ideal for dry skin types every night, but people with combination and oily skin might want to alternate their Dream Mask with a few drops of Superberry Hydrate + Glow Oil mixed into either the Superfood Air-Whip Moisture Cream or Adaptogen Deep Moisture Cream. Boosting a routine with an oil is ideal at nighttime since it may feel too heavy during the day. That way, your skin looks really hydrated and plump when you wake up.
TREAT
The Superberry Dream Eye Cream is the latest addition to the Dream family. Just like the Dream Mask, Dream Eye Cream was created with THD ascorbate, the most stable form of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps firm and illuminate your skin and aids in your body’s nighttime repair mode. Even though vitamin C is often positioned for daytime use, I think it’s an all-the-time ingredient, so I love ending my routine with Dream Eye Cream to make my eyes look more refreshed and hydrated overnight.
So to summarize… cleanse > exfoliate > prep > moisturize > treat > glow.
