With endless skincare products and brands out there, it can be overwhelming when it comes to choosing which skincare products to choose from. How many you actually need, what you need to use when...
Part of what we do at The Spa Curator, is provide you everything you need to get a professional treatment, with professional results at home, we take the overwhelm right out of it. We make it a no brainer. But when it comes to your every day routine, you may question: do I need to use different products at night than I do in the morning?
Well, the answer is yes… and also no.
There is no question that you’ll love the changes you’ll see in your skin when you start implementing a twice daily routine using quality products. So let's break it down...
What you can use for both:
What do the most basic and the most extravagant skincare routines have in common? These two important steps: cleanse and moisturize. Lucky for you, you can get away with using the same products day and night. If you’re dry, you may choose to use a thicker, richer moisturizer at night.
If your skin fares well using the same one morning and night, go for it! The most important detail is that you’re moisturizing.
As far as cleansing goes, you may choose to incorporate a double cleanse into your nighttime routine. In that case, you would cleanse first with an oil or balm cleanser followed by a water based one. The water based one can be used as your second cleansing step at night and your sole cleanse in the morning. If you don’t double cleanse, that’s okay! You can use the same face wash morning and night with no adjustments needed.
Keeping your delicate eye area hydrated and moisturized is key to a more youthful appearance. You can use most nourishing eye creams twice a day, though, if your eye cream contains active ingredients it may be best for night time. More on that in a sec.
Best for morning:
One skincare product that is essential for morning use is, of course, sunscreen. Apply your sunscreen as your last step of your morning routine each day. Vitamin C is another ingredient that works best during the day. It provides antioxidants to protect your skin from environmental stressors, as well as boosts the performance of your sunscreen.
Best for night:
Our skin rejuvenates as we sleep, which makes night time the best time to use active ingredients. Active ingredients work to directly target specific skincare concerns. These ingredients have been rigorously tested for efficacy, and their claims are approved by the FDA. These powerhouse ingredients include salicylic acid to treat blackheads, retinoids to increase cell turnover, and Vitamin C to protect skin from environmental stressors. To learn more about choosing your active ingredients, check out our previous blog post on 3 Secrets to the Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine at Home.
When incorporating acids, retinols, and other powerful ingredients, it’s best to implement them into your nighttime routine. Active ingredients can be found in a variety of products, from serums to creams, so be sure to check the label and determine the best time to apply. You may also want to save your richer, thicker products for bedtime to avoid interfering with your makeup or looking too greasy during the day.
Sticking to a skincare routine can be challenging. Knowing how to simplify your routine to meet your needs and lifestyle is key to success. You may prefer to use separate products day and night, or you may choose to streamline your main routine to work for both. The good news is, in most cases you can safely use the same cleanser, moisturizer, and eye cream twice a day. At night, you’ll just swap your sunscreen and vitamin c for active ingredient products. Consistency is key to getting your healthiest skin, and knowing how to adjust your routine to meet your needs is key to consistency.
