Morning vs. Night Skincare: How to Tailor Your Routine for Best Results

Does a Morning Skincare Have To Be The Same For The One at Night?

If you have a well-established skincare routine, then you would know the benefits it has on your complexion. Having said this, there are many of you wanting to gain more out of your daily regime, by this I mean how, even the slightest difference between a day and night routine can have an enormous impact to your skin.

So, with that in mind we are going to dive right into some of the most popular questions we have been asked about whether morning skincare routine have to be the same for the one at night.

Should I use a different cleanser in the morning than at night?

Not necessarily, there are some contrasting opinions when it comes to cleansing your face twice a day. Some believe the cleanse in the evening is the most important due to the skin enduring a number of aggressors during the day, makeup products, exposure to UV rays, pollution and other free radical damage. The other opinion is to cleanse the skin twice daily to keep on top of any build-up of bacteria, debris and dead skin cells that can occur during all hours of the day. Neither are wrong, but it is a case of figuring out which works best for you. Here is a list of benefits that will help you on deciding which formulation and method is best for you and your skin.

Benefits of cleansing in the morning

Great for those with an oily skin type that are prone to frequent breakouts as the cleanser can remove any traces of remaining product and excess sebum from the night before

Using a formulation enriched in glycolic acid or vitamin C will give the skin an all-over luminous glow

By using a cleanser containing an AHA or BHA will allow the skin to absorb any following products quickly and effectively

You will find your makeup application is smoother and lasts longer

Cleansing the skin in the morning is considered a great way of mentally preparing yourself for the day ahead

Benefits of cleansing in the evening

You can perform a double cleanse, by firstly removing any traces of makeup with a micellar water formula followed by a richer cleanser to remove any remaining traces of product, bacteria and build-up of impurities

Cleansing in the evening will help set up your skin for a nourishing and replenishing routine, especially if you have active ingredients to help treat the skin and remove all traces of skin stresses from the day

Cleansing the skin at night is much more important than the morning as at the end of the day your skin has endured any stresses, from free radical damage, makeup products and other aggressors

You may also find the formulas of evening skincare product contain a different selection of ingredients that deep clean the skin, reaching the lower layers of the skin and clearing out pores of any impurities whilst knowing you won’t cause the skin to become too sensitive to UV exposure after application.

By now you should have established which cleanse would best suit you and your skin type, of course, you are also able to cleanse twice a day. This is particularly useful for those with oily skin, as previously mentioned. But those with dry or sensitive skin may want to limit the amount of times they cleanse and to pay close attention to the ingredients found in the formulas to prevent any irritation or skin reaction.

What should your nighttime skincare routine be?

Here is a simple list of the products of a nighttime routine that can have the best results and noticeable improvement to the skin.

Remove makeup with a micellar or other liquid cleanser

Cleanse the skin again with a more luxurious formula to remove any remaining traces and build-up allowing the skin to be fully cleansed

Use an acid toner containing AHA or BHA, such as glycolic or salicylic acid to the skin by sweeping a soaked cotton disc across the face. If you have sensitive skin it is best to skip this step

Apply a serum all over the face, opting for products enriched in hyaluronic acid or niacinamide will help hydrate the skin and lock in moisture after cleansing and the chemical exfoliation

Using your ring finger as it applies the least pressure, apply eye cream to the under-eye area

Apply an evening moisturiser to the face, neck and chest. Choose a cream containing high levels of antioxidants and replenishing ingredients to help rejuvenate the skin while you sleep

You can also treat the skin with an additional step of using an overnight face mask. You can find out more on our post about how to use an overnight face mask.

During an evening skincare routine is considered the optimal time to apply retinol products due to the fact that is this no exposure to UV rays that are known for making retinol useless. Be sure to read up on the best way of introducing retinol to your skincare routine as it is known for causing severe irritation if used incorrectly.

What should you apply the face in the morning?

For a morning routine there are many options when deciding on the best products for you and your lifestyle. There are a couple of stable steps in a daily routine that can change from person to person depending on their skin type. However, there are some that are considered immensely beneficial for all skin types;

Hyaluronic acid- as this acid naturally occurs in the body it very rarely causing skin irritation and can help hydrate the skin and keep the natural protective barrier fully functioning and combating free radicals and other impurities.

SPF- a daily application of SPF 30 and above will help protect the skin from a multitude of UV damage.

Should I tone my face in the morning and night?

Yes, this again depends on your skin type as dry and sensitive can begin to feel tight and uncomfortable especially if the formula contains high levels of facial acid and chemical exfoliator. Oily skins can also experience some levels of dryness if the ingredients are too potent or a product is overused. It is best not to strip the skin of vital oil and water as this can cause the skin to overproduce sebum resulting in breakouts and other spots.

Should I use a different moisturiser at night?

There is no right or wrong to this, but you will find that moisturisers made for your evening routines are generally thicker in texture and contain larger amounts of antioxidants.

Whilst we sleep, our skin naturally rejuvenate and reverses any damage caused from the day. Ensuring you get enough hours of sleep (8 hours is ideal) will help keep your skin looking its best, it is called beauty sleep for a reason after all. However, with today’s busy lifestyles it is rare for someone to sleep fully for 8 hours and so that is when night moisturisers step in to pick up the slack.

There you have some of the most common questions asked about morning and evening skincare routines and how ensuring they compliment each other will have impressive results to the complexion. If you are wanting to know more about which skin type you have to get a better understanding of putting together a successful skincare routine than check out our blog about the 4 most common skin types.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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