While you’re off to dreamland, your skin sets to work and begins the very important regeneration process. Since your cells produce less protective oils during the night, they tend to lose more moisture and the protective barrier function of your skin is put to the test.

You can give your skin a helping hand by keeping it hydrated and nourished with a moisturizing cream that is specifically designed to take advantage of the way your skin cells behave during the night.

Having a good evening skincare routine can help your skin’s regenerative process so you can wake up with a fresh face and a more even complexion. Read on to explore the benefits of nighttime moisturizing and learn how to moisturize your face like a pro.

Reasons Why You Should Moisturize Your Face at Night

1. Helps Keep Your Skin Hydrated

This might surprise you, but your skin is the largest organ of your body. It interacts with the world around you and it helps protect your insides by acting like a literal shield. The outermost layer of your skin is the main target of moisturizing agents used in skincare products.

Because water loss is increased during the night, the active ingredients in moisturizers will help retain more water molecules in the epidermis and dermis, the superficial and middle parts of your skin. This can help boost your skin’s barrier properties and keep your cells healthy so they can focus on regenerating and healing.

2. Improves Your Complexion

Maybe you’ve noticed that dry skin feels uncomfortable. If you have a dry skin or a combination skin type, or if you’re exposed to harsh weather conditions, your skin can also become flaky, itchy, and red.

Hydrating agents like lotions can help your skin retain moisture and prevent it from drying out and becoming problematic. The active ingredients in your moisturizer can also help fill up some of the superficial crevices of your skin. This will help diminish the appearance of fine lines and create a more even texture. In time, you’ll notice your skin has a more even complexion and that amazing ‘well-rested’ look.

3. Compensates for Low Oil Production

The oils our skin produces get a bad rep. But the truth is that your skin needs those oils in order to stay healthy. Because oil production drops during the night, your cells can become vulnerable to moisture loss and the barrier properties can be weakened.

The active ingredients in your moisturizer can help supplement your skin’s natural oils in order to reinforce your face’s barrier properties and keep things running smoothly throughout the night.

4. Some Active Ingredients are Best Used at Night

When you’re safely tucked in your bed, your skin isn’t exposed to stressing factors like UV light, temperature changes, or pollutants. You are creating the perfect medium for your skin to rest and recover while taking all the time it needs to absorb any precious active ingredients like antioxidants and vitamins.

In fact, some ingredients like retinol are sensitive to UV light and should be applied during your nighttime routine.

Your moisturizer can also act like an occlusive and create a barrier over your other products. This will boost active ingredient absorption.

5. Skin Permeability Is Highest at Night

When you sleep, your mind is resting but your whole body goes into overdrive to start building cells and regenerating your tissues. Because of this increased activity, your skin’s properties change during the night. And one of the most notable changes is an increase in permeability.

This also means that the absorption of active ingredients, such as retinoids, vitamin E, collagen, or hyaluronic acid, is more efficient and your moisturizer can do a better job of keeping your face hydrated and healthy.

How to Properly Moisturize Your Face at Night?

1. Start With a Cleanser

Always start your skincare routine on a clean canvas. You’ll want to wash away the day’s worth of dead skin cells, dust, dirt, oil, and any leftover products like SPF sunscreen or sun protection lotion. On one hand, cleaning your face greatly reduces the chances of developing skin conditions such as acne or dermatitis. On the other hand, it opens up your pores and improves the effectiveness of your skin care routine.

Skipping this step is one of the reasons why some people might encounter problems with moisturizing at night. The hydrating agents in your product do a great job of attracting moisture and locking it in the superficial layers of your skin. But a moisturizer can also create a barrier over the dust and debris you’ve accumulated throughout the day. This can lead to redness, irritation spots, and even breakouts.

Regularly using a face wash before sleep is something you should keep in mind if you want to avoid making unnecessary trips to your dermatologist and prevent premature wrinkles.

Face washes come in many shapes and formulations but we recommend the Defy clay cleaning bar for an easy-to-use and refreshing daily experience.

2. Exfoliate Your Skin

You can use a facial exfoliator up to three times a week to make your skin feel extra smooth and clean. Exfoliating agents, such as soaps, scrubs, face masks, or serums, will help remove dead skin cells, stimulate cell regeneration and collagen production, and improve the absorption of active ingredients.

You can choose between a chemical and a physical exfoliating formulation. Each type of active ingredient will provide different results but the general rule is to go for a more mild exfoliating product. Using mild if you have sensitive skin. You can try TBS Power clarifying powder for a gentle foaming exfoliating experience.

3. Apply Your Night Moisturizer

Apply a small quantity of product to your face then spread it evenly on the surface of your skin. If certain areas feel ‘thirstier’ you can always return and apply a bit more to those trouble areas. You can use your nighttime moisturizer every day, and remember that consistency is key when it comes to seeing actual results with any type of skincare.

As a pro tip, you can use the tips of your fingers to spread your moisturizer. This ensures that most of your product gets absorbed into your face and not the palms of your hands. It will also save you money by making your product last longer. Make sure to spread the content around your eyes to help your body repair the effects of blinking and squinting all day.

We recommend TBS Crash night moisturizing cream, an intensely hydrating skincare product designed to help nourish, protect and let your skin regenerate while you get your 8 hours of rest.

What Type of Moisturizer Should You Use at Night?

Your evening care moisturizer can be thicker and richer than your daytime moisturizer. Even if you’re used to lighter products that are instantly absorbed into your skin, keep in mind that your cells behave differently during the night and they can benefit from a more nutritious product formulation. However, Men with oily or sensitive skin types should start with a lighter formula and switch to heavier skincare products if their skin seems balanced when they wake up.

A nighttime moisturizer is designed to take advantage of the fact that you’re not constantly touching your face, your skin is producing less oil, and your skin does a better job at absorbing active ingredients while you sleep.

Nighttime moisturizing creams are a great choice if you have dry skin, but they can also be a part of your skincare journey even if your skin is more on the oily side. Oftentimes, your skin produces excess oils to keep it from drying out. If your skin is oily it doesn’t mean that it’s hydrated. By providing your skin with moisture and the right nutrients, you can give it a fighting chance to recalibrate, slow down oil production, and find its balance.