Night cream: why your skin needs it and how to use it

Now that the clocks have gone back and the evenings are getting longer, many people start paying more attention to their evening routine. It is a good moment for it. The heating is on, the air indoors is drier and by the end of the day your skin often feels a little tight. One question I hear a lot: do I really need a separate night cream, or can I just use my day cream? In this blog I explain what your skin does at night, how a night cream differs from a day cream and how to apply it.

What your skin does at night

During the day, your skin is busy protecting you. It deals with wind, cold, dry air, makeup and everything else the day brings. At night all of that falls away, and that is the moment your skin works on its recovery.

You can support that with a night cream. Not with a heavy layer that sits on top, but with a cream that gives your skin the moisture and nourishment it needs while you sleep. You notice it in the morning: your skin feels softer and more rested.

Day cream or night cream: what is the difference?

A day cream and a night cream look alike, but they each have their own job.

• A day cream gives moisture for the day ahead and helps protect your skin against wind, dry air and other daily stress. It also needs to sit comfortably under facial oil, SPF and makeup.
• A night cream is made for the evening. It is usually a little richer, because it does not have to sit under makeup and has the whole night to absorb. Its focus is on nourishing and caring for your skin while it rests.

Can you use your day cream at night? You can, and it is better than skipping care altogether. But if your skin feels dry or tight in the evening, a night cream gives it just that bit more.

Do you really need a night cream?

Honestly, you don't need a cupboard full of products. A good routine is simple: cleanse, tone and care. But a night cream is one of the steps I would not skip, especially in autumn and winter.

Your skin loses moisture during the day, and cold air outside and heating inside make that worse. A night cream replaces that moisture, softens dry patches and calms a tight feeling. Do you have a dry or mature skin? Then you will probably notice the difference quickly. An oily or combination skin also benefits from a night cream. Just use a little less, and choose a cream that does not leave a greasy layer.

When and how to apply your night cream

Night cream is the final step of your evening routine. You apply it on clean skin, after your toner and serum. The order goes from light to rich:

1. Cleanse. First remove your makeup and the day, so your skin is really clean.
2. Toner, for example our Organic Hydrating Toner, for a first layer of moisture.
3. Serum, if you use one.
4. Eye cream around your eyes. I explain how in my blog eye cream: when and how to use it.
5. Night cream, as the final step.

Take a small amount on your fingertips and spread it evenly over your face and neck. Then massage the cream into your skin with upward, circular movements. Give it a moment to absorb before you go to bed.

Take your time for this. A few calm minutes in the evening, with your hands on your face, are also a moment of rest for yourself. That is slow skincare at its simplest.

Does your skin need a little more in winter? Mix a few drops of our Organic Miracle Oil into your night cream for extra nourishment. Want to know more about the order of your products? Read my blog on the right order for your skincare.

Common mistakes with night cream

• Applying it to skin that is not clean. Makeup and dirt from the day stay behind, and your cream cannot do its work properly.
• Using too much. A thick layer does not work better. A small amount, massaged in well, is enough.
• Forgetting your neck. The skin on your neck deserves the same care as your face.
• Using it only now and then. Your skin benefits most from a fixed evening ritual.

What is in our Organic Night Cream

Our Organic Night Cream is a rich cream that gives your skin moisture and nourishment while you sleep, without leaving a greasy layer. It is made with aloe vera instead of water: organic aloe vera juice is the base, and it is the very first ingredient on the list.

Some of the ingredients you will find in it:

• Aloe vera, for moisture and to soothe the skin.
• Shea butter, to nourish the skin and support its natural barrier.
• Jojoba oil, to lock in moisture.
• Borage seed oil and sacha inchi oil, with fatty acids that keep the skin supple.
• Sea buckthorn, rich in antioxidants.
• Calendula and St. John's wort, gentle botanicals that calm the skin.
• Vitamin E, a natural antioxidant.

The soft, herbal scent comes from the natural plant oils in the cream. It is suitable for all skin types. Is your skin very sensitive? Then always test a new product on a small area of skin first.

In short

• At night your skin works on its recovery, and a night cream supports that.
• A night cream is a little richer than a day cream and is made for the evening.
• Apply it as the final step of your evening routine, on clean skin.
• Use a small amount and massage it in with upward, circular movements, including your neck.
• In winter, mix in a few drops of Miracle Oil if your skin needs extra care.

Not sure what your skin needs? Our skin specialist gives free skin and product advice through the chat on our website.

Love,
Barbara Baars
Skin Specialist