Night time is the right time to get great skin!

Is night cream really a must?

There are no set rules for when you should start using a night cream, but there always comes a time when we gaze in the mirror and realise our skin needs a little bit of extra help!

You could be in your thirties, but if you have dry skin it could happen earlier. Some people think night creams are just the beauty industry's way of separating you from more of your hard-earned money, but the truth is that day and night creams provide different skin benefits.

What are the benefits?

A night cream's purpose is to replenish lost moisture and to treat the skin with enriching ingredients while it is clean of grime and pollutants.

But what’s the benefit of doing this at night? Well, it’s all down to your body’s circadian rhythm – a 24-hour biological cycle making physiologic, metabolic and behavioural changes throughout the day. The effect of these clock genes is that your skin follows a daily rhythm – changing its functionality depending on the time of day.

During the day, the skin’s primary objective is to protect itself, with thickness being at a maximum and cell proliferation at its lowest. At night, while the skin is rested and warm, the pores start to relax, allowing for vital ingredients to be absorbed more efficiently. Here, the skin is focused on repair, with cell proliferation, barrier permeability, blood flow and penetration at their highest levels.

Therefore, at night the skin is most receptive to a formulation which carries high levels of active ingredients.

What should a night cream contain?

Clinical studies suggest that the combination of antioxidants, retinoids, and hyaluronic acid best work together in synergy to reverse the signs of ageing and boost the skin with moisture and elasticity.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants protect your cells against free radicals (unstable molecules that can harm your cells causing ageing and illnesses). Vitamins E and C are the best-known antioxidants and are widely used in skincare products.

Despite the fact that synthetic antioxidants dominate the cosmetic market, demand for natural antioxidants has increased in recent years and is expected to continue. Plants are well known for producing natural antioxidant compounds that reduce the amount of oxidative stress caused by sunlight and oxygen. Green tea, pomegranate, rosemary, sea buckthorn, curcuma, sage, grape seed, basil, blueberry, acerola seed and milk thistle are some of the plant extracts commonly found in cosmetic formulations.

Retinoids and their more sensitive plant alternative

Vitamin A, which belongs to the retinoid family, is the first vitamin to be approved as an anti-wrinkle agent to improve the appearance of the skin’s surface and provide anti-ageing benefits. While it is a really effective anti-ageing agent, it is also too harsh for those with sensitive skin. This downside is what led to the popularity of Bakuchiol.

Bakuchiol is a plant extract that is a natural, less-irritating, and vegan alternative of retinoids. It works through the same receptors that retinol uses, but it is more sensitive. It’s a great option for those who have skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis.

Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally produced by your body. It helps increase skin moisture and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It can bind up to 1000 times its weight in water - in other words, it binds water molecules onto the surface of your skin to keep it nice and hydrated.
The benefits of hyaluronic acid on the skin has to do with its molecular weight and concentration. Low molecular hyaluronic acid can more easily penetrate the skin and have been shown to be more effective at fighting wrinkles. Whereas higher-weight hyaluronic molecules deliver immediate intensive hydration for an instant smoothing and firming effect. Using a combination of molecular weights will lead to the best possible results than using a single molecular weight alone.