The skincare routine needs to be adapted to the skin type you have. Also, it should target specific needs and issues such as dehydrated, pigmented, acne-prone, dull skin, etc. There are several general categories when it comes to skin type. It is important to know where you stand before purchasing your skincare products. Using only suitable skincare products for your type of skin can provide results and a long-lasting glowing complexion.
Using a night cream should become an essential part of your beauty ritual after reaching your 30s. The night cream should provide optimal hydration and correct skin imperfections while you sleep. Sounds dreamy, right?
To choose the best night cream for your skin type, you need to get an idea about what your skin type is:
1. Normal skin
Normal skin is the ideal type of skin that we often have in our youth. It is balanced, looks fresh and hydrated and without skin conditions such as blackheads or very dry or excessively oily areas. The skin is supple, smooth, and soft to the touch, with an elastic texture. Normal skin starts to lose its attributes with aging.
2. Dry skin
Dry skin is dull, lacks elasticity, and is prone to irritations, wrinkles, and even desquamation (peeling skin). This type of skin is characterised by its inability to hold water and the sebaceous glands only produce small quantities of sebum.
3. Oily skin
It is rather easy to recognize oily skin as it has a greasy, shiny appearance. Oily skin is often associated with dilated pores and comedones and prone to develop blackheads. The main advantage of having oily skin is that wrinkles tend to occur much later in life as a result of the excess of sebum produced by the sebaceous glands.
4. Combination skin
This is the most common skin type. As the name suggests, it is a combination of dry and oily skin. Often the skin in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin) is shinny and greasy while the skin on the rest of the face is dull, rough and rigid.
5. Reactive skin
This type of skin is often called sensitive skin and is characterised by thin, delicate skin with fragile capillaries that can easily break. Reactive skin is prone to developing acne and allergies. It tends to get irritations and rosacea.
If you read the descriptions of each skin type and you are still undecided about your skin type, you can do a test at home. It can be difficult to tell the difference in between combination skin and dry or oily skin. Also, you should know that the skin can change characteristics depending on the season. This can be rather challenging!
A simple test you can do at home:
In the morning, as soon as you wake up and before washing your face, take a dry paper towel and dab gently the T-zone. If the towel shows considerable traces of sebum, your skin is oily. If the towel has no traces of sebum on it, your skin is dry. If the marks of sebum are few, you have combination skin.
If you are still unsure or you want to double-check the results, you can apply talc powder on your face early in the morning. If the powder gets damp within minutes, you have oily skin. If the powder gets damp just on the T-zone, you have combination skin, and if the powder keeps its texture, you have dry skin.
Once you have found out what skin type you have, it is safe to see what the best night creams for you are:
1. Normal or mature skin
Alpha-H Liquid Gold Intensive Night Repair Serum
This serum works overnight to strengthen your skin’s defence systems and improve and uniform the skin’s texture. It keeps your skin looking younger and healthier for longer.
2. Dry skin
Alpha-H Liquid Gold 24 Hour Moisture Repair Cream
The Liquid Gold 24 Moisture Repair Cream from Alpha-H is ideal for dry skin or peeling skin. It offers optimal hydration, and the skin becomes smooth and soft.
3. Oily skin
Aspect Sheer Hydration - Oil-Free Moisturiser
It can be rather tricky to moisturize oily skin without clogging the pores even more. But this lightweight oil-free moisturiser from Aspect does a fantastic job when it comes to hydrating the skin.
4. Combination skin
Medik8 Advanced Night Restore
With ceramide complex, Dragon Fruit extract and N-Acetyl Glucosamine, Medik8 Advanced Night Restore is 100% vegan-friendly. It will firm, plump, and give your complexion and youthful-looking appearance.
5. Reactive skin
Organic Nation Absolute Night Cream (100ml)
For an a la carte night beauty ritual for reactive skin, try Organic Nation Absolute Night Cream, which combines the effects of the plant oils with scientifically designed peptides. The cream hydrates without irritating the skin and is an absolute experience for your complexion.
Here are a few more recommendations for best night creams depending on your skin condition:
For skin with acne:
Alpha-H Clear Skin Daily Moisturiser
Even if your skin is prone to blackheads or acne, it doesn’t mean you should stop using a night cream to avoid clogging the pores. Clear Skin Daily Moisturiser from Alpha-H promotes cellular renewal, improves clarity, and balances the oil flow.
For dehydrated skin:
Thalgo Lifting Correcting Night Cream
Dehydrated skin is not a skin type per se, and it is mostly a consequence of improper skincare or aging. In some cases, dehydrated skin can occur as a result of anti-acne treatments. The skin is dull, irritated, prone to peeling. Thalgo Lifting Correcting Night Cream targets the pronounced fatigue and delivers impressive results in terms of skin texture and elasticity.
When it comes to the best night cream, there is not a one size fits all. It all depends on your skin type and specific skin conditions. Choose the skin care products accordingly, and you will see great results in no time!
Photo by Yohann LIBOT on Unsplash