Skin Care Products for Night Time to Get Beautiful in Your Sleep

In the movies, the heroine always wakes up looking perfectly refreshed and gorgeous. Sure, she may have Hollywood magic on her side, but the rest of us have a potent beauty weapon too: sleep!

It turns out, there really is such a thing as beauty sleep. “Sleep allows the body to go into several stages of non-REM and REM cycles for restoration of body functions,” says Dr. Vermén M. Verallo-Rowell, a research dermatologist.

Further, the emerging science of chronobiology – the study of the impact of biological rhythms and their effects on the body – has uncovered subtle differences in skin behavior at night.

When we sleep, the skin is more permeable. In fact, it expends fewer defenses against the daytime’s free radicals, pollution and sun damage. And interestingly, oil production is lower as well. All these changes help active ingredients absorb more effectively at 2 a.m. than at 2 p.m.

Here’s a guide to the types of treatments and products that work their magic in the dark.

Heavy-duty Moisturizers to Heal Skin During Sleep

Quick-absorbing, lightweight hydrators with built-in sunscreen are perfect for protecting the skin during the day and providing a satiny base for your makeup.

Nighttime is when you’ll want to slather on the thicker, richer, more emollient moisturizers that may look greasy but provide more reparative moisture benefits. This deeply penetrating moisture can have a carryover benefit into the daytime.

I have collected and personally tested many skin care products with non-toxic ingredients. These products are effective as well as kind to your entire bodily system. Check the brands and unique skin care products that have a great ingredients list HERE. Find your favorite moisturizer or toner or a product with necessary actives on that list. They are all great for your well-being.

Retinoid Skin Therapy for Night Skin Care

Dermatologists suggest that patients use over-the-counter and stronger prescription retinoids (tretinoin, tazarotene, adapalene) only at night because these topical forms of vitamin A can degrade in light and make the skin more vulnerable to sun damage and more likely to burn.

“They have become the gold standard of what dermatologists recommend to help exfoliate, lighten brown spots, stimulate collagen production and clean out pores,” says Dr. D’Anne Kleinsmith, a Michigan cosmetic dermatologist.

Learn about different types of vitamin A for skin care in this detailed Anti-Aging Retinoid Therapy post.

Active Treatment Products for Nighttime Skincare

Many treatment products work best when they’re not competing with layers of cosmetics and sunscreen, says Dr. Patricia Farris, a Louisiana dermatologist.

What’s more, active ingredients such as salicylic acid, which exfoliates dead skin cells, as well as peptide – tiny proteins that stimulate collagen to help reduce the signs of aging – are most effective when they’re not being diluted by perspiration or fending off daytime environmental stressors like pollution and sunlight.

The increased blood flow to skin at night, along with nocturnal water loss, may help these ingredients better penetrate the skin’s barrier layers.

Rough-skin Erasers to Use on Hands for Night Care

Products made to soften rough skin on the feet or hands are likely to get the best results if they’re applied at bedtime. Many include alpha hydroxy acids (lactic, glycolic and citric acids) that penetrate the outermost layer of skin to promote exfoliation.

Or, try this softening treatment suggested by Dr. C. Ralph Daniel III, clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center:

Soak hands and feet in room-temperature water for up to five minutes. Apply an extra-thick moisturizer, such as shea butter. For the best overnight penetration, pull on a pair of light cotton gloves or socks.

All Natural Antiperspirant for Night Time

Some extra-strength antiperspirants are specially formulated for nighttime use, but a regular formula can also be more potent during the night’s optimum conditions. But do be aware of deodorants with toxic ingredients. Here’s a list of aluminum-free deodorants that will work for you without being toxic to your body. Explore them HERE.

“For people who have problems with excessive perspiration, it makes a lot of sense to apply an antiperspirant before you go to bed,” says Kleinsmith. “When you’re not already perspiring, you can block the sweat glands more easily and let the medication work more effectively.”

Here’s a detailed guide to a mineral salt deodorants. You will be able to understand how they work, and what the ingredients are.

Hair Conditioners for Night Use During Sleep

Sometimes called “deep conditioners” or “reparative masks,” these temporary leave-on hair products can work even better when they’re allowed hours, not minutes, to absorb deeply into the hair shaft.

Before bedtime, massage the mask along the ends and mid-shaft of dry hair and comb through. Rinse and style as usual in the morning.

And YES a Good Mattress, too!