Overnight Skin Solutions

slip final 2 dsc 5840

At this busy time of year it can be all too easy to neglect your skin, but if there’s one part of your regime you shouldn’t overlook, it’s your night-time routine. Read on to discover why the midnight hours are the most precious for your skin and our tips on how you can guarantee you wake up looking glowing, no matter how much shut-eye you’ve snatched…

 

What Happens When We Sleep?

With endless late nights, lots of makeup and a lack of healthy eating, it’s not hard to see why our skin faces a barrage of trauma on an almost nightly basis during the festive season. And although we might be a little slack on catching those zzzz’s at this time of year, night-time is when our skin is at its most productive. “They don’t call it beauty sleep for nothing!” says facialist and founder of Skinesis, Sarah Chapman. “Your skin is at its most active between 11pm and 4am and the majority of cell turnover and regeneration occurs during this time.” As we sleep our cells go into overdrive, working hard to help repair the damage incurred during the day and perform important reparative functions. Cell mitosis – the renewal and repair of cells is at its most prolific and processes such as collagen production are also in full swing. To help skin heal at its optimal level, it’s imperative to include a host of hardworking active ingredients in your night-time regime. “Everyone suffers from disrupted sleep patterns from time to time, which can quickly make skin look tired and dull, so taking preventative action to support the skin while you sleep is essential for a rested, glowing complexion, “ says Sarah. Chosen correctly they’ll ensure you wake up with glowing, healthy-looking skin that looks like you’ve had eight hours’ sleep, even when you haven’t.

If Your Skin Feels Dry and Tight…

Aside from late nights, central heating and cooler temperatures are just two things that combine to exacerbate dry skin during the winter months, so if your skin usually feels tight and dry then the chances are it feels even worse when it’s cold. Overnight is a great time to soothe dry skin as you can load up on plenty of plumping, cossetting ingredients and allow them to work their magic as you sleep. For extra comfort opt for a ceramide-rich serum made up of lipids that naturally occur in the skin and help give it that comfortable, cushioned feeling. Introducing a retinoid serum into your overnight skincare regime means you won’t have to contend with the photosensitivity that can occur when using retinol during the day, plus it works wonders at increasing suppleness. Oskia’s Retinoid Sleep Serum 1 is a first-step treatment formulated with 0.2% retinol and a blend of vitamins C, E and pro-vitamin D3 and is designed to refine, nourish and give skin back its glow as you sleep.

If Your Skin Feels Dull and Dehydrated…

If you’ve been burning the candle at both ends or subjecting it regularly to changing temperatures, then the chances are your skin will be suffering. To aid skin’s natural recovery process and combat a lack of firmness and dullness, add an oil into your routine. Sarah Chapman Skinesis Overnight Facial is packed full of jasmine and rose essential oils, anti-inflammatory omega oils and potent antioxidants and delivers softer, smoother, more glowing skin when you wake. To get your skin back on track add a sleeping mask on top of your treatment. Look for one that’s rich in hyaluronic acid, a skin plumping wonder ingredient that can hold up to 1000x its weight in water. Fresh’s Rose Deep Hydration Sleep Mask is a two-step targeted mask that’s designed to work effectively while you sleep to restore skin’s hydration levels and bounce come morning. First give thirsty skin the drink it craves with the cooling gel essence that’s loaded with soothing damask rose extract, hyaluronic acid and evening primrose root extract, then lock in the hydration with the water-cream mask.

If Your Skin Feels Uneven and Lined…

Night-time is the perfect opportunity to smooth skin’s texture and treat fine lines and wrinkles, as it’s the time when our skin is most actively in healing mode already. Designed to treat skin issues in the skin as you sleep, a night cream is an essential step. “A night cream is typically higher in active ingredients to reflect what is happening deep within your cells as you sleep,” says Sarah. “Certain active ingredients, such as retinoids, can also be tolerated at higher levels as you sleep,” she adds. Skinesis Night Icon Cream contains a complex of vitamin A and X503 peptide that help improve the appearance of wrinkles and dullness. To seal in the good work of your cream, follow with a light layer of a sleeping mask for an SOS booster; Sisley’s new Velvet Sleeping Mask is a nourishing botanical blend that reinstates suppleness and encourages snoozing skin to work harder to rejuvenate.