How strong is your bedtime skincare regime?

Following a few steps before you catch up on your Z's is all you need to ensure your skin looks great in the morning

Every night, before you sleep, it's important to cleanse all of the day's makeup and dirt away and prepare your skin for rejuvenation during slumber. But did you know your nighttime routine can affect how your skin looks the next day? Regardless of whether or not you wear makeup or suffer from acne, it's important to wash your face before going to bed. Washing your face helps to:

Clear pores. Removing your makeup is recommended because it opens up your pores and lets your skin breathe again.

Remove oil from skin. Even if you don't wear makeup, your face will be a bit oily by the end of the day. If left unwashed, this can clog pores, leaving your face vulnerable to breakouts and causing your skin to look dull. Washing your face removes this oil, opens your pores, and leaves your face looking fresh.

Prevent wrinkles. Not washing your face can lead to premature ageing and development of wrinkles, as your skin loses moisture and vibrance over time.

Freshen your skin. and your perspective. Your skin will look smoother, as your nightly face wash removes dead skin and leaves you feeling, and thinking, fresher as you head to bed.
If you're looking for a way to save time and money while caring properly for your skin, here are a few quick, easy and affordable ways to up your nighttime regime.

Cleanse - Every night, wash off your makeup and clean away any oils that have accumulated on your face. You may have applied many skincare products in the morning and acquired a bit of dirt during the day. It's imperative to wash all of this away. For those with oily skin, use a cleanser with salicylic or glycolic acid - my personal favourite is Cosrx Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser.

Use warm water - Using warm water on your face helps to open your pores, clearing them of dirt, oil and bacteria that can lead to acne. It also relaxes you - a great feeling before bed.

Exfoliate - We recommend you exfoliate nightly, but you don't have to use a harsh product. Simply choose a gentle exfoliator with a citric acid, or with very fine natural plant ingredients, so that you can lightly slough off any dead skin cells and built-up gunk. Try Khadi Natural Aloe Vera Face Wash With Scrub.

Apply a toner - Use a toner that is specifically made for your skin type. For example, those with dry or normal skin shouldn't use toners that contain alcohol as they can irritate or dry out your skin. Toners help to remove any extra makeup and cleanser still on your face. This is a very important step, as toners take care of any makeup your face wash may have missed. A really nice mild toner for everyday use is Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Toner.

Apply a serum - After you have a freshly cleansed and exfoliated face, apply a nourishing and healing facial night serum. Try facial night serums with vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and other plant-based ingredients. These serums are applied before your moisturiser, and are concentrated with active ingredients, so they offer deep hydration, and place vital nutrients directly where they're needed most. My go-to night serum is La Vallée Ultra Moisturizing Night Cream; you wake up with super hydrated skin and, over the weeks, will notice a visible difference.

Get a good night's sleep - Bedtime skin routines are great and can make you look better in the morning, but always remember: getting a good night's sleep is essential to great-looking skin.
wknd@khaleejtimes.com