Skincare Tips: Why You Need Day and Night Products?

“Do we really need day and night care products?” is a typical question that gets thrown around a lot, especially when addressing the issue of day and night skincare routines.

There are certain benefits that only a day cream can provide that the night counterpart cannot, and vice versa. After all, you would find that applying a cream with an SPF before sleep would be totally counter-productive and unnecessary. The same goes for a night cream—most night creams aim to help the skin rejuvenate and boost cell renewal, which takes place during sleep.

Therefore, to answer the question of whether one really needs a separate routine, it is simple: just as there are day and night, your skincare products should differ based on when you are applying it, and for what purpose.

Here’s how they are different, yet very much needed:

Hydrate and protect the skin with Day Care products

The skin is exposed to the sun during the day, which means that there are risks of harmful UV rays, environmental stress, pollution and make-up.

Skincare and make-up products that are meant to be worn during the day typically contain SPF that helps protect the skin from photoageing, as well as antioxidants and vitamins such as vitamins C and E to fight free radicals and keep the skin looking fresh and radiant. Day care products are also hydration-focused and are lighter in texture for easier application and absorption, so make-up can glide on smoothly.

For instance, products such as the Multi-Active Day Emulsion, Hydra-Essentiel Cooling Gel, Extra-Firming Day, Super Restorative Day Cream and White Plus Pure Translucency Brightening Emulsion SPF20 all have more than one thing in common, such as their ability to fight oxidative stress, provide hydration and boost skin radiance and youthfulness. Most importantly, one factor that ties them all together is that they are formulated for day use.

As a general tip, avoid using products that have retinol in them during the day and save it for night time.

Repair and replenish skin with Night Care products

The first thing that to observe about night products is that the formula and texture are thicker and richer. This is because treatments are meant to be intensive, especially when it comes to anti-ageing. Certain ingredients in a night cream may lose its effectiveness after being exposed to the sun’s UV rays, so it is advisable to apply night creams before bedtime.

Sleep is important for the skin, but what is even more important and skin-saving is what you put on your skin before bed. Night care products focus on regeneration and recovery, hence, thicker formulas have better chances of seeping into the skin during the course of your shut-eye.

These products also contain ingredients that focus on anti-ageing such as hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid and retinol, which work wonderfully without the sun or sunscreen sabotaging them.

Depending on what your skin concern is, there are plenty of night creams to choose from such as the Multi-Active Night Cream which targets fine lines to give you that well-rested effect, the Extra-Firming Night Cream which is considered the best night cream for wrinkles, the mighty restorative and intensive healing Super Restorative Night Cream that works best as a night cream for mature skin, and even an overnight moisture mask such as the My Clarins RE-CHARGE Relaxing Sleep Mask and White Plus Brightening Revive Gel which soothes, refreshes, plumps and recharges the skin so you could quite literally, wake up with perfect skin. This product also works best for those looking to start using night creams in their 20s.

Using the same products for both day and night

It isn’t wrong to use the same moisturiser for both day and night. However, using a product that specifically caters to your circadian system does contribute greatly in terms of benefits. For example, you might miss out on anti-ageing properties that a night cream can provide and conversely, using a night cream during the day might cause your skin to feel greasier than normal – not to mention more susceptible to sun damage.

If you are looking to keep your routine to a minimum, be sure to choose a moisturiser that does it all at once, such as the Hydra-Essentiel Light Cream, which hydrates and plumps the skin while also keeping it safe from environmental pollutants.

Whether you decide to go for a singular product that you can use for both day and night or one that caters to a specific time of the day, prepare your skin accordingly so that it is fully and properly protected.