Overnight Skincare: How To Upgrade Your Beauty Sleep

In this article:

• Learn why an evening skincare routine is essential for healthy skin
• Our experts share their advice for building an effective PM evening regime 
• Cleanse, treat, moisturise – how to succeed at every stage 
• We reveal the overnight ingredients to look out for 
• Plus, the ingredients you should save for the daytime

Here on The Dose, we understand the importance of beauty sleep in more ways than one. It’s true that getting enough shuteye is essential for healthy skin, but your PM skincare routine also plays a part. And, a solid evening regime can work wonders while you snooze – allow our expert derms to introduce you to the overnight essentials you need to know.

Why is an overnight skincare routine important?

No matter whether you’re dealing with dry skin, dullness or dark spots, an effective PM skincare routine is worth investing in. Not only is it a great way to reset your skin after a long day, but there are also certain ingredients and formulations that do their best work during the midnight hours. Plus, we can’t deny that there’s something satisfying about putting your head on the pillow and getting a good night’s sleep, safe in the knowledge that your skincare is busy doing its thing.

How to build an overnight skincare routine

Cleanse

The first step in your evening routine should wash away the day – so, you’ll need a hardworking cleanser. It’s up to you whether you want to double cleanse – some people swear by it, but a second cleanse can sometimes be too harsh on sensitive skin types, so find what works for you. However, it’s essential that you cleanse your face at least once in the evening. 

“Cleansing removes dirt, makeup, sunscreen, dead skin cells and the environment that has built up on your skin throughout the day,” explains Dr Jason. “I find that just starting this step and doing it consistently can really help to improve the look of your skin.”

A good cleanse will create a clean, comfortable canvas for the rest of your evening skincare routine, helping your active ingredients do their best work. We designed the Skin + Me Purify + Prep Cleanser range to be used in the morning, at night, or whenever you need to freshen up your skin. Pick between the Clarifying and Hydrating editions, depending on how oily your skin is – they both deliver a deep clean without stripping the skin.

Treat

After cleansing, it’s time to use a serum or treatment to target your specific skin concerns while you sleep. Pick a product that’s tailored to your goals, or speak to a Dermatology Clinician, like the experts at Skin + Me, who can create a bespoke overnight treatment just for you. 

You should avoid using retinoids during the day, so if you’re using retinol, a retinoid complex or prescription tretinoin, then they should be part of your evening routine. “Retinoids are best used at night as they are easily broken down when exposed to sunlight,” says Dr Jason. 

If you’re using retinoids, you should avoid using them at the same time as vitamin C products, to minimise any irritation – so, keep your Skin + Me Brighten + Boost serums for the morning if you’re using both. 

Azelaic acid and niacinamide can be used during the day, but they are also a worthy addition to your night routine – no wonder they’re favourites amongst our team of dermatology experts. Not only does azelaic acid help clear breakouts and soothe redness, it’s also a mild exfoliant, helping other active ingredients better penetrate the skin. Niacinamide helps to control oil production, repairs the barrier and boosts cell rejuvenation overnight – plus, this versatile hero is ultra gentle on the skin. 

New to Skin + Me? Get your first month of personalised skincare for £4.99 with promo code DOSE – complete our quick consultation here

Moisturise

Once you’ve used your treatment, it’s time to seal in all your hard work with a nourishing moisturiser. Some people like to use a heavier moisturiser overnight, for some extra hydration without interfering with their daytime makeup. However, according to the derms, the most important thing to do is pick a moisturiser that works for your skin. 

“Use a moisturiser that has a texture that you enjoy using and that works for your skin type – oily skin types often prefer a gel-based moisturiser whereas dry skin types often prefer a richer moisturising cream,” says Dr Jason. “The best moisturisers will usually contain a combination of hydrating and soothing ingredients so look for products containing glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and soothing ingredients like panthenol, niacinamide and ectoin.”

Looking for a new favourite formulation? Our Soothe + Smooth Moisturisers are packed with ceramides and hyaluronic acid to nourish and hydrate your skin. Our Light edition won’t block pores, making it a perfect partner for acne-prone skin – meanwhile, our Rich formulation is deeply nourishing for dry skin. Slather on generously overnight, and let the goodness sink in while you rest – then say good morning to softer, smoother skin. 

Final thoughts

You don’t need an elaborate overnight skincare routine – you just need one that works. Armed with tips from our derms, you can build a simple yet effective three-step evening regime that will only take a few minutes to complete before bed. Then, once you’ve applied your products you can sleep soundly, safe in the knowledge that you’ll wake up to a good skin day – sweet dreams!