Your night skincare routine is mega important. There IS such a thing as “beauty rest”.

During the night, your skin actually absorbs the nutrients in your products better than during the day. And, there aren’t environmental stressors at night like pollution and damaging sun rays for your skin to deal with. Therefore, products are able to better penetrate when you’re sleeping and not wearing makeup - your skin care breathe.

While there’s not one-size-fits-all routine, there is a foundational regimen that everyone should have in place.

At night time, your routine may be similar to your morning plan with some basic changes. We suggest the following:

Cleansing – sleeping with your makeup on is a cardinal skincare sin. To remove makeup, gently rinse with warm water and clean skin with a mild cleanser. A gentle cleanser like this won’t strip your skin’s natural oils or disrupt your skin’s microbiome (it won’t cause inflammation).

Toners and boosters – some people believe in toners, some don’t. But the fact is that toners help calibrate your skin - balance pH and moisture levels. You can use the same toner you use in the mornings at nighttime. You can also apply mists and essences that can add glow and vitality to your skin.

Eye cream – beginning in your 20s, it is beneficial to apply eye cream each night. In addition to moisturizing and healing sun damage, eye creams can also protect the sensitive skin around the eyes as you apply potentially harsh skin care products like exfoliants or acne treatments.

Treatments and exfoliants – treatments may include products for conditions such as acne or rosacea. You may also want to use a detoxifying or clarifying mask once or twice a week. You can use exfoliating products a few times each week to remove dry or dead skin cells.

Hydration – a lot of moisture is lost from the skin at night while we sleep. Using a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid HA) is key. The HA binds to the water in your skin cells making them more plump. You may want to apply an extra hydrating mask a few times a week especially if you have dry skin. You should also apply a moisturizer or night cream liberally before going to sleep.

Email Dr. Martha Lucas, the creator of My Zen Skin Care, for your FREE skin consultation.