Skincare Products You Should Be Using Exclusively At Night

Do you ever feel a little overwhelmed by all the skincare choices out there? The ever-growing skincare market can be disorienting. Perhaps you’d like to use something other than just face wash and moisturiser, or are thinking about adopting a more intricate skincare routine. But you are not sure where to start. Suddenly there are day creams, night creams, eye creams, serums, skin lighteners, SPF’s, toners, exfoliants. And how are you supposed to know which skincare to only use at night versus during the day? In this post I will be giving you a definitive guide to the skincare to only use at night versus any other time. 

Skincare To Only Use At Night

To begin, these are the skincare products you should be using exclusively at night. There are a number of reasons you want to reserve these ingredients and skincare products for night time use only. In some cases, it may even be detrimental to your skin to use these products during the daytime.

Skincare to only use at night #1: RETINOIDS

Skincare ingredients such as retinol, prescription retinoids, retinyl palmitate, retinaldehyde, adapalene, tazarotene, and variations of retinoic acid should be reserved for use at night only.

This family of ingredients are extremely potent and renowned for their miraculous anti-ageing, anti-acne properties. However, they can be very irritating and sensitising for skin. This is why retinoids are a skincare to only use at night.

Retinoids can greatly increase your skin’s susceptibility to sun damage, which is why I would advise against them for daytime use. Applying them at night gives them more opportunity to really take effect while you sleep.

While some may condone retinol for daytime use, provided it is followed up with sun protection, I would strongly suggest otherwise. Retinol is a powerful ingredient. It is highly transformative, but this can also mean it is taxing on the skin.

As your skin already has to defend against daily and environmental aggressors during the day, I would suggest forgoing retinol use until the night time. In the case of retinoids, more is most certainly not always better, so there is no need to use them twice a day. So, save them for night time use only.

These Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules are a powerhouse of anti-ageing ingredients. Ceramides are used in many rich, anti-ageing skincare products to boost moisture and support collagen. 

The Ceramide Capsules are already iconic, and the retinol version only supercharges them. If you want some intensely anti-ageing skin benefits, these individually packed capsules will not disappoint.

Skincare to only use at night #2: GLYCOLIC ACID

Glycolic acid is another anti-ageing powerhouse ingredient. You will remember from my glycolic acid article that, although glycolic acid is a highly effective ingredient, it can greatly increase sunburn risk and induce sun damage.

Because glycolic acid is chiefly great at eliminating visible signs of sun damage, you do not want to use it only for it to worsen the problem you were originally hoping to amend. For all the details on glycolic acid, and how it differs from other acids, read this glycolic acid post.

Glycolic acid is another ingredient that like retinol, is so powerful I would not recommend using it more than once a day for the majority of people. Once a day use should suffice and you can reserve that for night time use.

If you live in an area that does not see much sun, or during the darker months when sun intensity is not at an all-time high, you may be able to get away with using acids during the day. However, you should exercise precaution and make sure you are wearing an SPF if you live in a sunny area.

With 5% glycolic acid, Alpha H Liquid Gold will absolutely transform your skin. It will diminish any signs of hyperpigmentation and give you a radiant skin glow. Check out this glycolic acid article for more product recommendations.

Skincare to only use at night #3: NIACINAMIDE

Niacinamide is an ingredient you can really use at any time of day. However, those with more easily sensitised skin may not want to mix ingredients such as vitamin C and niacinamide. Especially if you are using a high percentage of niacinamide specifically to target issues like acne or pores. 

There is concern that ascorbic acid may affect the integrity of niacinamide. If you use a strong vitamin C serum during the day time, you may wish to alternate and use niacinamide products at night instead.

Because vitamin C works best at a lower pH and niacinamide works at a pH closer to neutral, there is fear that the ingredients used in combination may render one another ineffective. 

High doses of niacin have the potential to induce facial flushing. If you have used the ingredients in combination and have had no such issue, using both products in tandem might in fact be beneficial, as both ingredients are great for skin.

Skincare formulations have become so sophisticated that it should not cause issue in most people, provided both ingredients are not used in very high percentage. You will come across various skincare formulations that use vitamin C derivatives and niacinamide and they work beautifully.

You may want to exercise caution if you are using a high dose niacinamide and potent ascorbic acid product. Bombarding your skin with so many strong active ingredients all at once can have negative repercussions.

This 10% Niacinamide Booster contains brightening ingredients to help even out your complexion and target visible signs of ageing.

Skincare to only use at night #4: ACNE SPOT TREATMENTS

Spot treatments such as benzoyl peroxide creams, sulfur, camphor and clay-based products, work to eradicate spots by drying the area out. It is very difficult to lay any makeup over these products without ruining your makeup, so it is best to reserve spot treatments for your night time skincare routine.

EradiKate Blemish Treatment and Indie Lee Blemish Lotion are a type of two-phase blemish treatment. There is this pink sediment that settles at the bottom of the product. You can simply dip a cotton bud into the bottle and then dot the pink product onto any spots.

Most people do not want to be seen parading around with pink and white dots across their faces in a corporate environment. Using them at night gives them the most time to work, without having the potential makeup, sunscreens and other products mixing with the product and redistributing the ingredients around the face.

Skincare to only use at night #5: THICK EYE CREAMS

Eye creams are infamous for being the thickest skincare products you lay on your face. This is because the immediate undereye area does not directly house any oil glands, which means it can easily dry out.

Unless you have particularly dry eyes, I would not call an eye cream a must-do step. However, even those with dry under eyes are likely to find that their night time eye creams are far too thick for day use.

The emollient nature of eye creams can lead to concealer creasing. Not to mention, the excess oil and moisture will cause your eye makeup to smudge and run around your eyes.

Save the eye creams for bed time and let them do their thing at night. During the day time, simply applying your regular moisturiser or sunscreen around the eye area should suffice.

Skincare to only use at night #6: HEAVY MOISTURISERS

Night time moisturisers are notoriously rich in consistency. It is no surprise that such rich moisturisers should exclusively be saved for your night time routine, if indeed your skin type is so dry that it warrants one of these thick moisturisers.

Although creams that target more mature women tend to be thicker and richer, your skin will not magically call for a thick moisturiser once you hit ‘a certain age’. This means that you do not have to feel obliged to opt for a night time cream just because it is labelled as such, unless your skin indeed calls for one.

Unless you have exceptionally dry skin, you will not want to be using rich cream during the day time. The emollience of such creams will cause makeup to shift around after a few hours and feel far too occlusive during the day time. You will want to hydrate with a moisturiser that is less viscous and more breathable in nature.

In some instances, a night cream is simply a day cream with a slightly richer consistency. Day creams without SPF may even be used interchangeably as your night time option. In fact, day and night creams originally began as the same formula, albeit packaged in different jars and labelled separately.

Skincare to only use at night #7: CLEANSING BALMS AND CLEANSING OILS

Some confuse this cleansing product and use it as their only skincare cleansing option both morning and night. Cleansing balms and cleansing oils should solely be used for the removal of makeup. They should then be followed up with a regular gentle cleanser to remove any residue.

The first step of cleansing balm/oil removes your makeup and the second step actually cleanses the face. Cleansing balms and cleansing oils should not be used on their own. Especially not in the morning when you are merely removing last night’s skincare and sweat.

If you only cleanse with a cleansing balm or an oil, some oil may remain on the skin. This makes it difficult for any water-based serums and skincare products to penetrate the skin and work properly. Your makeup may also not lay as well over the skin. So, reserve these products for use in your evening routine only.

One of my absolute favourites is this Cleansing Balm from Clinique. It will melt away any makeup you could possible have on, along with the toughest waterproof mascara. Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm is also a great one and is smoothing and lovely on the skin. It is slightly pricier than Clinique but the website I linked regularly does sales.

Skincare Products to Use at Any Time of Day

Because I like to be thorough, and to give context to the rest of my post, here’s a list of skincare you can feel free to use any time of day. They work equally well as part of a morning or evening skincare routine.

1. Hyaluronic acid serums

Water-based serums with hyaluronic acid are usually thinner in consistency. This makes them a great lightweight option, ideal for use during the day or night. Read this article all about hyaluronic acid for everything you need to know about hyaluronic acid and my favourite hyaluronic acid products.

2. Salicylic acid

This chemical exfoliant is a favourite among the acne-prone. Unlike glycolic acid, salicylic acid does not induce sun sensitivity, so you can use it both day and night. Read this complete guide to salicylic acid for everything you need to know about the skincare ingredient as well as my favourite products.

3. Dry oils

Dry oils are light and easily absorbed into the skin. They do not form that greasy film over the skin that seemingly never dissipates. Fast-absorbing oils such as rosehip oil and squalane are perfect for use any time of day and will not leave you a greasy mess. I love to use fast-absorbing oils in the morning just before I apply my sunscreen, as it makes everything I layer over it apply a lot more smoothly. I have an article dedicated to rosehip oil, so make sure to read that for rosehip oil skin benefits.

4. Sheet masks

Although I would tell you to save the deep hydration masks until the night time, sheet masks are a lighter weight option to infuse instant hydration into the skin. This makes them great to apply before makeup if your skin needs a boost for the day.

Use them at night time as part of your unwinding ritual. Or even just on a day where you are feeling like pampering yourself. K-beauty famously offers an array of sheet masks. I have listed a few in this article about the top Korean Skincare products you need to try.

5. Skin brighteners

All-over skin brighteners can be used both in the morning and at night. These products help to fade dark spots and discolouration, encouraging a brighter complexion.

Skincare Products To Only Use During The Day

A few things differentiate day time and night time skincare. There are certain properties of day time skincare products that make them optimal for use during the day.

1. Antioxidant serums

Serums with antioxidants such as resveratrol and vitamin C, will safeguard your skin from environmental aggressors, pollution and UV damage throughout the day. I explained it all in this post about antioxidants and free radicals. This means they are important ingredients to wear on a daily basis so that you are giving your skin as much protection as possible.

As I stated previously, you are using a high strength vitamin C in the morning, you want to save any potent niacinamide products for the evening time. For the best vitamin C skincare products and benefits, read this vitamin C skincare article. 

2. SPF

It seems obvious, but any products containing SPF are solely for daytime use. Whether it is sunscreens, face creams with any SPF, BB creams and the like, you should not be wearing any SPF products to sleep.

If the product has SPF in it, you should not be sleeping in it, even if it is a colourless cream. Anything with SPF is often heavier, and not in a deeply nourishing way. Not to mention, certain sunscreen actives like zinc oxide, are astringent and can potentially dry out skin.

Aside for the obvious fact that there is no sun during the night time, the ingredients that give SPF rating are often occlusive. Ingredients such as titanium dioxide are used in colour cosmetics. Like makeup pigments, SPF molecules are larger, heavier and have a higher chance of clogging pores.

If you aren’t wearing makeup to sleep (which you should never do anyway), why would you wear SPF? Give your skin a break and save any SPF for the day time. Invest in a separate moisturiser for night time use alone. 

For more on what SPF means, and exactly how sunscreen protects your skin, read this post about sun damage and skin.

Nighttime skincare is different from daytime skincare

I hope this post helps to make clear which products you should be using by time of day. It is important to establish a day time and night time skincare routine with specific products for each. Depending on the time of day, you can decide which products and ingredients will suit your skin best. 

You should now understand the skincare to only use at night, the products you should be saving for daytime use, and the products you are free to use at any time of day. So go ahead and put together your skincare routine with confidence! If you’d like to know how to layer the products mentioned, read this post on how to layer skincare products for best results. 

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For more skincare advice, check out these posts:

How to properly layer skincare products

How to transition your skincare routine from Summer to Fall

Essential Makeup and Skincare Advice for Oily Skin

How to get rid of blackheads

Wishing you boundless love, endless light, and life without limit,

Shannon xo

This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material is strictly prohibited.

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