Why should you use a night cream?
Taking care of your skin is an essential part of your daily routine to keep it healthy and radiant. Especially night care plays a crucial role, as your skin can regenerate undisturbed while you sleep. In this article, we explain why a night cream is beneficial, how it differs from a day cream, and the advantages of including it in your skincare routine.
The importance of night care: Why should you use a night cream?
Stress, air pollution, or UV rays can damage your skin during the day. To repair this damage, your skin cells undergo a natural regeneration process while you sleep. They do this even when you are not sleeping, but this regeneration process is especially active during sleep. Blood circulation in the skin increases, which promotes the transport of nutrients and oxygen to the skin cells. This supports the regeneration processes and the repair of damage that occurred during the day.
Scientific studies show that your skin repairs and regenerates best at night. During sleep, the body is in a state of rest and relaxation. This allows the skin to focus on regeneration without distractions.
At night, our skin barrier becomes more permeable. As a result, our skin loses more moisture at night than during the day. This nightly moisture loss can cause our skin – regardless of skin type – to be drier upon waking. And dry skin can, in turn, contribute to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
This increased permeability of our skin barrier at night also has a big advantage. Because of this, our skin is especially receptive to any ingredients. It is therefore highly recommended to complement your facial care routine with the appropriate night cream. Due to the more permeable skin barrier, active ingredients can be better absorbed during the night. This allows night creams to improve the skin structure and counteract premature skin aging.
When should I apply the night cream?
The optimal time to apply the night cream is after removing makeup in the evening, cleansing the face, and before going to bed. This ensures that the skin is free of dirt, sebum, and makeup, allowing the active ingredients of the cream to be better absorbed.
Can you also use a night cream as a day cream?
To answer this question, it is first important to understand the differences between day and night cream. They have different formulations and functions.
Day creams
Day creams are often formulated to be lighter than night creams so that they absorb quickly and the pores can continue to breathe – especially if makeup is applied afterward. They also sometimes contain UV protection to shield the skin during the day from harmful sun rays and the resulting photoaging. Additionally, day creams often include antioxidant ingredients (e.g., Vitamin E) to protect our skin from free radicals.
Night creams
Night creams are formulated to be richer than day creams. Therefore, they also tend to be more moisturizing. They provide the skin with essential nutrients overnight and primarily focus on nighttime regeneration, repair, and hydration. Additionally, night creams often contain ingredients that can help slow down the skin's aging process (e.g., Coenzyme Q10, Bakuchiol).
Day creams are formulated to protect you from potential damage during the day. At night, your skin has different needs: it no longer needs protection from sunlight but rather from moisture loss. Night creams are specially formulated to support your skin’s nighttime repair program by providing it with essential nutrients and moisture. To make the most of your skin’s nightly regeneration phase, we recommend incorporating a special night cream into your routine.
However, you can generally use a night cream as a day cream as well. For particularly dry skin or when rich care is needed, a night cream can help intensely hydrate the skin during the day. In winter, when you spend time indoors or have little sunlight, a night cream can also be a good option.
The correct way to apply a night cream
Apply a small amount of the night cream to your face and neck after removing makeup and cleansing, and gently massage it in. If your night cream comes in a jar, take it out with a clean finger or spatula and close the jar tightly after each use.
What should a night cream contain?
A good night cream should contain ingredients that both provide moisture (e.g., through natural hyaluronic acids, glycerin, or aloe vera) and effectively support improving the skin’s appearance. Night creams are also richer – meaning they contain more nourishing fats/oils to protect the skin from drying out. Plant-based ceramides as an ingredient bind moisture and thus prevent moisture loss.
Many people desire a night cream with retinol. A significantly gentler, more compatible, and plant-based alternative to retinol is the ingredient bakuchiol. Bakuchiol also has various anti-aging qualities: it significantly reduces wrinkle depth, prevents wrinkles, can improve skin elasticity and firmness, and generally reduces signs of photoaging. For pigmentation spots, bakuchiol has a brightening effect.
The formula of our Firming Night Care is formulated with triple hyaluronic acid and bakuchiol and has been proven to stimulate the skin’s own collagen system and reduce wrinkles.
Our powerful active ingredients for your beauty sleep
Hyaluronic Acid
Glycerin
Aloe Vera
Plant-based ceramides
Bakuchiol
Discover all lavera night creams
Conclusion
Day and night care: Do I need both?
Yes, because your skin has different needs during the day and at night, so using both a day and night cream makes perfect sense. While a day care product protects the skin from environmental influences such as pollution or wind during the day, a night care product supports the skin’s regeneration and repair while you sleep.
Scientific studies show that the skin repairs and regenerates best at night. Therefore, it is recommended to include a special night cream in your daily skincare routine to optimally care for and protect your skin. Night creams often contain different ingredients than day creams, which provide intense moisture (e.g., hyaluronic acid) and improve skin texture.
By supplying moisturizing ingredients at night, we can actively counteract the formation of wrinkles. In this way, night creams can improve skin texture, making it more elastic and firmer. For this reason, it makes sense to use a night cream. The increased permeability of the skin barrier at night allows for better absorption of ingredients. By regularly using a night cream, you can ensure that your skin is optimally nourished and remains healthy and radiant.
Sources:
Bährle-Rapp, M. (2012). Springer Lexikon Cosmetics and Body Care (4th Revised and Expanded Edition). Berlin Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.
Granger, C., Brown, A., Aladren, S. & Narda, M. (2020). Night Cream Containing Melatonin, Carnosine and Helichrysum italicum Extract Helps Reduce Skin Reactivity and Signs of Photodamage: Ex Vivo and Clinical Studies. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb), 10, 1315-1329.
Isnaini, N., Faradhila, J., Maysarah, H., Prajaputra, V., Harnelly, E., Zulkarnain, Z., Maryam, S., Muhammad, S., Haditiar, Y., Desiyana, L. S. & Sari, F. (2023). Trends in Formulation of Night Cream Containing Essential Oil. Journal of Patchouli and Essential Oil Products, 2 (2), 33-40.
Michalak, M., Pierzak, M., Krecisz, B. & Suliga, E. (2021). Bioactive Compounds for Skin Health: A Review. Nutrients, 13(1), 203.
