Myth or Reality -  Do We Need a Night Cream?

No woman does not care what her skin looks like, otherwise, we would not spend hours in front of the mirror! We all want our skin to be hydrated, bright, firm, and toned and, for this very reason, we can try any beauty trick we have heard that works wonders.

Well, in addition to all these tricks that make our lives better, certain rules should be followed and that would have certain beneficial effects on our skin. And so we end up asking ourselves this question: "Do we use or not use night moisturizer?".

Surely you have asked yourself this question so far. To be honest, no matter how many new skincare rules have appeared lately, it's no wonder we don't know which ones to follow!

Picture of a woman with white cream on her face

If you don't know whether or not to include a night moisturizer in your daily routine, we invite you to find the answer you needed in the lines below!

Dr. dermatologist Jeannette Graf, an assistant professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, answered 3 of the most common questions about moisturizers.

What do day moisturizers do?

Ideally, a day moisturizer should contain vitamins, minerals, and other compounds that protect the skin. Both antioxidant protection and hydration are very important, so in addition to moisturizing ingredients such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, we must also include antioxidants such as vitamin C, polyphenols, and carotenoids.

Compounds with anti-inflammatory benefits are also very important and should be found in a day cream to soothe the skin. Even if it seems that an ideal day cream contains too many ingredients, it should also be light as a texture so as not to overload the skin and to feel comfortable with it under makeup. And, of course, don't forget about SPF!

What do night moisturizers do?

Even if you sleep, that doesn't mean your skin is falling asleep. The night is the best time for your skin to try to repair itself, so you must help it with a night cream that will make the process easier.

The night moisturizer should be much more moisturizing and richer in texture than the day moisturizer. It must contain many occlusive substances to maintain hydration throughout the night.

Many photosensitive ingredients such as retinoids and exfoliating acids should be used only at night so as not to pigment the skin. While anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredients help protect the skin during the day, photosensitive ones work at night to ensure skin rejuvenation.

Do I need a day moisturizer and a night moisturizer?

Well, think about it: daytime moisturizer protects you, and nighttime moisturizer fixes your face. Moreover, not only should you use a night moisturizer, but you should also use a special one for your skin's needs because your skin works differently at night compared to during the day.

However, if you prefer to simplify your skincare routine and reduce the number of products used, but also the amount of money you pay for them, it would be best to choose a cream that has a double effect. What does this mean? 

This way you will be able to use it during the day, but also during the night. You might think that it is strange to use an SPF cream at night when the sun cannot affect you. Well, using an SPF at night can have many benefits for our skin.

To have moisturizing and velvety skin, the face cream must contain a tripeptide complex and cross-linked hyaluronic acid. By the way, if you want a very light day cream, you can opt for one that contains hyaluronic acid and aloe vera, but don't forget to protect your skin with a non-irritating vitamin C derivative.

If your skin is oily or oily to normal, then you can try a cream with a rich texture loaded with moisturizing ingredients such as reishi mushroom extract, chia seed extract, and red algae extract. They are absorbed very quickly and help to restore the skin and give it radiance.

For people with dry or normal to dry skin, this face cream should contain an analog of heparan sulfate, which repairs the skin while moisturizing it.

The most important ingredient that should not be missing from your skincare routine is retinol. In addition to its anti-aging effect, it also helps with cell regeneration.

This will make the skin brighter, firmer, and more toned. Retinol stimulates collagen production which helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles. Remember that retinol cannot be used during the day because it is photosensitive and you could get sunburn.

These are the most important things to know when you are not sure if you should include a night moisturizer in your care routine. What do you think? Are you convinced?