The signs of aging are relentless. It is a proven fact that no one can stop time. It is the absolute worst enemy for the skin. All bodily cellular functions are degraded as we grow older but none is as visible as the damage of time to the skin. When we are young we know we are wanted and desirable. Our beauty is radiant, our body is firm and our skin is pretty and smooth. As we grow older, if we do nothing, the beauty starts to fade away, the body begins to hang and the skin welcomes wrinkles, lines, rashes, breaks, flakes, etc… Definitely not a pretty sight.
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Choosing the Best Night Creams
The cosmetics industry thrives on the need to slow down the results of the aging process if not eradicate them completely. The market is filled with anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, anti-acne, anti-everything compounds. Others are focused on providing moisture for the skin the loss of which is hiding behind almost all of the damages, others try to stimulate collagen production which is the foundation for the health of the skin, and others focus on the nourishing agents like vitamins which keep it all together.
Some of these products are designed to work during the day taking advantage of the beneficial properties of the sun while protecting from the harmful effects of its radiation, while others are designed to work during the night taking advantage of the bodily functions while we are sleeping. Night creams fall under this last category.
What the good quality night creams offer is the chance for the skin to look clearer, smoother and more radiant using ingredients that work best without the exposure to UV radiation and that overcome the obstacle of the need for the skin not to look oily, as is the case during the day. They also do not contain SPF which makes them feel lighter on the skin. The basic difference between the day and night creams is the greater quantity of emollients contained in the night creams which allow for deeper moisturizing of the skin.
Choosing the best night cream
The only issue that matters for the choice of any cosmetic is its ingredients. Under the recent rules that prohibit the use of dangerous chemicals like parabens, petroleum, phthalates and SLS, the more natural the ingredients of a night cream, the better results it will offer. Apart from that, it is actually the skin that will decide which creams works best.
The issues to look into before choosing a night cream are the following:
- If you are satisfied with the results of your daily cream or not: Overloading the skin with cosmetics can actually produce negative results. Night creams are to be used when the skin does not look as healthy and as radiant as desired.
- The sleeping habits allow for the night cream to do its job: If you sleep for only three or four hours, a night cream is useless. Ideally you should be getting 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep during the night.
- Night creams work deep: It may not be until a few weeks have passed before you can see some positive results. Therefore, you will need to be patient and maintain the regimen best suited for you religiously and every night (or as suggested).
- Focus on the specific needs of your own skin: Acne needs a different product than dry skin. Oily skin will not look good with a product for normal skin. Furthermore, you need to choose a cream that will fight what you need it to fight the most. Others need it to fight wrinkles and fine lines, others need to fight uneven skin tone. There are plenty of options out on the market, so make sure to choose the right one.
The Ingredients
Pursuant to issue 4 above, here is a list of what to look for depending on what you want to fight:
- Retinol (Vitamin A) and peptides for crow’s feet and wrinkles around the eyes
Essential oils and shea butter to fight dry flaky skin on the face and neck Collagen production stimulants like hyaluronic acid and vitamin C are needed to fight fine lines and wrinkles - What matters most is that the ingredients you choose do not produce unpleasant or undesirable side-effects, skin irritation, sensitivity to light and other such problems. Especially if you have skin close to the extremes of sensitivity and dryness.
Conclusion
Day creams are designed to work over make-up and under the full effect of the sun, the wind, the cold, the heat and the other damaging elements of nature. Night creams are designed to work deep in the tissues and the skin cells without having to provide protection against these agents. It could be argued that in essence the two products complete each other.
This does not however preclude the idea of overusing cosmetics. Hence it is clear that the choices for both a day and a night product must be thoroughly considered and probably professionally guided. The absolute necessity comes down to finding out whether a night cream is good for your special skin conditions or not.
To that effect, if you do not want to receive professional guidance it is absolutely imperative not to go testing each compound on your skin. Read the reviews, the comments posted on the discussion boards, do some research. It will help you cut down a lot on the risk of applying the wrong night cream on your skin and receiving adverse results.
