Colleagues at work often express the desire to enjoy a boring night life even when they are alone at home in the evening, because the precious private life time is scarce during the day. If you can relate to this, I advise you to abandon the plan of going to bed at 10 pm and instead focus on the 3-step bedtime skincare routine, which is more important than going to bed early.
Step 1: Nothing beats a face mask
Dryness can make the skin rough and dull during the day, and if sufficient moisture is not provided to the skin at night, it can lead to increased oiliness and even peeling. Therefore, many women like to apply a face mask after cleansing every night.
Dry skin face mask
Characteristics: Dry and dull skin, lack of moisture and tenderness. After cleansing, the skin may feel tight and prone to aging, often accompanied by freckles, fine lines, and other skin problems.
Mask solution: Dry skin is relatively fragile, especially with its inherent dryness. When cleansing, it is important to use moisturizing and gentle cleansing products. After cleansing, quickly spray a moisturizing mist to prevent moisture loss. Choose a moisturizing face mask and remove it within 10 minutes. Prolonged exposure of dry skin to the air can cause water loss from the skin. After removing the mask, apply a moisturizing face cream. The remaining essence of the mask may make it difficult for the face to absorb the cream, so gently massage it into the skin until there is no obvious moisture or stickiness.
Oily skin face mask
Characteristics: Excessive sebum secretion, enlarged and rough pores, dull and prone to acne.
Mask solution: It is a common misconception for people with oily skin to think that they do not need hydration due to the oily shine on their face. However, excessive sebum production does not mean that the skin is not in need of hydration. Do not let the appearance of the skin mislead you and cause more serious water-oil imbalance problems. Therefore, when hydrating, choose water-based or emulsion-type masks that are refreshing and suitable for oily skin. In addition, cleansing masks are also essential for oily skin.
Combination skin face mask
Characteristics: Dryness in some areas and oiliness in others, with T-zone being oily and U-zone being dry in general.
Mask solution: This type of skin requires targeted hydration care, so sheet masks should be avoided and water-based wash-off masks are more suitable. For the dry U-zone, use moisturizing and nourishing cream masks, while for the oily T-zone, use refreshing and cleansing masks. In general, the focus is on moisturizing the dry areas and cleansing and moisturizing the oily areas. Only by addressing the water-oil balance of the skin can the hydration and moisturizing effects be improved.
Sensitive skin face mask
Characteristics: Thin stratum corneum, easily affected by external environmental factors, resulting in symptoms such as redness, itching, and sensitivity.
Mask solution: The key to caring for sensitive skin is gentle soothing. The best time to hydrate sensitive skin is at night, as going out during the day exposes the skin to greater environmental influences, which is not conducive to the skin's absorption of hydration. Moreover, when applying intense hydration products, the skin pores will be open, making it easier for adverse environmental factors to worsen sensitivity. Therefore, nighttime application is safer and more effective. It is recommended to use natural and non-irritating products such as aloe vera or choose medicinal skincare brands.
Common mistakes in using face masks
1. Using a sleeping mask instead of night cream
It is advisable to wash off the sleeping mask before applying night cream before going to bed, even if you use a sleeping mask. Sleeping masks often contain chemicals that can irritate the skin. Applying a layer every night can easily cause "overnutrition," leading to the formation of milia, or even loss of skin moisture and decreased self-repair function. Therefore, it is not recommended to use it every day, two times a week is sufficient.
2. Persisting in using a sleeping mask for acne-prone skin
Sleeping masks usually have a semi-transparent or transparent gel-like texture, which is suitable for sensitive and oily skin. For dry skin, it is recommended to use a moisturizing cream mask with a higher oil content. Acne-prone skin is more sensitive, so if you want to use a sleeping mask, it is recommended to wash it off with water after 20 minutes to avoid clogging and causing more acne.
3. Overusing the mask and not wasting a drop of essence
Having a sense of thrift is commendable, but it is important to use it in the right place! If you overuse the mask, it can cause skin dehydration and loss of nutrients. Following the instructions for use is the wise choice. If you don't want to waste the remaining essence, it is recommended to use it on other parts of the body.
Step 2: Develop a nighttime lip care routine
Many people have the habit of applying lip balm anytime during the day. However, if you take good care of your lips at night, you can reduce the frequency of applying lip balm during busy daytime and keep your lips moisturized.
Recommended: Dr. Hauschka Lip Balm
I have recommended this organic lip balm many times. Besides using it regularly, apply a thick layer of lip balm before bed using a cotton swab. The next morning, gently remove excess dead skin with a cotton swab, and your lips will stay hydrated all day long.
Step 3: Utilize hair oil at the best time
As we subject our hair to dyeing and perming, the damage to the hair becomes more severe. Therefore, it is necessary to provide extra nourishing care to the hair. After washing your hair at night, it is the golden period for hair repair.
Using oil-based products containing ingredients such as Moroccan argan oil and camellia oil can effectively repair the hair, improve hair breakage, split ends, and lack of luster. It is recommended to apply the oil to the lower part of the hair strands to avoid scalp oiliness when starting from the top.
