Are These Ingredients in Your Nightly Skincare Routine?

From pollutants and stress to blue light and UV rays, your skin is exposed to all sorts of aggressors in the day. The best time for the skin to rest and recover is while you are asleep, as your cells repair and regenerate overnight.

As tempting as it might be to jump into bed and call it a night after a long day, making it a habit to apply skincare products daily can go a long way in achieving and maintaining a good complexion. Here are five ingredients to include in your night time skincare routine to complement your body’s restoration efforts.

Skincare products like Alpha-H Hyaluronic 8 and Jyunka Sleep Repair use hyaluronic acid (HA) as one of their key ingredients to restore skin elasticity and revitalise its complexion.

Produced naturally by skin cells, HA holds large amount of water and helps retain moisture levels in skin and joints. When used in skincare products, HA brings moisture to the surface of the skin. This provides the skin with intense and lasting hydration throughout the day, leaving it plump and reducing the appearance of fine lines at the same time.

Tip: Apply products containing HA on slightly damp skin or after other products. Without any moisture on the surface of skin, it may end up dehydrating your skin as it pulls water from inside your skin to maintain moisture levels.

One of our skin’s natural moisturiser, squalene (with an e) is naturally produced by oil glands to hydrate and maintain the barrier of skin. In its natural state, squalene is not very stable as it oxidises when exposed to air, resulting in a loss of its benefits. In order to incorporate it in skincare products, it undergoes a process called hydrogenation to become squalane (with an a) – a more stable and effective version of squalene.

In additional to HA, squalane oil is used in Rooki’s Superfood Saviour Crème and Foreo’s Serum Serum Serum to balance oil production while replenishing the skin’s barrier with fatty acids. This strengthens the outer most layer of the skin, making it less likely to lose moisture overnight and at the same time protects skin against external environmental aggressors like sun exposure and pollutants.

Ceramides are lipids (or fats) that are found naturally in the uppermost layers of skin. Making up over 50% of the skin’s composition, they hold the skin together by forming a protective layer against environmental factors such as pollution. The layer also limits moisture loss, which keeps the skin looking firm and supple.

However, the effectiveness of the skin’s natural ceramides is reduced over time with age and other environmental factors, resulting in the weakening of the skin’s barrier, water loss and increased roughness in texture. The good news is, the use of right skincare products can help replenish ceramide levels, reinforce your skin’s barrier and increase hydration.

For instance, Skin Inc’s Ceramide Serum contains four different types of ceramides and is encapsulated in seaweed patented capsules to protect the active ingredients from exposure to light and oxidation. This maximises the effectiveness and potency of the ceramides and enhances the skin’s protective barrier while soothing dehydrated skin.

A derivative of Vitamin A, retinol is known for its benefits in countering signs of ageing. Not only does retinol boost collagen production, it also stimulates cell regeneration and helps to prevent wrinkles and brightens skins - making it a cult favourite for retaining a fresher and younger skin.

To reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture and tone, try Elizabeth Arden’s Retinol Ceramide Capsules. Housing the lightweight formula in capsules helps to protect the highly reactive retinol, as it is extremely sensitive to light and air. The capsules are easy to use and at the same time, ensure the potency of every application.

One of the more common alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), lactic acid is a chemical exfoliant that is derived from milk. It helps to even out skin tones and improve texture by dissolving the bonds that hold dead skin cells together while stimulating cell renewal. Lactic acid also has an added ability to increase the skin’s natural moisturising factors to keep it well-hydrated.

Incorporating a skincare product that contains lactic acid, such as DRGL Post Cleanser Step 2, in your nightly routine can help to slough off dead skin and prevent build-up while ensuring maximum hydration. Lactic acid is also milder and less likely to cause irritation as compared to other AHAs - making it ideal for those with slightly sensitive skins.