Why do you need different cream at night, instead of being able to use a day cream twice? Some may wonder if this is just a marketing ploy by manufacturers. And does enough sleep really help your skin? Before looking into the specifics of needing a night cream, let’s delve into the aspects of sleep itself. We know that insomnia has a negative effect on the body, including the skin, and can accelerate aging. This occurs due to the fact that poor sleep raises cortisol levels and elevates blood sugar, which causes tissue damage by inflammation. Growth hormones are also affected in a negative way by a lack of sleep.
A study at Case Medical Center in Cleveland demonstrated that sleep quality impacts skin function and aging. Specifically at the level of the skin, poor sleep has been linked to a disruption of the moisture skin barrier and UV damage repair. Sleep deprived women showed signs of premature skin aging and a decrease in their skin’s ability to recover after sun exposure. Furthermore, the study concludes that poor-quality sleepers also show signs of intrinsic skin aging, such as fine lines, uneven pigmentation, and reduced elasticity.
There is evidence to support the fact that the skin has day and night rhythms. There is hydration loss, higher skin temperature and more acidity to the skin at night. Due to these factors, it would indicate that a different moisturizer would be appropriate in the day versus the night. Therefore, the two different creams may not be just a marketing ploy, but have some scientific evidence to back it up.
When looking for a night cream, there are some factors to keep in mind. Look for creams that contain botanicals that have soothing and relaxing properties to them to help the body rest well. Lavender would be the best choice for this. Since the skin is resting at night it would be important to choose a cream that contains repairing ingredients such as Vitamin A and Vitamin C.
The skin absorbs more nutrients during sleep, so nighttime moisturizers should contain more hydrating agents such as Vitamin E, Hyaluronic acid, and plant oils. Ingredients that increase the skin’s photosensitivity should be used only at night. Those ingredients would include Alpha Hydroxy Acid and other ingredients for skin lightening. All in all it is best to use face creams that use only naturally derived ingredients because the skin is your largest organ, and what you put on your skin can be absorbed to a certain degree into your body.
Popular Night Creams: DeVita Evening Rich Moisturizer and Paul Penders Avocado & Cranberry PM Moisturizer