Typically, men have never shown as much interest as women when it comes to using products to keep their skin young and healthy. Men are now becoming more open to taking care of their skin and following a skincare regime to keep their skin looking fresh. In particular, more and more men are waking up to the benefits of using a night cream before bed, to protect and restore their skin over night and have them waking up feeling refreshed and ready for the day ahead.
If you’re wondering what the best night cream is, you’re already way ahead of the curve. We’re still beating the drum to get everyone moisturizing in both the morning and evening, so using the same product is totally fine for starters. But there’s also no real reason not to start using a specialized night cream—it won’t even really cost you anything, since each product lasts twice as long if you’re only using it once a day. And your skin needs very different things while you’re getting your shut-eye.
During the day, you are more prone to sweating, and your skin’s oil production can fluctuate, leading to unwanted shine. You’re seeing people out in the world—you don’t want a layer of visible product on your mug. Most importantly, you’re exposed to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, which can aggressively age the skin, and, you know, give you cancer. So a daytime moisturizer should be lightweight, invisible, and include SPF to shield your skin from the sun.
At night, that’s all out the window. You aren’t as concerned with your appearance, so heavier products are suddenly in play. (Night creams tend to be dense to protect your skin from overnight dehydration.) Sweating isn’t as much of an issue, so there’s less need to worry about shine. Your skin cells are regenerating rapidly as you sleep and your entire body repairs and restores itself. The best night cream will magnify the benefits of that cellular turnover, with ingredients like ceramides that help firm and plump the skin by boosting collagen and elastin. Many night creams include retinol, a hard-working ingredient that proactively reverses signs of aging—but that isn’t good for daytime use, since it increases the skin’s sensitivity to irritation and sun damage. These products will put in heavy-duty work will you’re conked out—and make sure you wake up looking rested and refreshed.
What is a night cream?
Often people get confused between moisturiser and night cream and whilst there are similarities, there are significant differences. Most obvious is that night cream is only applied at night. Less obvious is how night cream is formulated which is very different to that of moisturiser.
Firstly, night cream ingredients typically focus on regenerating and encouraging skin cell turnover to repair skin damage that has occurred throughout the day. Night cream also uniquely makes the most of the skin’s natural nighttime rhythm and promotes skin hydration along with clearing up dry patches and supporting collagen production.
Should men apply night cream?
Yes! Research has shown that the body’s ability to recover and rejuvenate skin is significantly enhanced during sleep. For men, optimising their skincare routine before bed by applying night cream can help reduce the signs of ageing, leave their skin appearing younger, result in less fatigued and ultimately with a more refined complexion.
Furthermore, tiredness related skin imperfections such as dark circles, bags under eyes and puffiness appear more reduced and less intense. Most notably however, men’s skin naturally loses spot creating oils throughout the night, thus a night cream can rebalance oil levels and help prevent breakouts.
What should I look for in a night cream?
It’s important to explore different products to see which one gives you the best result. As with all skin care routines, everyone will respond differently and it’s important to find a night cream that gives you the desired outcome. Start by experimenting with night creams that contain anti-aging ingredients such as antioxidants.
How much night cream should I use?
Typically a good measure is the equivalent size of a five pence piece for a full face application.
Why men should use a night moisturiser
During the night, our bodies slow down and rest, but our skin continues to work. As we sleep, our skin moves from daytime protection mode into a ‘night mode’ of regeneration and repair. If we give our skin a little helping hand by using a night cream we can help accelerate and support the regeneration process.
Night creams contain moisturisers that will keep the skin from drying out, and replenish the moisture lost during the day. They are also formulated to promote cell renewal and combat the degenerative effects of sun, wind and rain that our skin is subject to throughout the day.
How to use night cream?
Follow these instructions to apply the night cream before you go to bed.
- Wash your face using a warm, moist cloth. (A clean face encourages proper absorption of the nutrients and active ingredients).
- Gently pat your face dry and apply a light coat of cream to your face in a gentle circular motion. Do not apply a heavy layer to your skin as this can clog your pores and cause irritation to your skin.
- When you wake in the morning, wash your face with warm water to remove any residue left by the cream.
- Apply your daily moisturising regime as usual.
When should men start using a night cream?
It is recommended that men begin using night cream prior to the skin showing signs of ageing or damage, usually at around 25 years of age. Applied from an early enough age it can delay the effects of ageing. It is never too late, however, so if you show signs of ageing, you should consider bringing a night cream into your daily skincare routine.
It should be applied to the face before bedtime, paying particular attention to the soft skin around the eyes, which is the first area to show signs of ageing.
The benefits of night cream
Night creams can help to visibly reduce the signs of ageing and work with your skin’s natural defences to rejuvenate and restore your skin overnight. They will moisturise and enhance cell regeneration, helping your skin recover from the previous day and prepare for the day ahead.
As a man, it is easy to overlook the importance of taking care of your skin, but it’s just as important for men as it is for women. Using a night cream is a simple and convenient way to maintain your skin, keeping it fresh, clean and young.
We have a wide variety of night cream products and treatments in our online shop, so take a look at our selection of night creams for men at your leisure.
Why does men’s skin benefit from a specific night cream?
“The skin has its own circadian rhythm and its function at night is different to the daytime function,” confirms dermatologist Dr. Derrick Phillips. “During the day, the skin must mitigate the damage caused by UV rays from the sun,” especially if you’ve been slacking on the SPF moisturiser.
“Therefore, day cream formulations should aim to hydrate but also to protect. They may contain anti-inflammatory ingredients such as niacinamide and antioxidants (e.g. vitamin C), to protect against free radical damage. They must also be light enough to allow you to wear an SPF on top, if it’s not already included in the formulation.”
As Dr. Phillips explains, night time is when the skin switches focus to renewal and repair. “Ingredients such as humectants which draw moisture in, and occlusives, which lock that moisture in, work together to promote hydration: an integral part of the restoration process. In addition, exfoliating products (such as retinoids and alpha and beta-hydroxy acids) increase sensitivity to the sun, so are best incorporated into nighttime creams. In short, there is rationale for having a separate day cream and night cream – although there are also products that tick most of the boxes for both.”
What should a good night cream contain?
The best night cream for you largely depends on your skin type. Dr. Phillips recommends those with dry skin try something rich in humectants (hydrating) and occlusives (moisture-locking). “Humectants include ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin and urea, which draw water into the skin giving additional hydration. In high concentrations (more than 10%), urea will also break down keratin, improving the appearance of the fine white scale that appears with dry skin. Occlusive ingredients include shea butter, cocoa butter, petroleum and jojoba oil.”
Conversely, those with oily skin should veer towards ‘non-comedogenic’ – or non pore-clogging – formulations, as “these are less likely to block pores and cause breakouts. Oil-textured products and occlusives should certainly be avoided.”
Related Services: Laser Hair Removal, Botox, Lip Filler, Microneedling