Nighttime Routines That Keep Your Skin Glowing and Hair Growing
There’s a Reason They Call It Beauty Sleep
Before you go to bed is considered prime time beauty and haircare time, but many people don’t even bother. They believe that the skin and hair care that they do during the day is enough.
It’s not.
Nighttime is when the skin and hair benefit the most from a dedicated care routine. Your skin absorbs moisturizers and vitamins better when you’re asleep because there are no environmental factors blocking them from penetrating the epidermis. Meanwhile, your hair thrives with the little things you do at night to protect it. Following are nighttime routines that can help you keep your hair and skin in check so that you always give good face.
Take Off Your Makeup
Taking off your makeup at night is important because it removes dirt, oil and environmental crap that gets trapped in your makeup and skin during the day. Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean that it isn’t there. Your skin goes through a cellular renewal process at night. A layer of makeup that isn’t removed prevents that renewal from happening. Your skin can’t breathe, and you’ve earned yourself a layer of tired-looking, worn-out skin with pores that can get clogged and produce pimples and blackheads. Use a proper makeup remover to make sure you get rid of every bit of makeup.
Wash Your Face
Use a gentle cleanser to remove dirt, oil and grime from your skin. You can use your hands to wash your face, but occasional use of a facial cleansing brush goes a bit further in making sure that you’re clearing the pores and removing the dead skin from the surface of your skin. Put the cleanser on the brush, and make gentle rotating motions on every section of your face. Micellar cleansing water is offered by many brands and is an excellent facial cleanser that thoroughly yet gently cleanses the skin after makeup has been removed. Micellar water is water that’s filled with micelles, or miniscule balls of cleansing oil molecules. Because micelles are drawn to dirt and oil, they are perfect for pulling these impurities away from the skin.
Use Toner
Toner is an important part of your skincare routine. It simultaneously cleanses your skin, shrinks the pores and provides a barrier against impurities. Toner also helps balance and restore the skin’s pH levels, especially if you have oily skin. When applying your toner, use a cotton swab or pad, dab some toner onto it and blot it onto your skin. Let it dry. Search for toners that have gentle, non-drying ingredients so that it doesn’t completely strip your skin of oil. There are plenty of toners on the market, but you can also make your own.
Raw apple cider vinegar has become a very popular natural beauty alternative amongst women of color. Apples have pectin, malic acid and potassium in addition to enzymes and acids that your body craves. When used on the skin, it acts as an antiseptic and antibacterial agent. When used as a toner, it balances your skin’s pH, exfoliates the skin by breaking up the bonds linking dead skin cells, lightens age spots and smoothes out acne scars. It also gets rid of excess oil.
Treat Your Skin-Specific Issues
Now’s the part of the process where you zone in on all of your specific skin problems. Dark spots are one of the most common skin issues for people of color.
Remember that gift from the gods, melanin? It’s also the reason that we’re more likely to get dark spots, also referred to as hyperpigmentation. Find creams with ingredients like activated C that work to fade darks spots and brighten the skin. Activated C reduces the skin’s melanin production, helping prevent new dark spots from forming and lightening up existing ones. When washing your skin, use a gentle exfoliating cleanser at the “wash your face” step. This will help lift away all the dirt and impurities that could clog your skin, causing blackheads and then dark spots.
Hydrate
Finalize your nighttime routine with a moisturizer. The steps to the dry skin moisturizing routine is above. If you have oily or normal to dry skin, simply find a light moisturizer and massage it gently into your skin.If you suffer from dry skin, using a hydrating cleanser like the micellar water mentioned above is ideal. Find a light hydrating facial oil and smooth it into your skin. Follow this up with a moisturizer that will be layered on top. If your skin is extra dry, an overnight mask on top of the moisturizer can help seal the deal.
Getting Your Hair Ready for Bed
Getting your hair ready for nighttime is pretty easy, but you have to be consistent.
Massage Your Scalp
Massage your scalp in the evening. It stimulates the follicles, increasing blood flow filled with nutrientshair’s roots. It’s also a great way to wind down and flood your body with relaxation. Massaging for just a few minutes can result in relaxing, beautifying effects. Don’t let wearing extensions stop you from massaging your scalp. Get those fingers in there!
Moisturize
You know your hair best, so do whatever it takes to make sure that it constantly retains moisture. You should be moisturizing your hair on a regular basis, so nighttime moisturizing should just be a top-up unless you are in dry hair repair mode. Spritz your hair with a bit of your favorite leave-in, and seal it with cream or an oil.
Braid it up
Braid, twist, tie up or pin down your hair at night if you wear it out during the day. It will help prevent breakage while stretching it out and helping prevent tangles and knots in the morning.
Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase, and WEAR A BONNET
Sleeping on a silk or satin pillow is a non-negotiable. When you twist and turn in the night on a cotton pillowcase, you are literally shredding your hair to bits. Use a silk pillow even if you wear a silk bonnet. This will help ensure that your hair remains covered even if your bonnet slips off. If you’re worried about how you’ll look wearing a bonnet because you have guests, there are lots of cute options nowadays that won’t have you looking like your grandmother’s grandmother.
If you do all of the above, you’ll one day be the flyest-looking 97-year old on the planet.
