By Josephine Agbonkhese

Do you know your skin absorbs the potent ingredients in skincare products better at night, and also repairs itself and recovers from the damages caused during the day while you sleep at night?
The ability to accelerate the skin’s repair and regeneration process, and much more, are why using potent skincare ingredients at bedtime is vital.
Truth is, if you want your skin to look healthy and flawless, you take care of it during the day and at night too, before going to bed. This is because while products in your daytime skincare routine are formulated to hydrate and protect your skin from UV rays and other environmental aggressors, those in your nighttime skincare routine repair skin cells.
Anti-aging products, in particular, work best at night when your body is at rest. Follow these six steps for an effective nighttime skincare routine.

Step 1: Remove makeup
The biggest skincare faux pas is going to bed with makeup on. Simply washing your face with water is even often not enough as some makeup products are waterproof and do not come off easily. Instead, use the oil cleansing technique. Opt for coconut oil and a cotton pad if you have dry skin, and micellar water if your skin is oily or sensitive. This is an easy way to get rid of stubborn makeup and a vital starting point for nighttime skincare.

Step 2: Cleanse
After removing makeup, use a cleanser suitable for your skin type to get rid of excess oil and makeup residue. No matter your skin type, a gentle cleanser that won’t strip your skin of natural oil and disrupt your skin’s microbiome is essential.

Step 3: Apply Toner
Toning is an important step in both day and nighttime skincare routines. Apart from re-hydrating your skin after all the oils have been washed off your face during cleansing, it also shrinks pores and removes any dirt that may have been left behind. Toners that do not contain alcohol are suitable for all skin types. Pour a little bit on a cotton pad and gently apply all over the face and neck area.

Step 4: Apply a serum or spot treatment
This step is where you can tailor the routine to your skin concerns, whether that’s a serum for hyperpigmentation, a spot treatment for an active breakout, or a prescription acne or anti-wrinkle product.
Make sure you wait at least for a minute or two before moving on to the next step.

Step 5: Eye cream
No nighttime skincare routine is complete without a good eye cream. This is because the area around your eyes is quite delicate and one of the first places to show signs of aging since it is usually poorly moisturised, rarely protected from UV rays, and yet, always right before screens. All of these result in dark circles, puffy, wrinkled and tired-looking eyes. A good eye cream in your routine will relax and moisturise the eye area.

Step 6: Moisturise
Moisturisers or night creams should be the last step in your nighttime skincare routine. Choose a product suitable for your skin type. For example, if you have oily skin, avoid using a formula that will clog your pores or anything heavy, and opt for a gel-based moisturiser instead. Do not ignore your neck area when applying moisturisers to your face; it’s part of your face.