Find Your Perfect Nighttime Skin Routine

We all know that getting our beauty sleep can help us look and feel our best, but do you know the scientific reason? Sleep is a crucially important time for the skin to recover, regenerate and repair itself from the damage caused by free radicals – hidden nasties found in everything from pollution to UV rays and cigarette smoke.

This makes the products you apply before bedtime a really important part of your overall skincare regime. Whether it’s a cleanser, moisturiser or a protective serum, each ingredient and formula will have the optimum time to work its magic when the skin is at its most receptive – at night.

What should I apply at night?

Emma Tillman, UK pro makeup artist at Estée Lauder, talks through her tried-and-tested evening skincare routine.

Step 1 of 4

Cleanse

“Your first step should always be to remove makeup. My favourite cleansing product is Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm as it helps to remove makeup and clean the skin. I also use a gentle eye makeup remover if I’m wearing heavy makeup and follow with the Perfectly Clean Multi-Action Foam Cleanser which leaves my skin squeaky clean.”

Step 2 of 4

Apply an antioxidant-rich night serum

“I can’t live without the Advanced Night Repair serum and have used this religiously for 15 years. It helps to hydrate my skin and locks in moisture.”

Step 3 of 4

Follow with a hydrating moisturiser

“It’s always good to follow with a good hydrating moisturiser as your skin can lose a lot of moisture at night. My favourite is Estée Lauder’s Revitalising Supreme+ Night. This gives my skin a smooth hydrated feel without leaving it feeling greasy. It’s also important to remember to hydrate the eye area. My go to is the Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex.”

Step 4 of 4

End with a facial massage

“It can be beneficial to massage in your products with an upwards and outwards motion but be extra gentle around the eye area. Always apply your eye cream from the centre outwards, focusing on the orbital bone while not getting too close to the lashes as this can irritate the eyes.”

What happens to your skin at night?

“When we have a good night’s sleep, our skin receives optimal conditions for its biochemical and metabolic processes typical for this stage of the day,” explains sleep expert Dr Lina Velikova MD. “Some of these processes include skin-cell renewal, regeneration, and moisture-locking.

“The skin also produces collagen during the night, which helps to build proper protection for the day. Collagen is important as it’s a hard, insoluble, fibrous protein that works like a shield on your skin, minimising the number of external aggressors that can enter, while stopping water from leaving the skin. During night mode, the skin also works on repairing damage created by aggressors.”

What are the most common causes of skin damage?

Everything from the sun’s UV rays to pollution, smoking, stress and a poor diet are harmful to the skin as they create free radicals. These are described in scientific terms as unstable, reactive molecules that start life as a pair but become separated. As they search for their missing half, the molecules try to attach to a replacement and unprotected skin is the perfect landing strip. Once attached, they get to work attacking healthy skin cells, robbing them of their oxygen and making them age faster.

What are free radicals?

“Put simply, free radicals are unstable atoms,” explains aesthetics doctor Cherie Wong. “They are highly reactive and aim to become stable by ‘stealing’ electrons from other molecules. In the context of our skin, exposure to UV rays and environmental pollution creates free radicals within our skin, which attack our cells to become stable. This causes DNA damage and leads to signs of ageing if the skin is unable to repair itself quickly enough.”

This is why when the skin is not getting enough time to recover and repair itself after a few late nights or a major life event, such as a wedding, we start to notice a decline in skin quality from free-radical damage.

“When we’re awake our body uses its internal resources for the alert state of our organs,” explains Dr Velikova. “Our skin is in defence mode so if you’re awake for prolonged periods, your cortisol levels (a stress hormone responsible for keeping the body alert) cannot drop sufficiently. This affects the skin cells renewal process and results in poor absorption of moisturisers and serums.” Additionally, premature ageing signs such as fine lines, wrinkles, loss of elasticity, age spots and pigmentation may start to become more noticeable over time.

How can a serum enhance the appearance of your skin?

In addition to a few early nights, the first and most important step is to ensure the ingredients and formulas used within your evening routine are actively working to fight free radical damage while aiding the skin’s natural renewal process. A serum is one of the most effective ways of tackling a number of skin concerns at night and should be the first part of your evening skincare routine after cleansing.

Choosing serums with good active ingredients can enhance the appearance of the skin, keeping it supple, radiant and youthful, explains Dr. Wong. Sleep is the time when our skin does most of its repair work which all helps the skin maintain its elasticity, firmness, smoothness and its ability to hold onto moisture.

A history of nighttime skincare

1982

Estée Lauder introduced its now famous Advanced Night Repair serum to the world. It was the world’s first consumer skincare serum containing hyaluronic acid.

1991

A decade later, the Advanced Night Repair Serum was reformulated with proprietary antioxidant technologies. This mimicked the skin’s own natural renewal process and helped to further reduce the signs of ageing.

2009

Estée Lauder’s new Synchronized Recovery Complex was released – a new formula with 20 worldwide patents that uses Chronolux Technology and hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture.

2019

Today’s best-selling Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II has an updated formula that harnesses Estée Lauder’s latest anti-ageing ChronoluxCB™ research.

What ingredients should you look for?

Hyaluronic acid is a game-changer. Great at retaining moisture, it’s a common ingredient in hydrating serums and moisturisers, (in fact, it’s used in everything from face masks to foundations). But the best way to ensure it’s part of your skin routine? Within a good hyaluronic serum before bed. Lightweight and quickly absorbed, hyaluronic acid can enhance the look of skin’s plumpness as well as smoothing the appearance of wrinkles.

What’s the best serum for hydrating sensitive skin?

If your skin type is sensitive it can be tricky to know which serums are suitable. Formulations need to not only tackle environmental damage but work to reduce the sensitivity they cause.

“Sensitive skins become more prone to redness and breakouts when they are not properly hydrated,” says Emma Coleman, an aesthetics and dermatology registered nurse. “Hyaluronic acid is a must as it is a highly absorbent, hydrating molecule which also boosts collagen synthesis, making our skin more resilient.”

“Other ingredients to look out for are resveratrol, a type of antioxidant found in deeply coloured foods such as berries and grapes, and antioxidants in general such as vitamins A, C & E,” she continues. “Applying a resveratrol and antioxidant-rich face serum at bedtime helps to reduce the appearance of daytime stress and pollutants.”

Estée Lauder’s new Advanced Night Repair Intense Reset Concentrate is an example of a night serum rich in ingredients such as this. Created with a combination of hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, antioxidants and soy amino acids, its potent multi-patented Chronolux™ SOS formula works to intensely hydrate the skin, working to neutralise free radicals before they can damage the skin’s appearance.

What’s the best serum for oily skin?

If your skin is more oily than sensitive, Coleman advises a lightweight serum as this will prevent breakouts and help to reduce pore size. “Look for ingredients like willow bark, slippery elm, peppermint and tea tree which have antibacterial properties,” she advises. “Hyaluronic acid and squalene will hydrate without clogging pores and hair follicles, while antioxidants and oat extract will help to reduce the appearance of redness associated with oily and combination skins.”

Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II is one such serum. It’s ideal for oily, combination skin types as it has a lightweight, oil-free formula that’s non-comedogenic – meaning it doesn’t block the pores. It’s also rich in hydrating hyaluronic acid and squalane which locks in moisture, leaving the skin feeling nourished but not greasy.

Finally, whatever your skin type, it’s always advisable to prepare the skin for a change of season. “As we go from summer into winter, different skin concerns are brought on by the dryer, colder outdoor air, as well as an onslaught of central heating,” says Dr Wong. “Therefore, it’s a good idea to start layering serums under your moisturiser that help strengthen the skin’s barrier function, and make it more able to hold onto moisture and protect itself from dryness.”

Once you’ve tried, tested and found the right products for your evening skincare routine, you should start to notice an improvement in skin quality. Whether you opt for a double cleanse and just a serum, or a moisturiser layered on top, you can feel confident that your skin has all that it needs to refresh itself while you sleep. Just don’t forget to apply a broad-spectrum sun protection over your usual serum and moisturiser the next morning. This will help to protect it from aggressors throughout the day.

Advanced Night Repair Intense Reset Concentrate

£59

A powerful overnight gel treatment that rescues and resets the look of stressed-out skin with a potent formula that combines stabilised salicylic acid and resveratrol, hyaluronic acid and antioxidants.

Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex Synchronized Recovery

£46

This lightweight gel crème eye treatment helps to fight the visible impact of a lack of sleep while addressing the appearance of damage caused by aggressors such as UV rays and pollution.

Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II

£58 – £95

A potent oil- and fragrance free formula, Estée Lauder’s original night serum helps to reveal smoother and more radiant skin each morning. Use nightly after cleansing and before your eye cream and moisturiser.

Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm

£38

This lightweight cleansing balm is great for removing the impurities that accumulate during the day as well as make-up, and should be the first step in your evening skincare routine. Because it doesn’t strip away natural oils it’s also great for dry skin.

Advanced Night Repair Eye Concentrate Matrix Synchronized Recovery

£49

This ultra-nourishing eye treatment is developed with Estée Lauder’s 360° Matrix Technology. It helps to give the eye area a refreshed radiant look while providing cushioning support and 24 hours of hydration with a double dose of concentrated hyaluronic acid.

Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery Eye Mask

£38 – £68

Designed to rejuvenate the look and feel of tired eyes in just 10 minutes, this concentrated eye mask utilises Advanced Night Repair technology to provide an intense concentration of hydration to the skin.

Advanced Night Repair Intensive Recovery Ampules

£89

Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair Intensive Recovery Ampules contain an active treatment oil that helps to calm the look of stressed skin. It does this by supporting the skin’s natural barrier function and building its natural resistance against environmental aggressors.

Advanced Night Repair Concentrated Recovery PowerFoil Mask

£64 – £110

This high-performance foil-backed sheet mask helps to reveal a fresher looking complexion by penetrating the skin with moisture and creating a protective barrier. Each treatment drenches skin in double the amount of hyaluronic acid than Advanced Night Repair serum, for intense, youthful, lasting moisture.

Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Synchronized Complex II