How to Hydrate Skin Overnight
How to Hydrate Skin Overnight
Think hydrating is only a daytime thing? We’ll let you in on a secret, it’s even more powerful in the evening. Overnight is the perfect time to deeply hydrate your skin, as your body goes into repair mode while you sleep. Choosing the right PM skincare products can help you fight off signs of dehydration and means you’ll wake up with softer, smoother and plumper skin by morning. Here’s how to maximize skin hydration overnight.
What is Overnight Skin Hydration & why is it important?
Overnight skin hydration is crucial because this is when your body, including your skin, enters its regeneration phase. While you sleep, your skin undergoes several restorative processes from skin-renewing cellular turnover, to repairing damage, so your skin is actually at its busiest when you're enjoying some all-important rest.
Your skin is also more likely to absorb the products you use at night (while it’s in repair mode) versus during the day (when it’s in protection mode). Therefore, the products you apply just before bed are very important in helping your skin perform essential functions and can even help to enhance them. By adding those extra hydrating and nourishing skincare products into your PM routine you’ll create an ideal environment to maximize recovery and help your skin to rebuild overnight
How to Hydrate Skin Overnight
Step 1: start with a double cleanse
Before applying any hydrating products, you need to ensure your skin is thoroughly cleansed. Your skin goes through a lot in a day so double cleansing in the evening is non-negotiable to remove everything from makeup and SPF to pollution and other debris. Start with an oil-based cleanser (e.g. Oat Cleansing Balm) to remove oil-based substances like excess sebum, makeup, and SPF. This is gentle, non-stripping balm will deeply cleanse skin without disrupting moisture levels.
Follow with a water-based cleanser suited to your skin type (e.g. Hyaluronic Acid Cleanser for dry/dehydrated skin or Salicylic Acid Cleanser for blemish-prone skin) to help remove any remaining stubborn residue and impurities.
Step 2: use a hydrating serum
Serums are concentrated treatments that deliver active ingredients deeper into your skin’s surface layers. Choose a serum rich in humectants like Hyaluronic Acid Serum to lock in water and boost hydration levels. Layering a serum is especially effective if your skin feels parched or tight. Our top INKEY tip? Always apply Hyaluronic Acid Serum to damp skin, and pat gently into the skin rather than rubbing.
Step 3: choose the right nighttime moisturiser
Follow your serum with a rich, nourishing night cream to seal in hydration and prevent moisture loss. Look for creams containing ceramides, squalane, or peptides, like our Bio-Active Ceramide Moisturiser, to support your skin’s barrier function and help repair damage overnight.
Hydrating Ingredients to Look out for
- Hyaluronic Acid: A hydration superstar, Hyaluronic Acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, helping to instantly hydrate and plump skin. Try our Hyaluronic Acid Serum.
- Glycerin: This humectant pulls water from the environment into your skin, keeping it soft and supple. Try our Omega Water Cream.
- Ectoin: This multi-tasking ingredient utilizes an advanced hydration mechanism to bind water from its surroundings and create a protective shell around the skin cells to help keep hydration levels boosted and strengthen the skin’s barrier.
- Ceramides: Essential for a strong skin barrier, ceramides lock in hydration and protect against moisture loss. Try Bio-Active Ceramide Moisturiser.
- Niacinamide: This versatile ingredient supports hydration, improves skin elasticity, and reduces redness. Try Niacinamide Serum.
FAQs
Can I use the same moisturiser for day and night?
We would recommend having a different moisturiser for your AM and PM skincare routines. Day moisturisers are formulated to help protect your skin from environmental stressors and often give more instant visual benefits such as plump, smooth and more radiant skin. They often tend to be more lightweight in texture too, like Omega Water Cream, to work well under SPF and makeup. Night moisturisers are formulated with ingredients to help your skin repair and replenish overnight, as well as stronger actives such as Retinols that work best in your PM routine. They are also usually richer in texture to provide additional nourishment.
Will a humidifier help my skin stay hydrated at night?
Dry, indoor air can drain moisture from your skin while you sleep, especially in colder months. A humidifier adds moisture to the air which can help maintain your skin’s hydration levels overnight.
Can drinking water before bed help hydrate my skin?
Hydration isn’t just about external skincare products. Remember hydration starts from within so aim for at least 2 liters of water daily to maintain overall skin health. Drinking a glass of water before bed will ensure your skin and body are well hydrated before sleep, you could also try herbal teas which are hydrating and calming.
