REHAB YOUR SKIN WHILE YOU SLEEP

You can manage dryness, fine lines, acne, or other issues at home. These pre-bed steps take zero additional time and help your skin overnight.

- BY WENDY ROSE GOULD MEDICALLY REVIEWED BY HADLEY KING, MD

YOU MAY NOT REALIZE this, but you are surprisingly productive while you sleep. As you catch z’s, your brain flushes out metabolic waste linked to neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s. And your skin is in repair mode too. “While you're sleeping, skin undergoes a process of repair and rejuvenation,” says Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Miami. “Having a nighttime skincare routine gives you the opportunity to provide your skin with the nourishment and care it needs before going into the repair process.”

Your evening skincare routine helps maintain your skin’s health, slow down the aging process, and combat the effects of daily exposure to environmental stressors, including the most common one (that’d be the sun), she adds. So your skin will thank you for adopting this pre-bed regimen.

A Simple Four-Step Skincare Routine

The best evening skincare routine is actually quite simple—it covers the nonnegotiable basics while allowing room for some personalization. This ensures your skin gets the treatment it needs and some extra TLC, depending on your specific concerns.

Step 1: Wash Your Face with a Gentle Cleanser

No matter your skin type, reach for a gentle cleanser and make sure to spend a good minute (or two!) lathering it and gently working it onto your skin. “Cleansers remove the impurities of the day, including makeup, dirt and other environmental factors,” Chacon says.

If you have dry skin, select a moisturizing, oil-based cleanser such as Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm (Sephora). For oily or combination types, opt for a gentle foam or gel cleanser, such as Saturday Skin Brightening Cleansing Gel (Nordstrom).

Step 2: Follow Up with a Toner