am vs. pm skincare
Do you ever wonder why you use different products in the morning versus night time? Two things affect this - the environment and your circadian rhythm.
Excerpt from GlyMed Plus:
“Every day, your skin fights off environmental aggressors, such as air pollution, UV radiation and countless chemicals and toxins, New York-based dermatologist Deny Engelman explained in a NET-A-PORTER article. “Our morning skin care routine is super-important to provide our skin with the tools it needs to combat these assailants,” Engelman said. Using protective skin care in the morning prevents your skin from becoming dry, dull and sun-damaged. It also helps fight off acne, redness and premature aging.
However, you don’t need to worry about protecting your skin from environmental aggressors while you’re safely tucked underneath the covers (unless you haven’t washed your bedsheet in a while). That is why some skin care products only benefit you in the daytime. Other products, like retinol serums, make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Save these products for your nighttime skin care routine to avoid sun damage.”
Now onto our circadian rhythm. Your circadian rhythm is a 24-hour cycle your body goes through every day. Think of it as an internal clock that controls your biological functions so your body knows when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to wake up.
The brain gets clues from the environment to know when it is time to switch from the wake phase to the sleep phase of the cycle. For example, as the sun goes down and you're exposed to less blue light, your brain releases the sleepiness hormone, melatonin. What does this have to do with your skin? Everything! At night, your circadian rhythm increases cell regeneration and collagen production while decreasing your cortisol (stress hormone) level. These processes allow your skin to repair itself so it is ready to take on another onslaught of environmental aggressors the next day. At the same time, your skin weakens and produces less oil while you sleep, leaving it susceptible to dehydration.
For your nighttime skin care routine, focus on aiding the repairing process and keeping your skin hydrated. Your skin’s nightly repair cycle also gives you the perfect opportunity to smooth out wrinkles and treat skin conditions like acne, hyperpigmentation and rosacea. So, bring on those treatment products to achieve a glowing, youthful complexion.
Creating a skincare routine:
The rule for any skin care routine is to apply products from thinnest to thickest, so the thicker products seep through the thinner ones and into your skin. First you are going to cleanse, then use a toner, next use your serums, and finally use moisturizer. In the AM apply SPF as the last step and in the PM you can use a face oil if your skin can tolerate it.
Click here to shop simple AM and PM skincare routines that I have completely customized for dry, oily, combination and normal skin types!
