Wu says that if you're adamant about having just one type of moisturizer, choose a moisturizer with SPF for both day and night: “There's no harm in using SPF at night," Dr. Wu reminds us.
Bottom line: It's generally not harmful to use a moisturizer with SPF at night, it's just not the best strategy for your skin if you want it to look and feel its best.
Sunscreen should be removed before bed, especially from the face. You won't be exposed to the sun's rays overnight, and sunscreen will block pores in the skin. This can dry out the skin, leading to acne and other skin concerns. Remove your sunscreen and use a night cream instead.
Night is an essential time to renew your mind—and your skin. Adding a lotion before bed creates softer, more hydrated, and better-looking skin the next day. It also helps seal in moisture and repairs the skin barrier that's compromised by dry air and harsh cleansers.
Even though your sunscreen is no longer effective, you should be sure to wash your face before going to sleep. While the actives in your sunscreen may be not-so-active anymore, there is probably sunscreen still left on your face. So at the end of the night, you do still need to wash your face.
You could, theoretically, use a night cream during the day. However, if you're planning on leaving the house, it' essential that you use a moisturizer with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Night creams are also formulated to help hydrate the skin while you sleep.
You should absolutely moisturize your skin even if you have active acne. It's an absolute myth that moisturizing your face will worsen your acne. In fact, moisturizers are necessary to keep acne-prone skin as relaxed as possible.
"If you use a night cream in the day, your skin will feel greasier and won't be protected from the sun. While if you use a day cream in the night, your skin will feel moisturized and nourished, but won't get a full range of anti-aging and moisturizing ingredients," she says.
Many people can get by without using a facial moisturizer at night. If your skin is normal -- it isn't dry or sensitive and you don't have a medical condition -- nighttime creams are superfluous. The most important things you can do to maintain normal, healthy skin is wear sunscreen and wash daily with a mild soap.
Wu says that if you're adamant about having just one type of moisturizer, choose a moisturizer with SPF for both day and night: “There's no harm in using SPF at night," Dr. Wu reminds us. Based on Dr. Wu's intel, we've rounded up our favorite nighttime and daytime moisturizes.
"Skin's oil production peaks at midday, and there is less oil production at night. Therefore, when you lose that protective layer of natural oils, your skin loses more water, so it's important to replenish the water loss with a moisturizer overnight," says Sobel.
The rest of the product then sits atop your face and forms a thin layer of oil, bacteria, and other ingredients. This layer will then clog the pores and whenever cores get clogged, pimples and zits form. So, yes, moisturizer can cause acne but it only typically happens whenever you over-moisturize your skin.
Sometimes moisturizers are too heavy or have ingredients that can irritate your skin and make your acne worse. To guard against that, simply look for bottles of moisturizer that say they are: Oil-free. Non-comedogenic.
Sometimes it can be too strong for your skin, causing it to react via purging, breakouts, or itchiness. You don't want the product to sting and itch even after you apply moisturizer.
To get the most out of your skin, especially as you hit your 30s and beyond, your best bet is to choose both a day moisturiser and a night cream, each with different key functions. For your daily moisturiser, opt for something packed with SPF and other protectants that will shield against daily life.
Dermatologists suggest that you apply night creams after cleansing your skin (and not just before you hit the bed) to ensure that the skincare ingredients sink in well. In fact, cell regeneration is supposed to be at its maximum during 10pm and 2am, so applying night cream before this is ideal.
Green confirms that yes—some sunscreens can, in fact, cause acne by clogging your pores. But why and how does this happen? “Certain sunscreens contain chemicals that can irritate your skin, making it more susceptible to acne breakouts,” she begins.
Your skin needs moisture to heal and improve its appearance. The top layer of skin alone – the stratum corneum – can absorb three times its weight in water. If you suffer from acne scarring on your body (shoulders and back for example) moisturize with Vaseline® Intensive Care Deep Restore Lotion.
Clogged pores are the most immediate sign of over moisturising. Too much moisturiser or heavy formulations can clog your pores, because of which you end up with blackheads and whiteheads.
“By over-moisturizing, you can cause the skin barrier function to weaken and risk clogging pores,” explains Sobel. Add those together and you get both dry skin and body acne — the allover equivalent of combination skin.
Dry and shiny skin
“If you use a moisturizer after cleansing, you can 'trick' the skin into believing it has the right amount of oil so it does not overproduce,” says Charles.
Also your product should last you a few months not a few weeks — running through product quickly indicates you might be using too much of it. Some signs you may be over-moisturizing are clogged pores, blackheads, bumpy skin and excess oil.
Some experts suggest that the best time for your nighttime skincare routine is just before going to bed. However, you may end up with more moisturizer on your pillow than your face. The skin needs at least 10-20 minutes for products to get properly absorbed into the skin.
As a rule of thumb, you should apply sunscreen as the final step in your skin care routine. Since products with SPF are specifically formulated with certain protective ingredients, layering one on after your moisturizer will help block out any harsh rays. So, in other words, SPF goes on after moisturizer.