Night Moisturisers: Our Superpower for Conquering Dry Skin
image via Pinterest / Rhode
Winter is coming, so a good night moisturiser is key.
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If you’re a busy 30/40-something, facing the pollutants of city living, and like me get dry and dull skin in Winter then it’s time to start using a night moisturiser. Be it a mask, cream or oil, night moisturisers are a saving grace for people like us. Often richer than day creams they work hard; nourishing, hydrating, and repairing skin overnight. They help our faces take on the next day, no matter what Winter throws at us, so here’s a review of some night moisturisers to consider for the chilly season.
The Best for Ultra-hydration:
Eve Lom Moisture Mask, £72, Look Fantastic
If I had all the money in the world the Eve Lom Moisture Mask would be a staple in my bathroom. It’s pricy at £72, but its glamorous packaging and silky formula are worth every penny. The mask contains natural emollient lecithin (to soothe and moisturise), antioxidant Irish sea moss (an anti-inflammatory ingredient), and protein-rich black oats to repair the skin. For my African skin, my uneven skin tone and post-acne marks become more emphasised in the Winter, but Eve Lom’s Moisture Mask combats that.
After my first use, I was glowing and confident enough to have a no-make-up day. At night, I usually put the mask on after applying a retinal, ensuring I get the benefits of the retinal without the dryness.
The mask can be used all year round and doesn’t disappoint on cold nights. You can be as generous as you like while applying it, wipe it off after 15 minutes and sleep in the excess - there’s no rinsing required for the non-greasy formula. With its long-lasting moisturisation, you’ll wake up looking radiant. If you're understandably watching your cash I would put this product on your festive wish list. It will serve you for a long time.
The Rich Mid-range Alternative:
Naturium Intense Overnight Sleeping Cream, £27 at Spack NK
Not quite ready to break the bank again with Eve Lom, a lovely lady at Space NK introduced me to Naturium’s Intense Overnight Sleeping Cream - she raved about it. Having used Naturium’s Multi-peptide Moisturiser, I was open to trying their overnight product and wasn’t disappointed.
Firstly Naturium is so good at providing that luxury feel without the massive price tag. At £27 for 50g, the packaging is classy and compact and the cream is beautiful to the touch; it’s rich, smooth, and quite lightweight.
Naturium advises you should apply a generous amount 2-3 times a week after completing your normal skin routine. The plant-based squalane and triglycerides really penetrate the skin so I would play it by ear on the amount - you need very little to get the benefits. Use too generous an amount and you’ll wake up with greasy skin. Use a little less, you’ll wake up to plump, soft and smooth skin. The cream should last you for months so it’s brilliant value for money.
The Fast-absorbing lightweight option:
No7 Protect & Perfect Intense, Advanced Night Cream, 50ml, £22.45, Boots
Containing No7’s trademarked collagen peptide Matryxl 3000, hyaluronic acid and vitamins A, C, and E to moisturise, plump up and detox the skin, this cream was very useful over Summer when my sebum levels were super high. It’s a beautifully packaged lightweight cream that will keep your skin plump through warm nights.
The cream claims to make your skin “less tired in 1 week”. If your skin isn’t severely dry in the Winter then this cream should be suitable, as it’s absorbed by the skin fast. However, when using it on my dry skin in the cold months, my face unfortunately feels dehydrated in the morning. The formula is not quite rich enough. I have to top it up with Byoma, Hydrating Recovery Oil (we’re coming to this next) to boost my skin. I’m also not partial to the fragrance. If you have dry skin and do want to give it a go, be prepared to use a very generous amount on cold nights. What I will give No7 is their Instant Results Nourishing Hydrating Mask at just under £15 does what it says on the tin. It only takes 3 minutes to get the benefits of its ceramides - it moisturises very well). It’s great if you’re in a rush and don’t have time for your full skin routine.
The Affordable Beauty Staple:
Byoma Hydrating Recovery Oil, £13.99, Sephora
If you’re not already on the Byoma train, it’s time. Like many others I’m obsessed with Byoma, their SPF - I love, their Milky Moisture Cleanser - I can’t do without, and their Hydrating Recovery Oil - it just works. If I feel I need an extra top-up after I’ve put on some night cream, I put on a little Byoma Hydrating Recovery Oil. If I’ve broken out and want to calm my skin, I put on a little Byoma Hydrating Recovery Oil. I use it all year round. My latest bottle was bought in late February, and I still have it. It’s incredible for nightly use. The oil filled with rosehip, jojoba, ceramide NP, and sea buckthorn goes deep, protecting the skin barrier from free radicals, reducing inflammation, and boosting skin regeneration - all without clogging the pores. Again, a little goes a long way, depending on your skin routine. It’s the best £13.99 I’ve spent and should be essential in all beauty kits.
The hustle and bustle of city life can be stressful to our bodies and minds, and the face is one place those stresses can show harshly. Night-time is our chance to leave fast-paced living outside, relax and give our skin the nourishment it needs. A good quality night moisturiser can be a game-changer, allowing you to rise in glowing skin, even when sleep has been difficult to achieve. But if you take only one thing away from this article - buy Byoma Hydrating Recovery Oil. You’ll thank me for it.
