Is night cream a necessity or is it just a marketing ploy to make us women buy more products than we really need? That, ladies is my point to ponder for the day 🙂
Could we not just use one cream for both day and night? After all if you look at the instructions on the labels or box your creams come in, you will notice that some creams or lotions say that you can use it day and night. So, why is there a market for night creams?
We have been bombarded in the media telling us that we need night creams which are richer to protect and nourish our skin as we sleep. In many cases, you will find that night creams do have an oilier and heavier feel to them. Most brands from drugstore or pharmacy brands to high end department store brands will have day and night versions of the same cream purportedly to address different concerns. In many cases day creams will (or should) contain SPF sunscreen while night creams don’t.
On the other side of the fence are those who say that all you really need at night is a good night’s sleep to help rejuvenate your skin. You don’t need fancy creams, not even a basic moisturiser. You should put nothing on your skin and let it breathe.
Personally, I feel that its part marketing ploy and part women’s vanity.
We don’t want to get sucked into the hype but there’s always that niggling thought “What if I don’t and I look like an old hag while others my age look 10 years younger? I mean, I know it is partly genetics, but what if…” 🙂
On a personal note, I don’t use a dedicated night cream, but I do use different creams for the day and the night. In the day, because my Eucerin suncreen fluid works well as a moisturiser, I don’t have to use a separate moisturiser. However, I won’t use it at night, because it contains SPF. The jury is out on whether using SPF at night is bad for your skin, but I just feel its unnecessary and a waste of sunscreen when there is no sun to be screening against.
In the night, I used to use the Lancome Primordiale Nuit which is truly truly awesome but my wallet hated me for spending so much on it! I was also using the Olay Total Effects (without SPF) but I’m presently using a basic moisturiser in the Eucerin Hydro Balance cream. Its cheaper than the Lancome and it does its job of keeping my skin moisturised at night. Once that’s finished I might look to something else or I might stay on… I’m not sure – I’m fickle 😛
I am not a proponent of not using any moisturizer at all, for 2 reasons:-
- I wear makeup in the day and I clean my skin thoroughly at night to remove traces of makeup. My skin thus feels slightly dry after cleansing
- I sleep in an air-conditioned room and air-conditioning is drying to the skin.
However, if you feel it works for you, that’s great.
So, my answer to the question of whether one really needs a special night cream is no, you do not. Any old moisturizer will do. If it works for you in the day, there’s no reason why it should not work for you at night. After all, its not like your skin will know when its day and when its night! 🙂 Sometimes because night creams tend to be heavier and oilier you might even find your skin reacting and breaking out from using it.
That said, if you are using a dedicated night cream and you like it and it works for you then don’t stop just because others say so. We are all different people with different skin needs and that is why there is always a market for beauty products! 😉
What are your thoughts? Do you use a dedicated night cream and do you think it is necessary?
I’m one of those who can’t take a richer, heavier night cream for fear of breaking out. 🙂
Hi Rinnah: Yeah I think its a problem most of us face but they keep telling us we need richer creams at night – marketing? 😉
i dont use a dedicated night cream. i just use whatever i use in the day, but day time i + sunscreen, or my bb with spf. at night i just skip the sunscreen. i find that all the normal nightcreams are too rich for me
Hi prettybeautiful: Yep, that’s what I do too but some night creams like the Lancome one I really liked but my wallet hated LOL
There’s no need to go for commercial night creams if you can pick out using ingredients directly to address your skin concerns. I’m all for using oil on my face at night now.
Hey Sesame: I’d be interested in the oil for the face thing. I might look into that too once I find a proper place to get them
Thanks to your recommendation, I’ve been using the Eucerin Hydro Balance for the past two months, and I love it. I use it at night. Doesn’t matter if I used it during the day as well.
I used to think that I needed a richer cream for night use, but it reacted with my oily skin, making it even oilier. From then on, I stuck to any old moisturiser that worked for me and that’s good enough 🙂
Hiya Tine: Ooh I love the Eucerin cream too! It is somehow just right for me.
I use Eucerin Cream-Gel Anti Sebum something something. I find it a little heavy for day even though it’s oil-free, but it’s great for my oily skin and night. But the REAL reason I use it is because the Lactic Acid included in it to help exfoliate skin and kill pimples works so well with Differin. I find a clear improvement with the effectiveness of Differin when paired with this moisturiser. Syen uses it too. ^_^
Hi Kahani: Ooh I think I’ve seen this Eucerin thingo Glad it works for you!
I’ve never used any night cream. The only moisturiser I’m using is Biotherm Aquasource. Am on my 3rd one now. My friend was recommending Estee Lauder products but I’ve so far tried the eye cream. I shall check them out when I’m in Malaysia end of the month. Skin care products and cosmetics are generally cheaper there. I know I’ll bring heaps back here. *lol* That’s why I’m reading your old entries to see what I should try out.
Hiya Amanda: I’ve never tried the Biotherm Aquasource though I’ve heard a lot of good things about its moisturising properties. I used to use Estee Lauder but later found it a little too fragranced for me. I’ve heard about how expensive cosmetics are in Europe. I guess you’d be shopping up a storm here!
My skin is dry and as I age, skin regeneration slows down … hahaaha so I use a night cream specifically targetting cell regeneration and moisturisation … it makes some difference, when I wake up I feel my skin is not taut and flaky. That’s what helps me decide if I needed a specific night cream. I find things that exfoliate/regenerate cells harder to use in the day because sometimes it’s too oily for use under makeup, so I use a different cream in the day. Hahaaha I’m so vain and so sold on the marketing. ^_^
Hi Karen: Hey, if the cream works for you, never mind if its marketing! We all just want to look good right? 😉
Since I put on moisturiser and a thick layer of sunscreen during the day, I just use carrier oils to moisturize my skin at night [it’s feels so light that you forget you actually applied something!]. My skin needs to “breathe” after getting blocked by silicone based products all day.
Anyway, some people’s skin do well with night creams… And some lucky ones can go without night moisturisers.
p/s: Don’t you love it how sunscreen makes your skin look so flawless in the sunlight. HAHA! With all the light reflecting particles, it’s like an instant photoshop. And it works well with camera flashes too.
Hi Ms Blacklace: Now you got me interested in carrier oils too! I’m going to start checking these out. 🙂
I am not into “I must” use separate night cream/day cream but I am into checking how to product reacts on my face, I tend to use the moisturizer /cream that’s thicker for the night as I tend to always wake up with dry patches, and I tend to use less thick creams during day time as I don’t want to walk around with shiny face 🙂 For me, it really depends on how the product reacts onto your skin and you taking note on the reactions on your skin to a certain product.
Great post ! I love this!
Hi Nikki: I sometimes feel that way too when trying out different moisturizers at night. Some don’t cut it even if they feel nice in the day because air conditioning does make the air drier. Still, I usually then go for something heavier but not specifically something that says “night cream” LOL
I’m using a oil/serum from Biguine Bio (Serum Huile D’ Argan) that is basically pure Argan oil. The texture is light and does not leave a residue. And it absorbs immediately! Best part…. doesn’t cause me to break out as I have hyper sensitive skin (ie. cannot be too dry, cannot be too oily, cannot be too anything!). Planning to carry it in Bodybar soon and will try to keep the price low. Love it love it love it!
(http://www.biguinebio.com.au/store/prodView.asp?idproduct=10)
Hi Michelle: That sounds interesting. Will be checking it out.
i have been using olay whitening day cream with no problems till I added the olay 7 serum to it. My face broke out in small pimples which are red, painful and has a yellow centre. Stopped after the 5th day when i REALISED more and more small pimples came up. I used retin-A to clear the pimples and now I am wondering should I try it again. Does anyone here break out from olay 7 serum?
I find elizabeth arden 8 hour cream very good despite of its slight lemon grass smell. Yes, I use it on my face. For Rm110 , you get 200 ml which will last ages if used sparingly. I use it on my eyes as balm, lips as well as face and neck….. no more marketing hype for me. TQ.
Hi Ferarri: I have not tried the Olay 7 Serum but I broke out from the Olay Regenerist serum before so I’m very wary to try another Olay serum. Glad you’ve cleared up your spots though. I have also tried the Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour cream but only on my hands.
I don’t use night cream too. Too lazy. I prefer my face to be clean when I sleep. Don’t like to overload it.
If you sleep in an air-conditioned room, place a glass of water in the room. It’ll keep some moisture in the air instead of drying out the air. It’s better for your skin. Do try.
I use night cream..it’s Pond’s Age Miracle now (I use the whole ‘set’ anyway)…
I don’t think I need night cream, but I just love applying different cream at night 🙂
i believe that some night creams will actually cause the skin to be sensitive to light; hence it being a night cream
I don’t use a night cream, because as mentioned, night creams are heavier and oilier, and I’m worried I might break out too!
That being said, sleeping in an air-con room does draw out moisture from your skin. My solution is to apply aloe vera gel right before bed. Works like a charm and no worries about the heavy, oily or prone-to-breaking-out problem 😀
If I use a lotion with spf at night, will it do any harm to my skin?
Hi Min Luo
It won’t harm your skin but its quite unnecessary that’s all 🙂 Some people do report that it might clog pores.
I ran out of night cream, so I used my SPF 15 day cream for a few nights. It gave me contact dermatitis, and my face is so horrible right now. I will never do that again 🙁 I love the night creams because my face feels so soft and rejuvenated when I wake up.