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3 Steps to Make Night Cream Your Top Defense Against Aging

People often think that night creams are optional, or that they’re only necessary for dry skin. After all, your skin is just resting on a pillow overnight, so why the fuss? Truth is, your skin is working hard while you dream, so you can wake up looking fresh!

1) Pick the right Night Cream

Your skin is exposed to different types of external stress factors every day. UV damage, air pollution, cigarette smoke, nutritional factors, stress and lack of sleep all can cause your body to produce free radicals, which can damage your skin cells on a DNA and mitochondrial level. If you are under 25, your skin has wonderful powers to renew itself and a moisturizing night cream that supports repair from UV exposure is most likely enough.

Once you are a little older, your night cream should take on age defense. Look for products with antioxidants like Vitamin C to help scavenge free radicals, or  super antioxidants like Methylene Blue, which neutralizes them and repairs mitochondrial health and DNA damages. 

2) Leverage the Circadian Rhythm to repair Skin at Night

Our bodies have their own internal clock - the circadian rhythm - that regulates physiologic, metabolic, and behavioral rhythms. The skin, which is our largest organ, contains its own circadian clock genes, which influence its function by time of day. Here is how a night cream leverages your natural healing process:

  • Skin permeability, which determines the rate at which creams can be absorbed, is higher in the evening than in the morning. In fact, skin penetration is at its maximum at around 4:00am, with absorption slowing throughout the daylight hours.
  • The skin blood flow rate, which also helps with absorption,  has been shown to be affected by the circadian rhythm, increasing in the late afternoon and at night.
  • Research has shown that previous ultraviolet light exposure can continue to damage the DNA of the skin, even in the dark, and that repair of these skin cells peaks at night.  We also know that during the early morning hours, the body best performs DNA repair and that optimal DNA repair occurs with optimal sleep. 

3) Apply Night Cream correctly for Maximum Results

STEP 1: Cleanse your face and neck thoroughly with your favorite, gentle facial wash and pat dry. Avoid rubbing the delicate surface and be sure to use a clean towel to prevent bacteria from getting into your skin. 

STEP 2: Apply a facial serum that will repair any oxidative stress from the day, like a Vitamin C serum. You may also use a serum to balance your microbiome or deeply hydrate the skin. 

STEP 3: Let the serum absorb for 5-10 minutes and then apply your night cream by gently patting it onto your face.  Patting  or gently massaging in a circular motion with your fingertips will improve blood flow and absorption. Avoid stretching or rubbing the skin!

STEP 4: Look in the mirror, smile and send yourself some love.

Conclusion 

Use the power of your own body with a good night cream to repair and rejuvenate your skin overnight. Looking for the best anti-aging products with Methylene Blue?  Check out Bluelene’s Night Cream and Serum Plus+ for night time DNA and mitochondrial repair. Shop today and see the results for yourself in 3 weeks of use!