Hey, so recently I’ve been asked the question “what should I use for night?”

Things to take into consideration:

• AGE (<18, 18-29, 30s, 40s-50s, 60s+)
• SKIN TYPE (normal/dry, oily/combination, sensitive)
• SKIN APPEARANCE (lots of acne, flaking skin, loose/sagging skin, wrinkly, etc.)
• SKIN CONCERNS (such as acne, dullness/darkness, wrinkles, large pores, etc.)

Age…<18 years old.

-Don’t need to use a specific night cream. You really should just be using a daily moisturizer (cream/emulsion/gel). If there’s no SPF, you can use it at night too. To help your eyes (dark circles/puffiness), DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY. JUST SLEEP IT OFF. You young people have the benefit of sleep that helps. Don’t put it to waste. GO TO BED!!!!

Day AND Night routine for someone under 18 years old should look like this:

1.1. Cleanser: Wash your face with whatever cleanser you have. This could be a cleansing milk/cream, cleansing foam, or any other form of soap you use to wash your face with. If your skin is more DRY, opt for a CLEANSING MILK (it’s more hydrating). If your skin is OILY/COMBINATION, opt for a FOAM (the soap sucks up all the oils, but make sure its completely foamed up before you apply it to your face). Dr. Oasis has a cleansing foam that is water-based, so it doesn’t leave your skin feeling tight and dry afterwards. If you have acne, try to go for a cleanser with micro beads, like Clarins One Step Exfoliating Cleanser or Shiseido Pureness Deep Cleansing Foam. BUT if you have OILY/COMBINATION SKIN that is SENSITIVE, a CLEANSING MILK/CREAM is the best bet for you because it’s VERY GENTLE to the skin, plus it helps remove make up easier than a foam does. (Even though I really don’t recommend kids under 18 to wear foundation… AT ALL. IT’LL JUST RUIN YOUR SKIN!) BUT this is more concerning the girls who have dance/gymnastics/any other thing that REQUIRES you to put on make up.

http://www.clarinsusa.com/Cleansers-Toners/210,en_US,sc.html

http://skinstation.com/products/index.php

http://www.shiseido.com/gentle-cleansing-cream/0730852530133,default,pd.html&cgid=skincare-cleanser#!i%3D7

2. Toner: A toner is used to provide a deeper cleansing after using your daily cleanser. It reaches deeper down into the pores and inner layers of your skin, allowing a cleaner face that is now ready for your lotion to penetrate deeper into the skin. Toners are a must if you want to help get rid of incoming blackheads, clean out your pores, and get the best results from your moisturizer. To use, soak a cotton pad with the toner and then swipe it all over your face starting from your forehead, to your eyes, to your cheeks, nose, mouth/chin area, and lastly your ENTIRE neck (including the the part behind your ears). FLIP THE COTTON PAD OVER then repeat the process with circular motions to scrub away those blackheads/dead skin cells. You’ll notice that the cotton pad will turn brownish from all the dirt. Personally I think that most toners are about the same from any company, so just pick one that is suitable for your skin type and you’re good to go. My favorite one is the Clarins Water Comfort One Step Cleanser because it works as a cleanser and toner in one step. And the smell is sooooo good! It’s peach! Rose Water is something you can use as a toner too. Works as a toner and helps with redness (as long as you don’t scrub). I like the spray version from Dr. Oasis. Smells great too :) As you can probably tell, I’m the type who likes stuff that smells good lol. Also, Shiseido has toners that come in enriched for people with dryer skin or for the winter (when your skin gets dryer) which is cool too.

http://www.clarinsusa.com/Water-Comfort-One-Step-Cleanser-with-Peach-Essential-Water/C010105002,en_US,pd.html&cgid=210&start=14

http://skinstation.com/products/index.php

http://www.shiseido.com/the-skincare-hydro-nourishing-softener/0730852530676,default,pd.html&cgid=skincare-softener#!i%3D6

3. Moisturizer: Now, this could be one of 3 things depending on your skin type. If you have normal/dry skin, use an emulsion (aka a lotion). It’s lighter than a cream, and glides on easily. It’s quick and soaks in well. If your emulsion doesn’t have an SPF in it, you can use it at night too. Don’t want to use anything with SPF at night because it clogs your pores when you sleep. SPF is meant to be used as a protective layer to prevent the sun exposure from damaging your skin, so you have to wash it off before you go to sleep. 

Skin Concerns…My top picks

Matify/help oily skin-Shiseido Matifying Moisturizer (oil free) $33

http://www.shiseido.com/pureness-matifying-moisturizer-oil-free/0730852167087,default,pd.html&cgid=skincare-pureness#!i%3D3

Help balance out combination skin-Clarins Truly Matte Hydra-Matte Lotion $40

http://www.clarinsusa.com/Truly-Matte-Hydra-Matte-Lotion/C010402001,en_US,pd.html?start=5&cgid=220

Brightening purposes-Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Protective Emulsion $54.50

http://www.shiseido.com/white-lucent-brightening-protective-emulsion-w/0730852103931,default,pd.html&cgid=skincare-whitelucent#!i%3D4

Help dry skin-Clarins Hydraquench cooling cream/gel $49. Or Dr. Oasis 24 Hour Booster $48

 For anyone dealing with acne problems, I personally think that Neutrogena is a great drugstore brand for dealing with oily skin. If you have dryer/sensitive skin, I hear aveeno is good. And if you want something for eyes, get some cold (frozen) spoons and stick it on your eyes for about 10 seconds after you wake up, release, and your puffiness should go down.