Editorji Exclusive: Here's how to select nighttime skincare products

While your morning routine is largely about the protection of skin and prevention of any damage from sun exposure and environmental factors, your evening routine is about the repair and restoration of the health of your skin. Like much of your body, your skin too naturally repairs itself in the night while you sleep. A good nighttime skincare routine goes a long way in helping the natural repair and restore process of your skin.

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Know your skincare ingredients:

Antioxidants: These help control the melanin formation in your skin and also help decrease the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. The most common antioxidants for skincare are vitamin c derivatives.

Collagen Boosters: Collagen is a protein that helps keep your skin elastic and supple and hence staves off wrinkles. The most common collagen boosters are retinoids which are derivatives of vitamin A.

Moisture Penetrating Agents: These are ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid or Lecithin which can hold large quantities of moisture and help it penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin.

Barrier Improvement Agents: Ingredients like Ceramides and Lanolin improve the barrier function of the skin and thus reduce trans-epidermal water loss.

Humectants: These are ingredients like Glycerine which help attract moisture to the upper layer of skin from the deeper layers and also the atmosphere.

Emollients and Anti-inflammatories: These are ingredients like squalene which help soothe the skin and reduce any inflammation.

A skincare routine should be based on the type of skin you have and its current state. These are the ingredients Dr. Sejal Saheta suggests for different skin types, take a look!

For dry skin: You will need a moisturizer that is generally thicker in consistency and prevents any moisture loss. In addition, the moisturizer should have ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid which provides for deeper moisture penetration.

For oily skin or combination skin: In this case, use only non-comedogenic products which do not block your pores and give rise to acne. You can also use higher-strength serums or creams with both antioxidants and retinoids.

For aged skin: Your nighttime skincare products should have a focus on collagen and elastin regeneration. Hence, products that are based on retinoids and peptides which boost protein regeneration are your best bet.

For pigmented/Patchy skin: Your skincare product should focus on control and reduction of melanin generation. Hence, the product should be rich in antioxidants like vitamin C or glutathione.

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(Inputs from Dr. Sejal Saheta, Dermatologist and Veneorologist, InUrSkn)