Looking for a way to make your skin look better overnight for a special event? First date? Big job interview?
While you can’t solve every skincare issue overnight, you can get a mini skincare glow up that will improve your complexion with a few easy tips. Want longer lasting results? Add these skincare tips into your regular skincare routine!
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1. Cleanse Properly
An important skincare step in every night time routine, but especially in an overnight skincare glow up routine, is to cleanse your skin properly. There is no way any skincare products that can make a difference in your skin overnight or over months can penetrate properly if you have sunscreen, makeup, dirt or oil from the day in the way.
To remove sunscreen and/or SPF, add an oil-based cleanser to your shopping list and read up on the importance of double cleansing in your skincare routine and how to do it properly. Double cleansing involves first cleaning your skin with an oil cleanser or cleansing balm to remove SPF or makeup that is designed to cling to your skin like its life depends on it. After properly cleansing with oil, follow up with a gentle non-oil foaming cleanser to rinse away any residue or dirty bits left behind.
The result, soft, clean skin that is ready for treatments or a simple night time moisturizer. Oil cleansers to consider are the Hada Labo Gokujun Cleansing Oil or the Juno & Co. Clean Cleansing Balm. Avoid micellar waters, which tend to be drying and, in my opinion, less effective at dirt removal.
2. Get Your Rest (on a silk pillowcase if you can)
Puffy eyes in the morning are never a good look, which is why getting a good night’s rest is so important to making your skin look better overnight. Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep to get your beauty rest – literally – and be sure to avoid doom scrolling, which can keep you from getting those precious Zzzz’s. Want to avoid facial lines and wrinkles? Invest in a silk pillowcase, which will cause less friction on your skin and hair and will absorb less of your skincare products overnight.
3. Enjoy A Relaxing (and Hydrating) Sheet Mask
I love sheet masks for boosting my hydration, so I definitely recommend a pre-bedtime sleep mask to infuse your skin with skin plumping ingredients before bed. Lock in the moisture from the mask with a nourishing and protective moisturizer before hitting the hay.
I personally LOVE Medi Heal Sheet Masks for their hydrating, plumping and soothing power.
3. Facial Massage
A great way to relax before bed and get rid of the daily stress that you hold in your face is through a facial massage. Whether you use your hands, massage tool or gua sha set, facial massage not only feels amazing but help boost blood flow to your face for your best morning skin.
After cleansing and moisturizing, apply a facial oil that will help your hands/massage tools to glide over the skin without any tugging or friction and massage your face for about 5 minutes. The result – plump, healthy skin in the morning!
4. Avoid Alcohol & Drink Water
Nothing dehydrates your body – and your skin – more than drinking alcohol. Even worse, studies now show that alcohol is regarded as a carcinogen, which means it can increase your risk of cancer – yikes! To ensure you wake up with your best complexion, ditch the cocktail and drink a good gulp of water instead.
5. Exfoliate For Glowing Skin
I am a huge believer in skin exfoliation because it removes dead skin cells and build up that can clog pores and leave skin looking dull and tired. But exfoliation needs to be done properly so you don’t get irritated, dry or flaky skin instead.
If you’ve never exfoliated, consider trying a gentle glycolic acid toner or a gentler lactic acid or mandelic acid toner (I love this one from Paula’s Choice) and start exfoliating at night once or twice per week to see how your skin tolerates it. If oil, pimples or blackheads are your skincare issue, apply a salicylic acid exfoliant instead. Personally, I love using exfoliating pads at night, they’re just so quick and easy to apply, and you can find pads with glycolic, lactic or salicylic acid ingredients to meet your exfoliation needs.
If you’re an exfoliation pro, I would jump to an exfoliating peel for maximum skincare glow up overnight – but only if you’re used to chemical exfoliation!
6. Moisturize
You can find a full beginner skincare routine here, but for a simple routine, always cleanse properly and finish with a moisturizer suited to your skin type. Moisturizing will keep your skin hydrated and plump overnight for soft, happy skin in the morning.
7. Consider A Facial Oil
A facial oil is the last step in your skincare routine and is optional based on your skin’s needs and the season. Personally, I love using a facial oil on top of my moisturizer to seal in the moisture underneath and nourish my skin. It’s a perfect topper to ensure you have soft, supple skin in the morning for your overnight skincare glow up.
I love the Kora Organics Noni Glow Face Oil for my nighttime glow up routine. Look for facial oils containing jojoba oil, squalane or rosehip oil for maximum benefits.
7. No Skin Picking
I know it’s hard, but do your best to not pick at blackheads or blemishes on your skin. Popping pimples can create an opening in the skin that can let bacteria in and make your simple spot into a bigger zit. To get your skin looking better overnight, including annoying pimples, try a pimple patch. Pimple patches are small circular patches infused with acne and inflammation busting ingredients to zap that zit overnight, without the squeezing and popping.
8. Sleep On Your Back
Not my most favorite sleeping position, but sleeping on your back can ensure your skincare can do its job and not get soaked into the pillow overnight. It also helps to prevent lines and puffing building up when you sleep on one side of your face overnight.
9. Targeted Skincare Treatments
If you have specific skincare concerns, like acne, fine lines, blackheads, enlarged pores or dark spots, to name a few, consider adding targeted skincare treatments into your routine. Products like retinol are great for anti-aging benefits, while vitamin C serums can reduce the look of dark spots and address sun damage. Azelaic acid can reduce redness, while bakuchiol can help fight acne. Do your research and invest in skincare treatments that can minimize your skincare concerns for an overnight (and long term) skincare glow up.
10. Use A Humidifier
If you live in a dry climate or are in the middle of a cold, dry winter consider running a humidifier overnight to give your skin a moisture boost. Dry weather can suck the life out of your skin, making it dehydrated and dull looking.
