Day Cream vs Night Cream: Do You Know the Difference?

Most of us know keeping skin moisturized helps keep skin hydrated and ward of some of the aging. I wanted to find out about using day creams and night creams to see whether they could help keep my skin moisturized.

What is the difference between a day cream and a night cream​? Day creams are generally lighter and easily absorb into the skin and are used prior to using makeup. Most of the day creams contain SPF. Night creams, as the name suggests work during the night whilst you are sleeping. They work away from the sun’s harmful rays and do not contain any SPF.

Everyone should use a day and night cream regardless of their skin type. All skin types require daily moisturizing especially if you have dry and oily skin. Daily moisturizing prevents you getting blemishes and keeps your skin hydrated. If you do have oily skin, make sure you use a lightweight moisturizer therefore ensuring your pores are not getting blocked.

It is important to moisturize both first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Moisturizing twice a day allows your skin to be thoroughly moisturized throughout the day and ensuring moisture is constant even whilst you are sleeping.

Can you only use one type of cream?

It is important that you do not use a night cream during the day as it will offer you no protection against the sun’s harmful rays and will also be greasier. Using a day cream at night although it will still moisturize your skin, you will find that you are not gaining the full potential of your day cream. Used correctly at the right time will ensure that your skin is getting the overall benefits of your creams and your skin will be gaining all the antiaging and moisturizing benefits.

What is a day Cream?

Day creams are used first thing in the morning after cleansing and toning your face. Opt for day creams which contain Sun Protection Factor (SPF) as these day creams will not only offer protection against the sun’s harmful rays but will also hydrate and work as a protective shield against the environment. Daily moisturizers ensure that your skin gives you a smoother appearance, makes your skin softer by ensuring water is retained on your skin.

There are a number of day creams available on the market and have different consistencies but, can also target your specific concerns. For example, you can buy a day cream which is targeting your concerns such as ageing/mature skin, dry skin or skin prone to blemishes.

Choosing the right day cream

It can be difficult to know which day cream to use and sometimes you may find that the change in seasons can also affect your skins’ needs. You may need additional moisture during Winter months and less during the Summer periods. Be aware of the changes in your skin and its needs.

For Oily Skin

It is still important to moisturize oily skin as it still needs moisture. Look out for creams which target the production of sebum and mattifies your skin. The last you want is a shiny looking face. These moisturizers are normally light weight and therefore should not block your pores.

Dry Skin

Due to the lack of sebum, your skin will need a hydrating and a nourishing cream. Your moisturizer may be creamier but ensures that the cream is penetrated into the skin without any greasy film.

Normal or Combination skin

This is when your T-section i.e. your forehead, nose is oily or shiny and the rest of your face is normal. You will need a light fluid cream which has mattifying benefits.

Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin that you probably suffer from irritations and red patches. Aim for products which won’t cause any further flare-ups, choose products which are non-comedogenic and have hypoallergenic properties.

Whilst there are a number of creams on the market, most creams are aimed to help with specific skin conditions so you can easily start moisturizing your skin daily. It is important to know your skins’ needs and what you require from your product.

The right moisturizer will not only keep your skin looking healthy and radiant but can help with your specific needs. It can help with evening out your skin tone and help with any anti-aging concerns too.

Night creams, do I need to use one?

An important part of any daily skin care routine, is using a night cream, as it could increase your cell turnover and helps with the reconstruction of your skin too. Using a night cream is a great way to nourish and replenish the skin last thing at night.

Night creams as the name suggests, work whilst you are asleep. The consistency of a night creams is thicker than a day cream but, that’s because they are teeming with ingredients to work harder for your skins’ needs. For additional exfoliation you can incorporate products which consist ofretinol or acids but, you must ensure that you use a good SPF every morning.

How to apply a night cream

Night creams are applied after you have thoroughly cleansed and toned your skin last thing at night so that the cream in absorbed into the skin. Use a small amount of the cream and warm this up in the palm of your hands and using upward, circular motion massage your night cream until it is completely immersed into your skin.

Between 10pm and 2am is the timescale period suggested for cell regeneration. It is advisable to use your night cream prior to 10pm so that you are gaining the full benefits of your night cream.

Summary

It is important to add a day and night cream into your daily routine. Moisturizing twice daily will ascertain continuous moisture. No matter what your skin type is, you can and should still moisturize daily. There are a number of both day and night creams available on the market that cater for all types of skin and skins’ concerns.

Day creams are a great way of protecting your skin against the environment and suns harmful rays and most day creams now contain Sun Protection Factor (SPF). If, however, you choose a day cream that does not contain SPF, you should invest and use a separate SPF. Protecting against the harmful rays of sun will slow down the level of the anti-aging process. It can help with wrinkles and sagging. It can be more cost effective to use a daily moisturizer that already combines SPF factors.

The night creams whilst still hydrating your skin allows for skin renewal which again is an important role of the night cream.

Both the day and night creams offer moisture to your skin but, also can cater for your skins’ specific needs. When used together whilst incorporated into your daily skin care routine will work wonders on your skin. Each skin care routine plays a slightly different role on your skin but once used together you will notice your skin will look clearer, skin looks more even, pores are less noticeable, blemishes decrease, no shiny or dry patches on your skin.

As with all products both day and night creams can vary in pricing too. You do not have to purchase the most expensive cream on the market to gain the most from your product. Pricing is not dependent on the creams abilities but down to marketing and branding. It is more important to concentrate on choosing the right product for your skin type and your concerns and not on the cost of the product. Although, sometimes the cost of the product could affect our choice in the product.

There are also products which are ethically sourced. You do not have to buy products which are tested on animals. You can buy products that are fragrance free and cater for sensitive skin. You just need to make the right choice for you and your skin and not based on the marketing or branding of a product.