The dos and don’ts of nighttime skincare with Pamela King

Have you ever wondered why your nighttime skincare routine matters so much? Or if there’s a magic order for applying your products that actually makes a difference? While your skin works hard during the day to protect against external aggressors, it’s at night that the real repair and rejuvenation begin. That’s why what you put on your skin before bed can have a transformative effect, but only if you’re doing it right.

With the launch of the new No7 Future Renew™ Night Serum, we asked No7’s Regional Business Manager, Pamela King, to share her essential dos and don’ts. A self-confessed skincare devotee, Pamela breaks down the importance of building a solid nighttime routine and the powerhouse ingredients to look out for, all while clearing up the age-old question: does the order of application really matter?

What happens to our skin at night?

Our skin is busy while we are sleeping, renewing and repairing. In fact, our skin renewal is three times higher at night!

How and why should our skincare differ at night?

During the day, we need to protect the skin from the sun and ensure we wear SPF, etc. At night, our skin repairs, restores and rejuvenates itself. Poor sleep and sun damage can really have an impact on these processes, so it is important that we tailor our skincare to support the skin’s own natural repair process to get the best results.

What key ingredients should we look for in our nighttime skincare?

Peptides – like the unique No7 Night Active Pepticology – to support our skin’s natural repair of collagen and elastin because it’s supercharged to reverse the visible signs of skin damage. Niacinamides to help moisturise the skin and improve skin tone and texture. Antioxidants like vitamin C to help protect and brighten the skin, and finally, hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump.

What is the ideal nighttime skincare routine?

Cleanse the skin with our Future Renew™ Peptide Cleanser to purify and prepare the skin, apply our new Future Renew™ Night Serum with our night active Pepticology to reverse the visible signs of skin damage and complete with our Future Renew™ Night Cream to nourish the skin.

Why does cleansing matter in the evening?

It is so important to effectively cleanse our skin. In fact, double cleansing is what we recommend. The first cleanse is to remove any make-up and SPF, and the second cleanse is to purify the skin. This not only removes any impurities, which can cause damage to the skin’s surface, but also allows the skin to effectively absorb your fabulous serums and moisturiser.

How should we layer our nighttime skincare routine? What’s the correct order our skincare should go in, and why does it matter?

My top tip is to start your nighttime routine early – after dinner, even! If we leave it too late in the evening, we can be less than thorough and more likely to skip a few steps. It only takes a few minutes, and your skin will thank you. Remember to apply the thinnest formula first, which is always your serum, to clean skin and seal it in with a nourishing moisturiser. It’s so simple — just three steps!

Photography by Ben O’Neill

Shop the new No7 Future Renew™ range in select Boots stores and online at Boots.ie.