It’s usually said that a good night cream will handle of all your woes when caring for your skin. While African American skin is no exception in this case, the amount of sleep that you get plays a very important role in the care of your skin.

Did you know that insomnia has damaging effects on the human body as a whole and that it accelerates the overall aging process of your skin? Poor sleeping habits is also known t raise cortisol levels and elevate blood sugar, which causes inflammation and tissue damage.

According to a recent study performed by Estee Lauder at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, your quality of sleep impacts aging and your skins ability to function. Poor sleeping habits have been linked to a disruption in the moisture level in your skin and its ability to repair itself from UV damage. Poor sleep habits also contributes to fine lines, uneven skin tones and reduced elasticity in your skin.

For the first time, the Estee Lauder report shows that poor sleep habits can accelerate signs of aging and weaken your skin’s ability to repair itself at night. Poor sleeping habits warrant the need for night creams in your skin care regimen.

Can a Night Cream Help My Beautiful Black Skin?

It’s a given that a good night cream or moisturizer will benefit your skin. However, there are obvious differences between day and night time care for your skin. A broad brush sweep would categorize the differences as physiological, environmental and behavioral.

Physiological differences might include your skins ability to produce sebum (oil). Oil production peaks at around midday and decreases during the night. The temperature of your skin is highest during the night, this is linked to increased blood flow. Your skin is more acidic at night.

Bottom line, your skin is potentially more delicate and prone to inflammation and/or irritation at night.

Environmental differences would obviously point to the fact that there’s no Sun to produce UV rays during the night. This impacts the product and ingredients you’d use. Certain ingredients will make your skin photosensitive. This is why using a product with retinol is recommended for night use.

Extreme temperatures and pollution are less relevant during the night.

Behavioral differences would include the fact that if you do not wear makeup, drink alcohol, smoke tobacco products or engage in stressful actives at night, your skin would benefit from not participating in these activities.

You’d give your skin a chance to repair itself from the onslaught of free radicals and pollutants found during the day.

What to Look For In A Night Time Moisturizer

Look for creams that contain ingredients that soften, soothe, smooth and relax your skin and you. By this I mean, allow your night cream to help you ease any anxiety and help you to relax, even fall asleep. Look for ingredients like, Lavender essential oil which is known to aid in relaxing and relieving stress.

Frankincense and Myrrh are also essential oils that will help you relax and aid in skin health.

That’s it for this week. As always …

Dedicated To Your Beauty

Juliette Samuel

Esthetician/Author/Publisher

Nyraju Skin Care