Our skin goes through so much in the day. Not only do we apply make up, but also expose it to sun, dirt and pollution, as a result of which our skin feels dull by the end of the day. While it is good to stick to the three beauty maxims – cleansing, toning and moisturising – before going to bed, it may surely not be enough to keep your skin flawless and radiant. There is much more you can do at night since nighttime skincare is ideal for your skin to heal and rejuvenate, as you are not exposed to harsh sun or any free radicals. The effects of a stronger nighttime skincare regime are better than a day one. You will see results in just few weeks.
Follow this 8-step nighttime skincare routine before going to bed for a clear, spot-free skin and a brighter complexion, naturally.
1. Remove all makeup using coconut oil
This is an important tenet of nighttime skincare. If you have been wearing foundation, mascara, eyeliner and lipstick through the day, the best way to get rid of it is by pouring a small quantity of coconut oil on your palm and patting it on your face. Cover your neck, forehead, chin and the area under your eyes with it. Now massage your skin gently and take a cotton pad to remove the excess oil, makeup, dirt, from your eyebrows, lips, eyelids and then run it over your face once. Rinse off with warm water.
2. Use a toothbrush to scrub your lips
The dead skin cells accumulate over your lips making them rough and dark over a period of time. The best way to keep your lips soft and naturally pink is to take a toothbrush and scrub them with it. All the dead skin will come off instantly. Further on, moisturise your lips with your favourite lip balm. Do this nighttime skincare routine everyday without an exception.
3. Treat open pores with ice cubes
Place an ice cube on a thick tissue or handkerchief and dab it on the areas particularly around your nose that have wide open pores. This will cool your skin down, free up the clogged pores and make them shrink eventually. Do this daily and you won’t have embarrassing open pores on your face.
4. Green tea is your new skin toner
Make a small cup of green tea, then dip a cotton pad in it and dab it generously all through your face. It will help maintain the pH balance of your skin and keep it hydrated and free of blemishes and dark spots. Those with dry or acne-prone skin can add a dash of honey to the potion for better results. And those with oily skin can add a teaspoon baking soda and then cleanse the face with this mixture. The results are surprising. Wipe off your face with a clean cotton pad as green tea can leave residual colour.
5. Use apple cider vinegar to cure pimples
Apple cider vinegar is one of the best remedies to cure zits, acne, dark stains and pigmentation. For this you need to dip a cotton pad in apple cider vinegar and dab it over your acne, dark spots, as you run it over the affected area. Apple cider vinegar dries out the pimples, scars and blemishes, and makes your face glowing, naturally. It helps even out your skin tone.
6. Green tea to relax your eyes
This is one of the most soothing hacks, and especially great for the eyes. You need to first boil some water and dip two green tea bags in it very briefly. Then place them in a bowl and refrigerate them for about 10 to 15 minutes. Now place them over your eyes for a few minutes as you lie down. You will feel instant relief and it will also calm all the strained nerves in your eyes. Place them under your eyes too if you are prone to under eye puffiness. Clean up with a cotton pad to remove residual colour from green tea.
7. Use castor oil for thick eyelashes and eyebrows
Castor oil naturally promotes growth of hair. For this, take a Q-tip and dip it into castor oil and then apply it to your eyelashes the way you would mascara. By doing this everyday you can have thick, long eyelashes that you won’t even need any mascara. You can even apply it on your eyebrows if you suffer thin eyebrows and wish to make them thick and bushy. You will see the results in less than a month.
8. Apply aloe vera gel for a bright, flawless skin
Pour out some aloe vera gel on your palm and massage your face thoroughly with it, till it is fully absorbed by the skin. Aloe vera’s natural richness in Vitamin C, E, antioxidants and beta carotene make it a perfect skincare ingredient that evens out your skin tone, lightens the blemishes and stains and makes your skin fairer and soft. Works best at night, when you apply before going to bed.
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