A night cream is a fantastic way to pamper your skin while you sleep and give it a chance to recover from the stressors of the day, like makeup and UV exposure.
Whereas day creams usually focus on protection, the focus of a night cream is almost always restorative, with ingredients designed to combat aging and dryness, and repair some of the damage from the day’s wear and tear.
Many of those benefits come from moisturizing ingredients, which can be too heavy for a lot of wearers, resulting in overwhelmed and enlarged pores.
Since everyone’s skin is different and is largely affected by diet and lifestyle, it can be really difficult to craft a one-size-fits-all night cream that’s going to restore your skin without clogging your pores.
However, by avoiding a few ingredients that are just too heavy for some skin types, this recipe gives you a starting point for a lightweight, anti-aging night cream that will moisturize and repair, without making you break out.
DIY NON-GREASY NIGHT CREAM RECIPE
- ½ tsp beeswax
- 1 tsp magnesium oil
- ½ tsp shea butter
- 2 tbsp grapeseed oil
- ¼ cup aloe vera gel
- 1 tsp honey
- ½ tsp coffee essential oil*
DIRECTIONS
- In a double boiler, combine the first three ingredients, and heat them until melted. Whisk together to combine, then pour into a blender to cool.
- In a separate glass bowl, combine the grapeseed oil, aloe vera gel, honey, and coffee essential oil.
- Pour the aloe mixture into the blender with the beeswax mixture, and blend on high until thoroughly combined.
Store your night cream in a glass or plastic container in a cool place, but it doesn’t need to be refrigerated.
*If you have sensitive skin, start with about half the recommended amount of coffee essential oil to be sure you don’t trigger an adverse reaction.
Why It Works
Beeswax — Beeswax is rich in vitamin A and helps the skin to hold onto moisture, in addition to being naturally antibacterial.
Magnesium oil — Magnesium oil is actually the best way to absorb this critical nutrient, and can actually reduce inflammation, i.e. puffiness, under the eyes.
Shea butter — Shea butter is rich in vitamins E and A, boosts collagen production, and aids in regenerating the skin.
Grapeseed oil — Grapeseed oil is an excellent, much lighter substitute for vitamin E oil for people that find it too heavy. It has natural anti-aging properties and antioxidants to assist in skin damage repair.
Aloe vera gel — Aloe vera has countless benefits when both consumed and applied to the skin, but is particularly beneficial in this recipe because it’s a lightweight, nourishing, skin-healing ingredient. It’s even a natural anti-inflammatory!
Honey — Honey is a natural humectant, which means it helps your skin hold onto moisture, without bogging it down with heavy oils. Honey is also naturally antibacterial, which helps to fight breakouts.
Coffee essential oil — Coffee is FANTASTIC for the skin. Shown to brighten and tighten the skin, coffee bean essential oil also regenerates skin and stimulates your natural collagen production.
Avoiding Clogged Pores
If you’re the kind of person that breaks out just looking at a jar of coconut oil, there are some things you can add into your skin care routine to keep your pores clear and your skin from getting bogged down under night creams.
Be Picky With Your Makeup
Aside from just remembering to take off your makeup every night, what you’re wearing can have an equally big impact on the health of your skin. Look for lightweight, natural foundations and powders from companies like 100% Pure and Honeybee Gardens, and try to avoid ingredients like vitamin E oil, which can be too heavy for naturally oily skin, and parabens, which can speed up the aging process.
Use a Toner
Toners are the oily girl’s go-to solution, and for good reason. Toners help to balance the pH of your skin, which leads to more stable oil production, and actually helps your night cream absorb better.
Watch What You Eat
Chronically clogged pores are almost always a symptom of a greater problem, often relating to hormone regulation, which can then often be traced back to diet and exercise. It’s hard to follow that rabbit hole down to one specific source, but try to eat whole, unprocessed foods and avoid excess sugar, particularly if you’re prone to breakouts.
Do you use a night cream? Will you gives ours a try? Let us know how it goes by tagging us on Instagram or Facebook with @avocadomattress or #avocadomattress.
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