Best night skincare in the UAE: What to use while you sleep

As you grow older, you realise that the real fairytale is waking up with glowing skin and stunning hair, without much effort. The truth is, beauty sleep isn’t just a random phrase; it’s science, skincare, and can really save you a whole host of problems, if you use the correct ingredients.

So, what’s our pick? Tanya Harris, and Mila Lobo, two Dubai-based skin specialists, have some suggestions.

Gentle cleansers

Nighttime cleansing is the crucial first step to reset your skin after a busy day. The best gentle cleansers sweep away makeup, dirt, and pollution without stripping natural oils or leaving skin tight and dry. Creamy or gel-based formulas with soothing ingredients like chamomile, aloe vera, or oatmeal calm redness and irritation, while micellar waters and cleansing balms offer non-rinse options that are kind to sensitive skin. Moreover, gentle cleansing preps your skin perfectly so serums and moisturisers absorb better, maintaining your moisture barrier for soft, smooth skin by morning.

Overnight masks

Why stay up applying ten layers when one thick, velvety overnight mask can do it all? They repair, hydrate, and boost collagen production while you’re asleep.

Look for masks with hyaluronic acid (hello hydration), niacinamide (goodbye dark spots), and Centella Asiatica (aka cica ,  for calming any chaos your skin saw during the day). Wake up with that plump, post-facial glow, no filters required.

Calming sleep sprays

Skincare is important,  but so is sleep hygiene. Enter: Calming sleep sprays. Spritz your pillow with lavender, chamomile, or neroli. The ritual of scenting your space helps lower cortisol levels (bye stress) and signals your body it’s time to power down.

Your anti-aging serum

Packed with star ingredients like retinol, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants, an anti-aging serum works overtime to boost collagen production, smooth texture, and bring back the glow. Retinol gently accelerates cell turnover, peeling away dead skin and revealing fresh, radiant layers beneath. Peptides act like little messengers, signaling your skin to build more collagen and elastin — the dynamic duo responsible for firmness and elasticity. Hyaluronic acid swoops in to lock in moisture, keeping your skin plump and hydrated through the night.

Here's the quick lowdown on the night-time routine and why you need to do this:

Step 1: Double cleanse

Start by removing the day’s grime, makeup, and sunscreen with a gentle oil-based cleanser, followed by a water-based cleanser to leave your skin squeaky clean without stripping it.

Step 2: Tone and prep

Apply a gentle, hydrating toner to balance your skin’s pH and prep it for better absorption of the next products. Think of this as laying down the welcome mat for your skincare VIPs.

Step 3: Targeted treatments

Use serums or treatments tailored to your skin concerns. maybe a vitamin C booster, a soothing niacinamide serum for redness, or a retinol for anti-aging magic. These are your night warriors, working hard while you rest.

Step 4: Eye cream

Dab on a nourishing eye cream to tackle puffiness, dark circles, or fine lines. Your eyes deserve some TLC.

Step 5: Moisturiser or night cream

Lock in all that goodness with a rich moisturizer or night cream that hydrates deeply and supports skin repair.

Step 6: Overnight mask

Apply a thick layer of an overnight mask.  It sseals in moisture and boosts skin regeneration while you dream.

Step 7: Lip mask

Apply a overnight lip mask too. Don’t forget!