The difference between day and night cream?

I use a day and night cream. Why? I’m not quite sure to be honest – it seems like the right thing to do. I mean… that’s how skin care products are sold; in pairs.

The conspirator inside me often wonders if the whole day/night cream thing is just a money making scheme: lure youth-hungry women into believing their skin requires a multitude (not forgetting toners, cleansers, serums, anti-wrinkle agents etc.) of age-defying beauty products.

Or is there actually a difference between day and night cream?

Facialist to the starts Nichola Joss says that there is: night creams contain rejuvenating ingredients, rather than the protective ones found in day creams (the skin’s peak time for repairing and restoring is at night). Night creams are also thicker and more intensive, so you only need a marble sized amount – here’s a small tip: don’t apply your cream just before you go to bed; you want it to stay on your face and not end up all over your pillow!

Day creams are designed to hydrate the skin and protect it from pollution and harmful UV rays.

If you don’t buy into the whole day/night cream thing, there is the opinion that day and night creams can be used interchangeably (…the number of times I have used the wrong cream for the wrong time of day – insurmountable) – it won’t harm your skin.

Obviously it would be pointless to use an SPV infused day cream at night; so if you want a cream that can be used both night and day, opt for a non-SPF lightweight lotion that can be applied with your sunscreen during the day and without at night.

There you have it gals – a layman’s explanation. Hope it helps!

Sources: Tesco Magazine (Jan-Feb 2012) p94; Skincareclub.wordpress.com – “Night Cream VS Day Cream” and Blog.pharmacymix.xom – “What’s The Difference Between A day Cream And A Night Cream”