We all know we should wash our face at night and remove any makeup before going to bed. But what else should you do? Your nighttime skin care routine can affect how your skin looks the next day, so it better be good. Here are a few tips to keep your skin healthy all night long.

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5. Apply a toner

After you’ve done the basic cleaning of your face, use a toner that is specifically made for your skin type.

For example, those with dry or normal skin shouldn’t use toners that contain alcohol because it can irritate or dry your skin. Toners help to remove any extra makeup and cleanser still on your face.

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4. Exfoliate (But Not Too Much)

You should only exfoliate two or three times a week. The more often you do it, the more it can dry your skin. Dr. Lawrence Day, a North Carolina dermatologist suggests saving your time to exfoliate after a night out on the weekend or an active day.

That way you can rid your skin of impurities that cause adult acne or craters in the skin around your cheeks and eyes.

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3. Put on a layer of moisturizer all over the face and neck.

The biggest difference between daytime and nighttime moisturizers is that the former is lighter in consistency and often contains sunscreen.

The consistency of nighttime moisturizers may not feel or look aesthetically pleasing to the user, but they make the skin soft and supple.

When searching for an evening facial moisturizer, be sure to read the ingredients label for antioxidants, peptides and vitamins C and A to help replenish your skin from the day. You can’t really go wrong with pure and simple hydrating products.

2. Gently tap on eye cream after putting on your night cream.

Incorporating eye cream into your evening beauty routine is one simple way to maintain ayouthful-looking appearance. It protects and hydrates the delicate skin of the eye.

Eye creams are formulated with caffeine, which reduces puffiness, and niacinamide, which increases moisture levels, keeps skin from drying out and staves off wrinkles.

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1. Get Some Sleep (seriously)!

I don’t know how many times we hear questions about skin issues, but then when I ask a question about sleep, everybody is “on the grind” or “too busy to sleep.”

That is a bunch of bologna. Sleep is essential in weight loss, skincare and the overall health of your body.

Be sure to schedule your time wisely and get at least 6 solid hours of sleep. Don’t be afraid to take a nap every now and then.

You’ll see the difference in your skin!

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Bonus Tip: Switch to silk pillowcases

Your facial skin can be tugged and pulled, depending on the position you sleep in and how much you move around in your sleep. Silk pillowcases don’t pull on your skin.

Transition Your Skin Care To Fall Fabulous

Fall is on the way and pretty soon people will be trading their short sleeve shirts for sweaters and button-ups. Just as your style changes from season to season, your skincare routine should change as well. During the fall months, the amount of humidity in the air decreases, essentially sucking a lot of the moisture from your skin leaving it dry and flaky.

You’ll notice that the products you used in the summer don’t give you the same type of finish on your skin as they did a few months ago. Some of us could get away with a few squirts of lotion to moisturize our skin in the summertime, but fall requires a different regimen. Everybody feels the flux during this period. People with eczema and excessively dry skin experience exacerbated or heightened symptoms due to the changes in our environment in the fall months.

We don’t want to leave you out there to dry (literally), so we’ve found an expert to help you get through these few months. We can worry about winter later, that’s another story.

READ: Sensitive Skin? These Skincare Products Ingredients Are For You

Dr. Peggy Fuller, dermatologist and founder of Charlotte, NC – based Esthetics Center for Dermatology, has some great advice about how to protect your precious epidermis this season.

BlackDoctor.org: What changes does Black skin go through from the summer to the fall?

Dr. Fuller: As fall approaches, colder temperatures produce less humidity. Limited humidity tends to cause and or exacerbate dryness to the skin.

BlackDoctor.org: What are your top 5 tips to keep Black skin healthy in the fall?

Dr. Fuller: Bathe in tepid showers or baths. Hot H20 zaps humidity and robs the skin of moisture.

Stay hydrated.

Divide your weight by two, and that will calculate the recommended ounces of H20 that you should consume daily.

Don’t neglect to moisturize. If the skin appears ashy, by golly… moisturize. Moisturize regularly and

often. Don’t forget to moisturize your lips as well.

Wear gloves, hats and scarves to retain moisture. Not only will you look stylish, your skin will be more protected and will feel great.

Finally, the most important component is diet/nutrition. Choose a diet rich in antioxidants. Think primary colors: including red, green, orange, yellow and purple whole foods, which give your body the internal nutrients necessary to produce a sustained glow.

READ: 3 Things To Never Do To Your Skin

BlackDoctor.org: What fall skin care products do you recommend for Black skin?

Dr. Fuller:

Vanicream Facial Cleanser and Vanicream Bar Soap
Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream and Vanicream Lite Lotion
Theraplex Hydrolotion and Theraplex Clearlotion
Dr. Bronner’s Almond Soap: bar or liquid (please follow recommended dilution instructions accordingly).
Local organic products sold in Charlotte: