How to Hydrate Your Skin Overnight

Your evening body care routine is prime time to set up your skin for glowing success. You already know the basics of a good overnight hydration routine: Start by taking a warm (not hot) shower with a gentle cleanser, then quickly follow up with a body cream or lotion to lock in moisture overnight. But if you really want to dig in on how to hydrate your skin overnight, it helps to make a few lifestyle choices, like drinking plenty of water and investing in a humidifier.

Below, we’re sharing our best tips for getting the most out of your nighttime body care ritual, none of which take much time or effort. After all, you need your beauty sleep.  

Why Skin Gets Drier at Night (And Why Your Routine Matters)

We won’t get too technical here, but your skin loses moisture overnight naturally when it’s working to repair itself. Environmental factors like indoor heating or air conditioning can worsen dry skin and contribute to that tight or flaky feeling in the morning. So how do you get your skin to feel soft, comfortable, and bouncy instead?

First, it’s important to note there’s a difference between dry skin and dehydrated skin. Dry skin is a specific skin type classified by a lack of oil production, whereas dehydrated skin is due to a lack of water and can affect all skin types. Either way, you can help skin hold onto water at night by adding extra hydrating and nourishing products into your bedtime body care routine. But before we take you through a step-by-step PM pampering sesh, let’s take a closer look at the ingredients that work to deliver amazing moisturizing benefits. 

Hydrating Ingredients to Look For

When it comes to hydrating ingredients that will help your skin in overnight repair mode, you’ll want to look for a few key players. And remember: Consistent use is the name of the game.  

Humectants 

Humectants act like a sponge to attract water and hydrate and plump your skin. This category of hydrating ingredients includes hyaluronic acid and lactic acid. You’ll find a hyaluronic acid blend in Body Badalada™ Lotion, and a vegan form of lactic acid in Bom Dia Bright™Clarifying AHA BHA Body Wash.  

Barrier Support Ingredients 

Ingredients that provide barrier support are key to keeping skin healthy for the long haul. Our two favorites are Bacuri butter and plant squalane, both of which work to replenish depleted barrier lipids. You’ll find Bacuri butter in Delícia Drench™ Body Butter and plant squalane in Beija Flor™ Elasti-Cream, Beija Flor™ Elasti-Body Oil, and our best-selling Brazilian Bum Bum® Cream.

Occlusives

Occlusives are a group of ingredients that form a seal over the outer skin layer to stop moisture from escaping. Our go-to for locking in hydration is cupuaçu butter from the Amazon rainforest. It’s a natural occlusive that you can find in Brazilian Bum Bum® Cream. Use it as your overnight moisturizer, and we promise your skin will feel irresistibly soft when you wake up. 

Evening Body Care Routine: The Best Order to Hydrate Skin Overnight

It’s not just about what products you apply; the order in which you apply them matters too. Remember this mantra: hydrate, seal, repair. Then keep reading for our best tips for turning your night routine into a soothing ritual. 

Step 1: Shower With a Gentle Cleanser 

The easiest way to prevent stripping your skin of natural moisture is to set the shower temperature to lukewarm and use a gentle cleanser that’s free of harsh detergents, including sulfates. And yes, all the body washes from Sol fit the bill. Massage the cleanser all over, then rinse off for hydrated skin that will feel touchably soft. Another perk of showering at night? It relaxes your muscles and mind for a more peaceful night’s sleep.

Step 2: Seal The Deal With Moisturizer 

As soon as you step out of the shower, gently towel off and massage moisturizer into your skin while it’s still damp. This will lock in the water that remains on your skin’s surface and help the moisturizer penetrate deeply. Whether you prefer the lightweight feeling of a lotion or the thicker texture of a body cream, you’ll encourage skin barrier repair while you sleep. 

Step 3 (Optional): Add Body Oil To The Mix

If you struggle with itchiness, flakiness, or other types of dry skin discomfort, body oil may be just what’s missing from your routine. The body oils from Sol deeply nourish, absorb quickly, and help improve the appearance of stretch marks. But wait, there’s more: Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil visibly firms and Beija Flor™ Elasti-Body Oil boosts elasticity. We love the time-saving hack of adding a few drops of body oil to your moisturizer, but you can also apply it after your moisturizer or whenever your skin needs an extra dose of hydration. 

More Tips For How to Hydrate Skin: What Not to Do 

We’ve spent most of this article telling you the right way to hydrate skin, but knowing common mistakes to avoid is just as important. Keep this checklist handy, and it’ll be smooth sailing for your skin. 

• Overcleansing: This will strip your skin’s natural moisture barrier, which can lead to dryness and irritation. Shower twice a day, tops, and limit body scrubs and other types of exfoliation to a few times a week. 

• Skipping moisturizer completely: Your skin barrier benefits from additional hydration support, especially at night, so be sure to always apply moisturizer to slightly damp skin after showering. 

• Switching up your products too often: Your skin needs roughly 28 days to adjust to a new product. Constantly changing your lineup puts your skin in a stress loop, which can lead to a weakened skin barrier and compromised microbiome. This is especially true with products that contain active ingredients like retinol and AHA/BHAs. 

A Few Final Thoughts On Your Night Hydration Ritual 

Our “Sol goal” is for your body care routine to be less like a chore and more like a comforting ritual that leaves you feeling confident in your skin. Use our body care to wind down at night. Your skin will feel amazing when you wake up, and you’ll be so cheirosa (“smelling delicious” in Portuguese), thanks to the gourmand and floral fragrances we infuse into our lineups. Now that’s what we call a win-win for your skin. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I hydrate my skin overnight fast?

Knowing how to quickly hydrate skin overnight starts with remembering one simple rule: Always apply your body moisturizer to slightly damp skin. This helps the moisturizer glide on more evenly, absorb better, and penetrate deeper for hydration that lasts. Post-shower, smooth on your favorite body cream or lotion within three minutes of gently toweling off. You can also add a few drops of body oil to your moisturizer for an extra boost of hydration. 

What is the best routine to hydrate skin overnight?

The best routine to hydrate skin overnight includes a gentle cleanser and body moisturizer that helps lock in long-lasting hydration. At Sol, we take things one step further by infusing feel-good fragrances into our formulas. Delícia Drench™ Body Butter’s blissful and comforting scent is proven to boost your mood*, and we love it as part of a nighttime ritual.  

What ingredients hydrate skin overnight?

Some of the best ingredients to hydrate skin overnight include hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, plant squalane, and plant-based butters that are rich in fatty acids. You’ll find these ingredients in a variety of Sol de Janeiro body care favorites, including body washes, body creams, and body oils.  

Can a humidifier help dry skin overnight?

Yes, sleeping near a humidifier can be a huge help for your skin’s hydration level, especially if you live in a dry climate or like to crank up the heat in the winter and the AC in the summer. Humidifiers add more moisture to the air, which in turn leads to less moisture evaporating from your skin.

*In a consumer study of 36 participants after one use.