The Beauty of Time-Release Skin Care, 4 Products We Love

When it comes to skin care products, most consumers are after formulas that promise immediate results. They want an anti-aging cream to sprinkle some fairy dust and make their wrinkles up and disappear (good luck searching), they want a no-nonsense moisturizer to turn their flaky, dry skin into a plump, supple, and nourished masterpiece in under five seconds, they want a—well, you get the idea. It a lofty expectation—and depending on the products you end up choosing, you could be setting yourself up for disappointment—but it’s understandable. Human beings are, more often than not, incredibly impatient—whether it’s waiting in a wraparound line at the grocery store or anxiously awaiting the results of a new acne-fighting spot treatment. Don’t get us wrong, in-a-pinch action when it comes to skin care is beneficial in many ways. But, in our quest for rapid skin care results, are we forgetting to value the products that go into effect over time, products that go on and stay on for hours on end?

Time-release products offer skin care benefits over prolonged periods of time, like while you snooze, for instance. Their full performance isn’t what you see after a few minutes, but rather after a few hours. (Patience is a virtue, people!) If you ask us, it’s worth the wait. Below, we’re sharing our four favorite time-released skin care products that work round the clock.

VICHY LIFTACTIV SUPREME 

When it comes to anti-aging, invest in products that’ll offer long-term correction so you can see results today, tonight, tomorrow, and beyond. Why? Because, according to Vichy’s research, signs of aging—think: that “tired look”—can become more pronounced over the course of the day. You’ll want a product that won’t immediately wear off, like LiftActiv Supreme. This anti-wrinkle cream formula boasts Day Proof Technology that combines caffeine, adenosine instant 3D optical correctors, rhamnose and neohesperidine to help give you younger-looking features all day, blur problem areas, and reduce the look of wrinkles over time.

Vichy LiftActiv Supreme, $42

LANCÔME VISIONNAIRE NUIT NIGHT CREAM

Who doesn’t like to wake up to skin that looks well-rested? This gel-to-oil night moisturizer visibly improves skin texture while nourishing skin all night so it’s smooth, soft, and adequately hydrated come morning.

Lancôme Visionnaire Nuit Night Cream, $88

KIEHL’S DERMATOLOGIST SOLUTIONS NIGHTLY REFINING MICRO-PEEL CONCENTRATE

Wear this leave-on serum to bed each night (or less often, depending on your sensitivity) to wake up to fresher, smoother, younger-looking skin with a more refined texture over time. It’s formulated with quinoa husk extract and boasts powerful exfoliating properties to help accelerate surface skin’s nighttime cell turnover process.

Kiehl’s Dermatologist Solutions Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate, $54

URBAN DECAY CHILL COOLING AND HYDRATING MAKEUP SETTING SPRAY

To help ensure a makeup application lasts all day without smudging or settling into fine lines, spritz this weightless spray onto your skin generously. It features cooling time-release Temperature Control Technology that chills the surface of your makeup to keep that just-applied look for up 12 hours. Pretty cool, no? 

Urban Decay Chill Cooling and Hydrating Makeup Setting Spray, $30