My 5 Step Nighttime Skincare Routine

(Last Updated On: May 22, 2023)

It’s been a lot of self-care over the last few weeks since we’ve been quarantined. So I wanted to do a quick write up of my current nighttime skincare routine since skincare is something that I get asked about daily. This is just what works for me + what I’ve been doing, so definitely consult with your dermatologist for more advice. I’ve shifted a lot of my skin prep time away from makeup and much more into skincare , finding the perfect routine for myself with a lot of trial and error over the years. I will also be sharing some of my staples which I have been obsessed and have seen amazing results with!

Your skin naturally repairs at night after going though all the stress during the day, so it’ very crucial your nighttime routine should involve everything that you skin needs. But first, hear this! Your nighttime skincare routine doesn’t have to be an elaborate, 20-step experimentation. I mean, of course, some nights we like to go all out and that’s okay too! But on a regular basis, I give my skin 5 minutes and that’s all you can do too for that glowy, healthy skin.

One rule of thumb that I follow for skincare is always apply products from thinnest to thickest. Start with products that have a thin, watery consistency such as toner / essence and then move on to serums, oils, and moisturizers that have a thicker consistency. This will ensure that the skin absorbs the maximum amount from your product and therefore gets the most benefit!

Anyway, let’s get on with my exact skincare routine!

STEP 1: (DOUBLE) CLEANSER

To get rid of the day’s dirt, oil and makeup pile up, I start by removing my makeup first with a dedicated makeup remover and then wash my face with a gentle cleanser. This is typically termed as double cleansing and I have found this method super effective to help with most of my skin problems.

Now jumping to the products that I use. I have been obsessed with Julep face Hydrating Cleansing Oil. This cleansing oil literally melts away makeup as it nourishes with skin-loving oils, leaving skin hydrated, but never too oily. This product is such a savior from all the harsh scrubbing and cotton ball residue on your skin from other makeup removal techniques.

To complete my double cleansing routine, I follow up with a face wash to remove all the excess sebum, dirt and makeup I loosened up on the first step. This leaves my skin fresh and perfectly prepped to absorb my skin regimen. I use this Clinique Rinse-Off Foam Cleanser which works really great for my combination oily skin type. It’s creamy formula is super gentle and it leaves my sensitive skin feeling soft after every wash.

If you like a facial scrub, use it in place of your cleanser after removing your makeup.

STEP 2: TONERS

Why do you need a toner? A toner minimizes the appearance of pores and balances the skin’s pH levels. Restoring an acidic state to the skin helps to better absorb moisture and other beneficial ingredients from serums and creams applied after.

So when used correctly, the toner can definitely help improve your skin.

I use the Olehenriksen Balancing Force Oil Control Toner. Its green fusion complex formula helps unclog, purify, and minimize the appearance of pores. I absolutely love how this toner feels on my face – it smells so good – and gives me fresh and invigorated skin.

The best way to get most of toners(the tried and tested way) is to pour some of the product onto your fingers and massage it on your skin in circular motions.

STEP 3: EYE CREAM

I have been struggling with dark circles and under eye puffiness since forever. On the lookout for a cream to solve all my eye area concerns I found this gem- Olehenriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème.

This subtly sunny cream contains special pigments that instantly brightens and color-corrects the eye area. I use it both day and night and cannot explain how impressed I am with its lightweight and powerful hydrating formula. Infused with vitamin C, this cream also help to reduce dark circles and revive the entire eye area over time.

STEP 4: TREATMENTS AND SERUMS

As skin does the bulk of its repairing, restoring and regenerating while we sleep, targeted skin care treatments are better when used at night. Now this step depends on what your skin concerns are and this essentially changes from person to person and time to time.

My main skin concerns are dullness and uneven texture. I guess most of us have this complain at some points of our lives. Every other night, I use the Biossance Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum which exfoliates my skin overnight to reveal smoother, softer, more luminous skin in the morning. I love the fact that this product is vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free. Its main ingredients are clover and squalane- clover helps to reset the skin from daily stress, including pollution and blue light defense – squalane works to provide long lasting hydration.

I massage two to three pumps into my face and neck every night and wake up to improved, fresh and well rested skin. Exfoliating regularly is really the key to achieving glowing skin (in my opinion hahaha!).

Okay this is my game changer- An all-in-one skin-perfecting night cream made with a natural retinol alternative to deeply hydrate and target fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots. I have been using the Goodnight Glow Retin-ALT Sleeping Crème from Olenheriksen from the past couple of months and have seen noticeable difference in my skin’s glow overnight. It’s so rich and creamy yet so lightweight, and works to curb all skin concerns such as wrinkles, fine line, signs of aging and dark spots.

Now before I move onto the last step, I take a little break. Aside from the order of application of products, timing is really important; give your skin time to absorb these products to get the most of them. So at night, after I wash my face and apply my serum or evening treatment, I try to give a 30min gap before I moisturize. I follow step 5 right before I go to sleep to give these typically expensive, specialty treatments a touch more time to penetrate the skin before I seal them in with moisturizer.

STEP 5: MOISTURIZER OR OIL

For that last step- moisture lock I am obsessed with these two moisturizers:

Lala Retro Whipped Moisturizer by Drunk Elephant-Infused with 6 rare African oils, this is an amazing product to use after a long day of travel – that’s my favorite time to use it, or if my skin really needs some extra moisture. It has the luxurious texture of a rich face cream and just a pump is enough to deliver excellent hydration.

The Tatcha The Water Cream Moisturiser is really light and has a very light scent that smells SO fresh and clean. Made with powerful Japanese botanicals, it provides nutrient-rich, balanced hydration with a unique water-burst nourishment without leaving skin sticky or greasy. It only takes a little bit of cream to cover my entire face, and it feels amazing on my skin and imparts such a subtle and healthy-looking radiance.

I love applying another oil as a moisturizer after washing and exfoliating. Sometimes I just use
Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil. This oil is amazing, super lightweight with a soft, velvety texture that glides effortlessly over the skin and absorbs almost immediately. My skin is left truly hydrated, soft and smooth with absolutely no oily residue – It has a very refreshing rosy tea smell to it.

Give ’em lips some love- I apply a tad bit of the Squalane + Rose Vegan Lip Blam and swipe it across my lips for visibily soft and plump lips.

And that’s pretty much it, folks! But remember that you are unique and that nobody else has your skin. So its really important to find what works for you and always be kind to your skin.