There’s a lot of debate about what is the right order to apply your nighttime skincare. You might not think it makes much difference but applying your skincare products in the wrong order could result in some of them not working, or it could even cause irritation. You’ll also want to make sure you’re using the right type of ingredients for your skin type, so you can get the exact benefits that you need.
From the type of cleanser to use to when to use a night serum, below is our ultimate nighttime skincare routine, so you can wake up to beautiful glowing skin.
Cleanse
If you wear makeup, the first step in your nighttime routine should be to remove that makeup. An oil cleanser would usually be best, as this will remove the maximum amount of makeup, dissolving even the oil-based products.
You should follow the makeup remover with a cleanser, or start with this step if you don’t wear makeup. A gentle jelly cleanser will remove any impurities left on the skin, as well as removing any residue from your oil-based makeup remover. You should look for a sulfate-free cleanser to prevent your skin from drying out and any natural oils from being stripped away. You can usually cleanse dry or damp skin, working the cleanser in before rinsing.
Exfoliate
Once you’ve cleansed your skin, you can then exfoliate. This will remove dead skin cells and clear your pores even more deeply than the cleanse. You can find different formulations of exfoliator, including chemical and physical, or a cream exfoliator that combines the two. You can also use a clay mask to deeply purify the skin, although this should only be used once or twice a week to prevent the skin from drying out.
You should take care with exfoliating, to make sure you don’t irritate the skin. If your skin reacts badly, switch the product you use or cut down how many times a week you exfoliate. The benefits of exfoliating are that it will leave skin smooth and glowing, as long as you use the right product for your skin type.
Toner
After you’ve cleansed and exfoliated, you should then use a glow-boosting toner. Toners will balance the PH levels in your skin, removing any leftover product residue and excess oil f whilst also adding moisture. Toners will tighten pores, reducing their appearance for smooth, radiant skin.
Some toners contain alcohol, which can sometimes irritate people with sensitive skin. They can also damage the skin’s barrier and strip the skin of moisture. If this applies to you, switch out your toner for a more gentle, alcohol-free product.
Serums and Oils
After toning, your skin will be well prepped and ready to absorb all the nutrients contained in serums and oils. Serums contain powerful ingredients with various skincare benefits, such as vitamins and antioxidants that work to soothe, moisturize, and brighten skin.
You should look for a night serum that delivers results that you need for your skin. You can layer multiple serums but start with water-based products before moving to oils and leave around 30 seconds between applying each one to let it absorb into the skin.
Eye Cream
Overnight is the perfect time to deeply moisturize the delicate skin around your eyes with a rich eye cream. The right eye cream will help you to look wide awake in the morning, reducing the appearance of dark circles as well as fine lines and wrinkles. You could also look for a brightening overnight eye mask, to smooth and lift the under-eye area.
You should aim to use gentle ingredients on your delicate eye area, to avoid any irritation or redness from harsh ingredients. When you apply your eye cream, lightly dab the product onto the skin with your fingertips. Make sure not to rub the product in as this can accentuate signs of aging.
Night Cream
Night creams are usually richer than day creams. Your skin will naturally repair itself overnight and night creams are designed to synergize with this natural process. They’ll often be formulated with effective ingredients that your body produces already, such as hyaluronic acid and proteins. Night creams and overnight masks help your skin during the repair process and also deeply hydrate. You should apply your night cream or overnight mask to your face and neck, massaging the product into your skin in a circular motion.
Facial Oil
The final, optional step in your nighttime skincare routine is a facial oil. Finishing with an oil will seal in all the nourishing ingredients from your other skincare products, as well as adding extra moisture and nutrients.
Gently pat in a few drops of your face oil across your skin. The ingredients will be powerful enough to work through the other products you’ve applied. However, if you don’t want to apply an oil directly to your face, you can mix a few drops in with your night cream.
