Perfecting Your Step-by-Step Nighttime Skincare Routine
Probably the most satisfying thing to do at the end of the day—besides take my bra off—is doing my nightly skincare routine. Us gals at Nightshift just said it to each other the other day: “Wow, I can’t wait to go home and take my makeup off” which was followed with us groaning in happiness because we could not wait to go home, take our makeup off, and end the day with our respective nighttime routines. Which lately has also involved us live-texting each other our reactions to whatever TV show we’ve been bingeing.
If you don’t already have a nighttime routine, or if you’ve got some semblance of a routine, don’t fret. Here’s a breakdown of the perfect step-by-step nighttime skincare routine:
STEP 1 - MAKEUP REMOVAL
For removing eye makeup or lipstick, try a cotton pad saturated with micellar water to break down and dissolve your makeup. If you like a good towelette swipe all over, Kim Kardashian swears by these $5 makeup wipes and so do we. My personal favorites are any of the Burt’s Bees makeup removal wipes. Just be sure to avoid scrubbing or harsh tugging at your eye area when removing your makeup because this gentle area is the first to show signs of aging.
STEP 2 – CLEANSER
Be wary of cleansers that promise to do all these steps in one go. When looking for a cleanser, you’ll want something that targets your specific skin type. Whether that’s cream, oil, foam, or gel, go with your gut and pick what works for you. And when you're on the lookout for a cleanser, remember that the simpler the better and always look at the ingredients list.
STEP 3 – TONER
After cleansing, toners are essential for balancing your skin’s pH and prepping your skin for any extra products you’ll put on. It also will remove any remaining impurities that your cleanser didn’t wash away. There are all different kinds too: hydrating, calming and soothing, brightening, specifically for acne, etc. Use a cotton ball or cotton pad saturated with your toner of choice and give your skin a good once or twice wipe. My tried-and-true toner of choice is the Clean & Clear Deep Cleansing Toner that only puts me out about $6 at the drugstore.
STEP 4 – SERUMS & OILS
Serums and oils are my favorite part of any nightly skincare routine and are a dealer’s choice. In this step, think about what your skin really needs. Hydration? Acne prevention? Calm redness? There’s no right or wrong answer because it all depends on the person. In my routine, I drop about two drops onto my palm, rub my hands together, and pat my serum or oil onto my skin. Glossier has 3 different serums with rave reviews and if you caught our blog post a few weeks back about squalene oil, then you know of our Clarify Me squalene facial oil.
STEP 5 – MOISTURIZER & CREAMS
This final step is one of the most important. Your moisturizer is going to lock in all the hard work you’ve put into the previous steps of your routine. Night creams and moisturizers are going to keep your skin hydrated through the night, so don’t be surprised if you find it lingering in the morning. And the good thing about them, is that there’s a wide variety of moisturizers for every budget and skin type. My personal nighttime routine consists of my favorite Aveeno moisturizer and Garnier Ultra-Lift eye cream.
My nightly skincare routine has become my favorite part of my day, not only because it means I’m steps closer to getting beneath my covers and reading a book, but because it’s one of my favorite self-care activities to unwind and relax. Remember, there are no miracle products that magically work overnight, so be sure to stay consistent with your routine to see the results on your skin. And be sure to intermix exfoliators and face masks into your routine for those extra skins boosts about once or twice a week. Once you’ve got your nightly routine down pat, nothing and no one can stop you.
Photo courtesy of Dreslyn