One of the areas in life where I feel I have my sh*t together the most is my skincare routine. Every single night, I spend five minutes or so taking care of my largest organ. Old age called, and I told it that it can keep its haggard skin and wrinkles.
My days of flopping into bed after a night out with only the most lacklustre swipe of a make-up wipe to unclog my pores are well behind me. I’ve learned, like most of us, that make-up wipes are evil for both our skin and the planet, and I’ve righted my wrongs.
I’m in my late twenties now, and I take great pride in my night time skincare regime.
It’s my wind-down session before bed and I never skip it – even on wine-heavy nights. Alcohol is nasty to our skin, so the least I can do is try to make up for those before-bed bevs with a decent bedtime cleansing routine!
I’d categorise my skin as combination: I get dry areas around my nose and cheeks if I don’t take proper care of myself, but I have had acne in the past so I’m careful not to aggravate that. My skin is also quite sensitive and there are a lot of products that just don’t suit it. Around my eyes is an especially tricky area.
Struggling with acne? Read how I cured my adult acne for tips.
My 7 step nighttime skincare routine
Over the past few years, I’ve curated a tidy arsenal of products that I know I can rely on to my skin feel like it did when I was 19. So, if you’re looking for an evening skincare regime that suits combination/sensitive skin, I hope what I share here will give you some ideas. *
*Of course, everyone’s skin is unique and what works for me may not work for you.
Some of the products mentioned in my evening skincare guide are PR gifts, but I’ve trialled them for a long enough period of time that I feel confident recommending them and I know I’ll keep them in my skincare routine for a long time!
Step one: Make-up removal
Double cleansing is relatively new for me, but now that I’ve tried it just one cleanse isn’t enough for my poor pores! If I’m wearing heavy makeup I like to remove it first with Garnier’s Micellar Water. I can never get over the fact that it doesn’t irritate my sensitive eyes.
If I’ve got a bit more time to spend on bedtime skincare, I’ll use Balmonds Omega Rich Cleansing Oil. I was hesitant about trying an oil cleanser because I was worried it would clog, not clear my pores. But this product is so lovely, especially when you dedicate a few minutes to properly massaging it into your skin! No breakouts in sight.
Step two: Double cleanse
I do my second cleanse with Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish and a hot, damp muslin cloth. Lots of the women in my family use Liz Earle and it was the first cleansing product I ever re-bought. A bottle lasts for ages and the cheap dupes just don’t feel the same.
I only use a muslin cloth on my face. You get one when you buy the Liz Earle cleanser but you really need to use a fresh one every day to keep germs at bay. I bulk buy mine on Amazon here.
Step three: Toner
I avoided toner for years because I wasn’t really sure what it was for. After a bad bout of acne, a facialist recommended that I introduce one to my routine to help close my pores after cleansing.
Since then, I haven’t been especially faithful to any one brand of toner but I do love my current product: Pixi Retinol Tonic. I was a bit nervous to try this in case it was too harsh for my skin, but I didn’t have a reaction to it – apparently that’s thanks to the jasmine. So far, so good.
Step four: Eye cream
I only started using eye cream religiously every night this year and I can definitely see a difference. I used to use Clinique All About Eyes and I loved how nourishing it felt on my skin. At the moment though, I’m hooked on nia Fake Awake Triple-Action Eye Gel.
The delicate skin around my eyes looks a lot more hydrated and I haven’t had ANY irritation which is huge for me. My eyes are extra sensitive and often flare up when I use a new product, leaving me with dry, red patches. Not a great looks!
I massage my eye cream (or gel, in this case) in circular motions around my eyes using my ring finger.
Step five: Serum
I’ve tried a lot of different serums and my go-to is Balance Me Tri-Molecular Hyaluronic Serum. It’s 98% natural, which is perfect if you’re trying to move towards natural ingredients but find it hard to work out what’s what.
I’ve looked into the science of hyaluronic acid (I was writing an article for a freelance client) and I’m completely sold on its moisturising qualities. It’s supposed to aid skin elasticity and protect against trans-epidermal water loss and reduce the appearance of surface lines by attracting moisture and giving an instant filling and plumping effect. I constantly notice an extra glow when I wear it!
Step six: Night cream
A while back, I was chatting to someone at Caudalie about my aggressive acne scarring. She very kindly sent me a product she assured me would help, but when I looked at the name I was a little put off because I thought it sounded like it was for old ladies, and I shoved it to the back of my skincare drawer. How silly that was of me!
Caudalie’s Vinoperfect Dark Spot Correcting Glycolic Night Cream has excellent reviews online and I could have kicked myself for leaving it languishing in a drawer for so long. It’s absolutely dreamy, with a subtle scent and quick absorption.
I wait a few minutes for my serum to soak in before I apply my night cream.
After my first night applying it, Tom commented on how glowy my skin looked the next morning. That’s good enough for me! I’ve noticed a massive difference in my skin’s texture and my complexion looks more even since I started using this.
Step seven: Lip mask
My lips are constantly dry and I’ve pretty much tried everything to keep them moisturised. I’ve finally found something that works, and I got it in Primark! Every second night, I apply Alex Steinherr’s Sleep Spa lip mask. It’s only £4.
Originally I was using this as a daytime gloss but it’s so thick, you really need to apply it before bed to let it work its magic fully. When I wake up, I gently scrub it off with a damp towel.
Extra skin treats for bedtime
Once a week, I try to do a face mask after cleansing. My current favourite is the Elemis Superfood Berry Boost Mask.
I got a lash lift a while back and while I loved the effects, it did leave my eyelashes feeling a bit parched. I received a Bowe Organics Lash Oil in a gifted Roccabox around then and it couldn’t have come at a better time! If you’re trying to help your lashes recover from a treatment or just want to make them extra luscious, I recommend this product.
If I’ve had a bath, I like to smooth some of Lush’s Sleepy body lotion over my stomach and arms. The delicate lavender scent is so soothing. I also love Feather & Down’s Pillow Spray. I mist it over my sheets and slide in. These two products are my sleep secrets!
Do you have a tried-and-testing nighttime skincare routine, or other rituals you do before bed every night that help you drift off and wake up glowing? Let me know in the comments section!
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