If you’re a beauty and body care enthusiast, you know how important a nighttime skin care routine is. Your skin has the best chance of soaking up all those beneficial products as you wind down for the evening and then sleep. In the morning, you want to wake up to a glowing complexion.
This all sounds great, but there are a lot of skin care myths out there. What’s the right night skin care routine order? When do you apply each product? We’re here to help. Here’s how you can build an ideal P.M. skin care routine that actually works.
Before diving into when to apply each product, we need to cover what you should be using. Your nightly skin care products have a lot of influence over how your complexion looks in the morning.
The golden rule of skin care is to use products designed for your skin type. Oily skin has much different needs than dry skin and vice versa.
Some universal skin care products you should always use, regardless of your skin type, include:
These are the cornerstones of the skin care world. Without them, your skin will feel (and look) like it’s missing something.
Your cleanser should clear out your pores while tending to your skin’s other needs. For example, people with dry skin should choose a hydrating cleanser that doesn’t strip their skin’s moisture barrier. Oily folks might need to avoid cleansers with heavy oils and surfactants.
Some people choose to double-cleanse using first an oil-based cleanser like our Revitalizing Cleansing Oil and then follow with a water-based product. This is an effective way to remove makeup and built-up debris.
Before you can do anything else with your skin, you have to wash the day off. Cleanser should always be the first step in your nightly skin care routine.
Your skin renews itself daily, and as a result, it collects dead cells that no longer have a purpose. To address this issue, you need to practice regular exfoliation.
There are two types of exfoliants — chemical and physical. Think of physical exfoliants as “scrapers” for your skin; they remove dead skin cells using grainy particles. They usually come in the form of sugar scrubs . Chemical exfoliants penetrate deeper to loosen the chemical bonds between dead skin cells.
Our Renewing Mud Mask removes dead skin cells using botanical ingredients instead of harsh chemicals, and can be used as often as needed, depending on skin type.
Exfoliating one to three times per week can refresh your skin’s surface to reveal the glowing beauty underneath.
Serums do all kinds of different things. They can brighten your skin, target dark spots, address wrinkles, and plenty more. Some serums, like our Bakuchiol Vitamin C+E Serum , contain multiple ingredients that promote better skin.
You can find serums for anti-aging, acne control, and much more. Make sure you give each serum at least 30 seconds to fully absorb into your skin.
Your skin has a protective barrier that keeps the good stuff, like moisture, in and harmful particles, like dirt and debris, out. When your moisture barrier is compromised, your skin may age prematurely and break out often. Moisturizer helps restore that barrier and lock hydration into your skin’s deeper layers.
Moisturizing is a necessity, even if you have oily skin. Without a healthy dose of hydration, your skin will continue to overproduce oil, which will make your acne worse in the long run.
A good night cream is a must for a complete nighttime regimen. Our Recovering Night Cream with Bakuchiol contains a higher percentage of bakuchiol to help repair and restore moisture to your skin while also reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while you sleep.
Your night skin care routine won’t be as effective if you apply products in the wrong order. Here are the correct steps to follow if you want to wake up to youthful, glowing skin every morning.
Always start with a cleanser that’s appropriate for your skin type. You can’t address any of your skin concerns without first clearing away the dirt, debris, and oil that’s built up throughout the day.
We recommend removing your makeup first and then thoroughly cleansing your skin afterward. Start with a clean base so the rest of your products can get to work on your skin.
You must use your face scrub or exfoliating serum before you apply other products. Otherwise, the exfoliant will just wash off the other products you’ve used, and they won’t get a chance to work.
Your face might need a good rinse after applying a scrub, but don’t rinse off chemical exfoliants (unless the instructions say to do so). Give the exfoliating serum 30 seconds to one minute to fully absorb. Be diligent about wearing SPF after applying chemical exfoliants, as they can make your skin more sensitive to UV rays.
You won’t always follow this step. Most people don’t need to exfoliate every day. Pick one to three days a week to clear away dead skin cells for smoother, healthier skin.
Serums are the bread and butter of an effective nighttime skin care routine. They contain active ingredients that address any concerns you have, like acne or aging.
Always allow each serum to fully absorb into your skin before applying the next one. Don’t rinse your skin after this step; the products need to stay on in order to work. Nighttime is the best time to use heavy-duty products that target your biggest skin concerns because they can absorb overnight.
Never skip moisturizer, especially after you exfoliate. This may be the last step in your routine, and it’s arguably the most important.
Allow your moisturizer to absorb for a few minutes, depending on its thickness. It’s helpful to think of your entire nightly routine in terms of product thickness. A good rule of thumb is to apply the thinnest, fastest-absorbing products first and the thickest ones last.
Eye creams tend to be thicker than skin moisturizers, so we recommend applying them after your face cream. When given enough time to absorb, they’ll soak through the layers of product and begin repairing your under eye area.
Eye treatments work wonders for anti-aging and facial beauty. The skin around your eyes is thin, so it’s more susceptible to rapid aging. By using a nightly eye cream, like our Repairing Eye Cream with Bakuchiol , you may be able to prevent this common problem.
People with oily skin may not need this step. Face oils are very dense and are best suited for folks with dry skin who need the extra hydration. You might choose to add a face oil to the end of your routine during the winter but skip it during the summer; it’s up to you.
Face oil should be the last step in any skin care routine you perform. Give your skin a few hours to absorb the oil if possible. This will prevent you from staining your pillowcase and wasting product.
Our Restoring Face Oil with Bakuchiol is a lightweight dry oil that absorbs quickly and locks in moisture. Because its a dry oil, it works with all skin types, even oily skin.
You might wonder, “Why do I need a nighttime routine at all? Can’t I just throw SPF on and go?” While you’re free to choose, almost all beauty experts recommend having a solid night skin care routine. Only doing skin care in the morning can wreak havoc on your skin.
You tend to settle in at home during the night, allowing your skin to fully absorb each product. You also don’t have to apply sunscreen at night, which gives your nighttime serums more staying power.
The ultimate goal of any skin care routine is to help you look — and, therefore, feel — your best. Much of this work is done overnight when your skin has the chance to renew and rejuvenate itself. You can help the process along by purchasing high-quality skin care products and applying them in the right order.
Caring for yourself is an important part of living a healthy, happy life. This isn’t selfish, and it doesn’t have to be as extravagant as taking an expensive vacation. Sometimes, self-care involves pampering your skin with the best products on the market.
At Whish Beauty, we encourage everyone to care for their skin — and themselves. You deserve to give your skin beautifying treatments, and our skin care products are here to help.
At Whish Beauty, we’re dedicated to producing quality, ethical skin care products. Our selections are perfect for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Every product is gentle and free of phthalates, parabens, sulfates, and other harsh chemicals you don’t need.
Now that you know the correct order of skin care at night, it’s time to build your customized P.M. skin care routine. Find the perfect products for your nightly lineup from Whish Beauty. Shop our cruelty-free collections today!