Let’s face it, skincare is the new makeup—no pun intended. We are being overwhelmed with skincare products left and right. If you’re a frequent visitor to Ulta, Sephora or Target’s beauty section (like me), you’ll know what I mean. You could easily spend hours comparing different products, cross-referencing for reviews on your phone and crying on the inside at the price tags and options in front of you.
If you just don’t know where to start with a routine, but know that your skin is in desperate need of some love, here is a basic night-time skincare routine to get you started:
Cleanser
If you need to remember one thing, always, always, always wash your hands first! You don’t want the germs on your hands from a long day to reach your face. Here, you have two options: an oil cleanser if you had a heavy makeup use during the day (an alternative to this could be make-up wipes) and if you’re going to use an oil cleanser, you’ll want to follow up with your normal, water-based cleanser to get rid of any excess leftovers. Gently pat dry and quickly move to the next step. Don’t let your skin dry out too much here because it can be vulnerable after washing away the yuck from the day in addition to your natural face oils.
Exfoliate (Weekly)
Depending on what your skin needs that day, you’re going to want to exfoliate. You don’t want to exfoliate more than three times a week, so be sure to space your exfoliating days out. There are two types to keep in mind when looking for an exfoliator. Generally, physical exfoliators are taking care of the dead skin cells on the surface and chemical exfoliators will fight on a deeper level.
Physical: Avoid physical exfoliators that have microbeads or other granular textures, these are very harsh and not your friend! Physical exfoliants sometimes can do more harm than good. So choose carefully.
Chemical: I prefer this because it is less abrasive and will come in a liquid form usually containing alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA’s) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHA’s). Don’t be scared of these guys! They can help with acne, hyperpigmentation and overall smoothness.
Exfoliating weekly results in clearer and brighter skin since your skin cells are being prompted to turnover faster. Always keep cotton rounds on hand for this step to keep everything clean.
Toner
Toner helps to rebalance the pH in your face. It can be hard at first to understand what exactly a toner does because it’s often used as a catch-all phrase in the beauty industry. Toners can be applied or with a cotton pad, depends on what you prefer! There are lots of toners on the market that are used to combat various issues: acne-fighting, hydrating, nourishing, healing, etc. Using toners as a first step after cleansing is perfect way to prep your skin for other steps in your routine!
Pro-tip: Watch out for toners with alcohol. Too much alcohol can dry out your face and will break you out even more.
Optional: Serums
There is a variety of serums on the market to treat different needs. Dry skin, anti-wrinkle, blemish control for acne prone skin, vitamin c serums, etc. This is where you can have fun because you can personalize it to your skin’s needs. These will come in the form of …
Optional: Eye Cream
The skin under your eye is the most sensitive. A lot of people ignore this step because these can get pricey quickly. However, keep in mind that most eye creams will usually last you up to three months or longer because you’re not using it on your whole face.
You never want to apply toner or exfoliant directly under the eye because this is your most delicate skin.
Moisturize
This might be one of the most familiar steps in your routine. Moisturizing should always be the last step in your routine that locks everything in. Avoid fragrance and alcohol if you have sensitive skin. Moisturizing can come in many forms. The most common forms are creams, but recently oils are making a big impression in the beauty industry! Your choice of moisturizing should be emollient with the ability to ensure your previous steps of skin care stay sealed in.
This basic, nighttime skincare routine will have you on your way to a healthy complexion. Once you get into a good routine, you’ll start to notice what your skin likes and needs more of. And eventually, what it doesn’t like, too. Good skincare is a journey and we are all on it! It takes time, but will never be something you regret.
Happy washing!
-Andrea, Statusworthy Editor