At this time of year, I start to think about my skincare goals for the next year. What is the thing that will elevate my skin to the next level, or what’s the concern that I need to start addressing as I get older? If you have a resolution to take your skincare more seriously in the new year, the best place to start is your night-time routine. Why? Well, your skin regenerates itself at night, so a good PM routine is going to make the biggest difference if you currently do nothing in the evening.
As a beauty director, I try so many products to make sure I can bring you guys the best recommendations but when I’m not testing, I have a super simple nighttime routine. Honestly, miss me with the 10-step routine. I personally have found that a quick, easy routine works best for most people. It’s what all derms that I work with suggest, and then you can start adding in steps as and when you need them.
So, here is your best basic night-time routine (with tips from an expert), whether you’re starting to take skincare seriously from scratch or if you are stripping your routine back after getting a bit lost with your routine….
Everyone’s clicking on…Cleanse
The one thing that everyone should have in their nighttime routine? A good cleanser. “Wash your makeup off before bed,” insists Dr Alexis Granite, CeraVe Consultant Dermatologist. “It’s important to always cleanse before bed, as leaving makeup on interferes with the skin’s natural restorative and exfoliative processes overnight. Leftover makeup can also worsen skin congestion and breakouts.”
She recommends a creamy or milky cleanser in the evening if your budget allows you to have two different cleansers. This will help to get off SPF and makeup better than a gel cleanser. I like to use an oil or balm cleanser as it helps with getting off heavier makeup but if you have oily skin, you might want to avoid it.
elizabeth arden Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Replenishing Cleansing Oil 200ml
CeraVe CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm 36g
BYOMA BYOMA Milky Moisture Cleanser, 175ml
glossier Milky Jelly CleanserActive
What is your skin concern? Blemishes? Fine lines? Whatever it is, this is your step to work on that. Whether you use a retinol serum here for youth-boosting or a niacinamide to calm inflammation, that is the best step to tackle that as it’ll be directly on clean, damp skin, giving it a great shot of working while you have your beauty sleep.
Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex Serum
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Dua by AB Supercharged Glow Complex
Exosome Hydro-Glow Complex | The INKEY List
NATURIUM Retinol Complex SerumMoisturiser
“I recommend ending your evening routine on a hydration high with a deeply replenishing and intensive moisturiser,” says Dr Granite. Look for moisturisers with ceramides and peptides to hydrate and boost collagen production. If you have a potent active in the active step (like a retinol), make sure you avoid actives in this step.
Dr Sam’s Flawless Moisturiser
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream
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Summer Fridays Rich Cushion Cream 50ml
Beauty Pie Triple Hyaluronic Acid Deep Moisture Miracle CreamOptional – eye cream
Truth talk, I don’t always use an eye cream as I just take my night cream up to my occipital bone, but Dr Alexis says that if you are going to do an extra step every night, it should be this. “Eye cream is an additional consideration if the eye area is a particular concern,” she says. “Skip the toner, they really are not necessary. Exfoliation can be done no more than 1-2 times per week, depending on skin type.”
CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream with Peptide Complex Caffeine for Brighter Smoother Eyes 15ml
CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream with Peptide Complex Caffeine for Brighter Smoother Eyes 15ml
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo’s Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
