There is nothing worse than finally kicking your feet up at the end of the day and realizing that you have to get right back up to get ready for bed. We have all been there, and we have all had those nights where we give in and go right to sleep without washing our face and removing a full face of makeup and not having a care in the world.
Which is completely fine… once in a while.
That being said, it is so important to take care of your skin and body by preparing it for sleep. Easier said than done after a hard days work. I find that it is easiest to stay consistent by developing a routine that you can stick to every night.
When it comes to taking care of your skin, it is always a work in progress. The fact of the matter is, the older we get, the more attention our skin needs to be given. Your skin is always changing, so your skin care regimen should be changing with it. Experimenting with different products and researching what products are best for your skin type are the best ways to do that.
My PM skin care routine consists of about 7 different steps, which sounds like a lot, however, once it becomes routine, I can get everything done in less than 10 minutes!
1. Makeup remover
The first step is removing any makeup from the day completely off your face. One of the most common methods to remove makeup is to use makeup remover wipes. They were my go to for a long time, but as the elasticity in my skin decreased, it occurred to me that the intense rubbing probably wasn’t helping to tighten my skin. It also didn’t remove waterproof makeup very well. But, wipes are great for nights you are super tired or if you need to take your makeup off on the go. Whatever makeup remover you decide to use, it should be the first step of your night time routine.
2. Face wash
It is good to switch up your face wash every once in a while. Again, your skin is always changing. Your face wash should target any issues that your skin experiences and be based off your individual skin type. Whether you have oily, dry, sensitive, or combination skin, your face wash should accommodate your skin type.
Do a bit of research when selecting your next face wash to figure out what ingredients will work best for you. Skin care can get expensive, so if that is an issue for you, refer to this guide to find the best affordable face washes.
3. Exfoliate or Face Mask
I will typically alternate this step between a face mask and an exfoliator, or sometimes I skip it all together. I try to do a face mask at least once a week and exfoliate about twice a week. The frequency that you can do either of these steps will depend on the sensitivity of your skin. You don’t want to overdo it.
The cloth masks are a huge craze right now, but be careful. Make sure you read the ingredients, as some of them are questionable. Even some high-end brands can have some sketchy ingredients. You can also create your own face masks at home. In fact, some of the best ingredients for your skin type are probably already in your pantry right now.
4. Toner
I SWEAR by my toner. This is probably the most important step of my night time skin care regimen. Despite the fact that you have already used makeup remover, face wash, and possibly an exfoliator or mask—your skin probably still has some dirt and makeup packed into those pores. You can actually see how much dirt comes off on the cotton pad when you use toner, and it will blow your mind.
Toner does a great job of removing all of the excess makeup and dirt from my pores that the cleanser didn’t get, making my skin the cleanest it has ever been. Just like with all of your other skin care products, you will want to choose one with ingredients that complement your skin type.
When I use it at night, I squirt some onto a cotton pad and wipe my face thoroughly. I also like to put some toner into a small glass spray bottle, and in the morning I spray it on before doing my makeup for a refreshing and clean start.
TIP: Use a q-tip of rubbing alcohol only in the creases where oil collects, like the sides of your nose, and, for me, between my eyebrows. I get heavy oil because of the makeup remover and eye cream I use. DO NOT overuse alcohol, as it can dry out the skin a lot. If you already have super dry skin, use extra toner in those areas, or some hydrogen peroxide.
5. Moisturizer
I hate the feeling of dry, tight skin after I clean it. Moisturizer relieves that dryness throughout the whole night, so by the time I wake up the next day, my skin feels hydrated and soft. Many brands have moisturizer products that are specific to applying overnight. It may be best for your skin to use two different moisturizers. One for during the day, and the other for when you go to sleep. Find the best moisturizer for your skin type and apply it as step 6 of your nightly skin care routine. Then, you are almost done!
6. Eye care
The last order of business is your eye creams and serums. Eye creams are for everyone, whether you are young or old, have wrinkles or perfect lineless skin—it won’t always look like that, so start managing the area now. The delicate skin that surrounds your eyes is the first place where you start to notice aging. That is where the thinnest skin on our bodies resides, making it the most fragile. It’s convenient, considering how much exercise the muscles of our face and eyes get each day.
Both creams and serums should be used regularly in your skin care regimen. The difference between the two is that serums penetrate the skin deeper than eye creams, delivering high-potency ingredients below layers of skin.
This is another skin care product that you should be very careful selecting. Know the ingredients that are in your eye creams and make sure they are safe for you.
It’s important to change up your skin care routine, as our skin is always changing. It’s called a routine because you follow it regularly and the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Your skin will thank you.
Resources— Vogue, Allure, LiveLaughLondon