The Best Skin Care Routine for Nighttime

With all the trendy skin care routines that seem to come and go these days, it can be confusing to know what type of routine to practice, let alone when to do it. As it turns out, your nighttime skin care regimen should be a bit different from your morning one. Think about it: At the end of the day, you need to remove your makeup, excess oil, and residue, thoroughly cleanse your skin, and also prep it for maximum beauty sleep. And, once followed routinely, you may even notice that your skin is looking better and better in the mornings, before you even reach for your makeup. Your skin refreshes and renews while you rest, so take advantage of this and spend the necessary time on your skin before turning in. Here, we’re sharing the best nighttime skin care routine.

NIGHTTIME SKIN CARE ROUTINE STEP #1: REMOVE MAKEUP

First things first, you’ll want to remove your makeup. There are many different ways to take off your makeup, such as with a cleansing wipe, micellar water, or cleansing oil. Take some time to consider your skin type in order to choose the best option for your skin. One of our favorite makeup removal options for all skin types is micellar water. Try the L'Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser Waterproof – All Skin Types to understand our love for this makeup removal option. Simply saturate a cotton pad with the micellar water, then swipe it across your skin to remove makeup.

NIGHTTIME SKIN CARE ROUTINE STEP #2: CLEANSE YOUR COMPLEXION

For the best skin care routine and your cleanest skin, think of removing makeup and cleansing your skin as two separate steps. After you remove your face and eye makeup, focus on washing your face so that you can clear the surface of your skin of any lingering makeup, dirt, and oil. If you’re worried that two-step cleansing could dry out your skin, choose a gentle facial cleanser, such as the L'Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Detox & Brighten Cleanser, for your second step.

NIGHTTIME SKIN CARE ROUTINE STEP #3: ADDRESS ANY SPECIFIC SKIN CONCERNS

Your nighttime skin care routine is the best time of day to focus on any skin concerns, such as the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and even sagging skin, as well as blemishes and breakouts. If your biggest skin concern is staving off fine lines or just generally keeping your skin moisturized, now is the time to apply an anti-aging, hydrating serum, such as the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Serums are one of the best ways to address a myriad of skin concerns and the general rule of thumb is to follow cleansing with applying your serum.

NIGHTTIME SKIN CARE ROUTINE STEP #4: EYE CREAM

Both your AM and PM skin care routines should include an eye cream. The eye area is very delicate and can easily become dry, so regardless of your age or skin type, this step should never be skipped. Here too, you can customize your eye cream choice based on your concerns. For example, if general puffiness and dryness are what you’re looking to prevent, reach for the L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Manuka Honey Eye Gel. Alternatively, if anti-aging is your biggest concern, try the L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Eye Renewal Eye Cream. For any product you pick, apply a light layer onto your under-eye area and gently pat with the pad of your finger until absorbed.

NIGHTTIME SKIN CARE ROUTINE STEP #5: MOISTURIZE WITH A NIGHT CREAM

When it comes to skin care after dark, you'll want to set your day cream aside and apply a hydrating night cream, instead. They're formulated to surge skin with moisture while you rest, meaning they're exactly what you should be using before bed. Try the L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Honey Night Balm, which is formulated with nurturing manuka honey and can comfort and hydrate skin while you sleep. A few times a week, you can also swap out your night moisturizer with an overnight face mask, such as the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Intensive Overnight Mask, to help firm and lift skin for a more youthful appearance. That's right, you can enjoy the benefits of a face mask while you snooze! 

NIGHTTIME SKIN CARE ROUTINE STEP #6: LOCK IN MOISTURE WITH A FACIAL OIL

Lastly, as an optional step, you can also help seal in moisture by applying a facial oil over the rest of your products. As a general rule, facial oils should always be smoothed on as the very last step in your skin care routine. 

And there you have it, your ideal nighttime skin care routine. Now it’s time to put on your pajamas and slip between the sheets! Of course, if you’re already in bed and hesitant to get out to complete your skin care routine, you may be interested in starting a Sink-less Skin Care Routine instead.