An evening skincare routine can often be deemed as a low priority in our busy daily lives…
Many people don’t see it as an important part of the day and therefore, will go to sleep without looking after our skin. Throughout the day, we encounter a range of factors that can damage our skin. We should always aim to protect and prepare our skin in the morning but just as importantly, cleanse and allow our skin to repair overnight.
A simple evening skincare routine can take your skin from being dry and dull to hydrated and healthy. Below is the routine that I follow to help me look after my skin on an evening. It only takes around 10 minutes to do, however, I can still feel the benefits of it in the morning.
Remove all makeup with a gentle face cleanser (makeup remover cloth)
If you have worn makeup that day, the first thing you should be doing in your evening skincare routine is taking it off. Try to avoid using makeup wipes as they can often dry out our skin, not to mention being bad for the environment! Instead, opt for a gentle face cleanser, this could be a cleansing butter, or a cleansing gel. Either lather the product all over your face (avoid getting in your eyes) and wipe away with a damp face cloth or a makeup remover cloth. Or, if you are using a watery product, pour some onto a face cloth and gently wipe your makeup away. As I have predominantly dry skin, I opt for a cleansing butter which can deeply clean my skin and leave it feeling nourished afterwards.
Cleanse your face again to ensure it is fully clean
Once you have removed any makeup from your face, it is time to cleanse again. Your cleanser of choice should be decided based on what type of skin you have. If you are someone who has oily skin, Micellar water or a liquid soap cleanser works well. These types of products can draw out and balance the oils in your skin. For dry skin I would recommend a water-based cleanser that is gentle on your skin. The aim is to make our skin clean without drying it out even more.
Apply toner
Toner should be next in your routine. Applying a toner should always come after the cleanse and before you moisturise. By using a facial toner after you have removed any makeup and dirt from your skin, it will help to balance out the pH levels. Using a toner will add to the process of purifying the skin and preparing it for the moisturising phase. It is important to find a toner that targets your skin type depending on if it is oily or dry.
Do any skin treatments (serum, acne cream etc)
The focus of this step is to target your specific skin type through using different serums and creams. It may be a Vitamin C serum to help reduce Hyperpigmentation or a Soothing skin cream which will reduce the inflammation of your acne. You can make this step personal to you depending on what your skin needs to keep it healthy and glowing.
Apply your moisturiser
Now it’s time to moisturise! We should aim to apply moisturiser twice a day (morning and night). Moisturizer creates a barrier on our skin which can protect it from damage overnight. In the evening, I like to use a thick moisturizer which locks in moisture and soaks into my skin whilst I sleep. If you have oily skin, a lighter moisturizer will benefit your skin without blocking your pores and leaving it greasy.
Don't forget your lips! Applying a natural lip balm before you go to sleep will protect your lips from drying out. I find it so important to take care of my lips before bed as I often sleep with the fan on, and as a result, this can be extremely drying on my lips.
Beauty sleep
This must be my favourite part. It's time to allow your skin to rest and recover through the night. Depending on how old you are will determine how many hours we are recommended to sleep for. For a teenager it is 8-9 hours, an adult should get between 7-9 and someone who is over 65 should be having no less than 7 hours and no more than 8. However, the optimal time for sleep may vary depending on a number of factors such as your activity level, how labour intensive your job is, if you have any health issues & how often you are distributed throughout the night.
As the guidelines are only recommendations, we can often find ourselves getting too little sleep and then compensating the next night with too much. Sleep should always be a priority for us so that our body and mind is refreshed ready for the next day. If you are anything like me, getting to sleep easily can be a struggle. However, there are a few strategies that can help us drift off quickly.
- Removing yourself from any electronic devices whether it be your phone, laptop or tv can help you to switch off from work and what is going on around you.
- Avoid consuming caffeine and alcohol in the hours before bed.
- Have a relaxing Pre-bed routine such as having a bath and shower, completing your skincare and attempting to be in bed for the same time each night.
- Personally, I find that listening to relaxing music or a sleep podcast can help me get to sleep quicker.
It is important to know that skincare routines will differ from person to person. However, we should always try to find the time before bed to look after our skin.
If you would like to learn about Morning Skincare routines, check out our blog "What should my Morning Skincare Routine be?"
