You need to try this easy nighttime skincare routine now!
The 5-minute, 5-step nighttime skincare routine
As a teenager, prepping my skin for bed was a no-brainer. I delighted in using Noxzema and a spot cream for pimples and dark spots. Once I hit university, things changed. Somewhere between late-nighters and alcohol, neglecting my skin became a thing! If you care about skincare as much as I do, nursing that kind of habit in your 20s can be problematic. In any event, I lived, and I learned, then I developed a consistent nighttime skincare routine.
Not all nighttime skincare routines are the same. Different strokes are for different folks, but each routine is important. My current nighttime skincare routine is a 4-5 step process. What I do depends on the condition of my skin on any given week. On some nights, I lay it on thick - cleanse, exfoliate, tone, then apply 28539389 serums, followed by a moisturizer. Then, other nights, I cleanse, tone, and moisturize with my favorite emollient moisturizer, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter or Bio-Oil. On rare occasions, I cleanse my face during my steaming hot showers only.
If you are new to skincare, finding a nighttime skincare routine that works for you can be harrowing. There are so many products on the market and even more issues to address with said products. Whether you have normal, combination, dry, or sensitive skin, we want you to have a nighttime skincare routine that works. That is why we developed a simple routine that you should follow! Keep reading to learn and apply more.
1. Cleanse your skin
Whether it’s day or night, cleansing your skin is the most important part of your skincare routine. After a long day of absorbing and fighting off free radicals, your skin deserves to be free of the mess! If you wear makeup, it can cause skin issues when you keep that dirt or talc on your face. Some of those issues include acne, enlarged pores, and irritation.
Use a face cleanser of your choice - something mild and gentle on the skin is always best. I use Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Acne Cleanser Treatment. Over the years, I heard many great reviews about Kiehl’s skincare products. So, I decided to give them a shot with this face cleanser. It has been effective thus far! This is a foaming cleanser that contains salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid that refines your skin’s texture and reduces blemishes. Frankincense slows down sebum (face oil) production. Ginger root offers antioxidant protection against free radicals.
Since using this face cleanser, I have seen fewer acne breakouts and clearer skin. The results are not conclusive because I use other products. But I appreciate them.
2. Exfoliate your skin
In case you never knew, you do not need to exfoliate your skin every day! No matter the skin exfoliant, these kinds of skincare products can wear away your skin over time. This is the case if you use a common walnut face scrub found in the drug store. It's best to use skin exfoliants 2-3 times a week. After cleansing your face, run your fingers across it to feel for any irregularities in texture. If your skin feels rough and lumpy, that is both a sign that you need to exfoliate and get a facial. Or even a chemical peel. Either way, lean into that and give your face a good scrub!
3. Tone your skin
Toning might be the most critical part of your nighttime (and daytime skincare routine). Toning strips away extra dirt and debris leftover after cleansing and exfoliation. It closes and tightens your pores or skin to prepare it for the next step in your skincare routine.
4. Apply a retinol or niacinamide serum
When in doubt, apply a retinol serum as part of your nighttime skincare routine. You cannot go wrong with it! There are many retinol serums available, so the type you choose is a matter of preference. It is also a matter of the skin issue that you may be targeting. Remember, the higher the concentration of retinol in your serum, the more potent and effective it will be. So choose well. Experience that Masktini’s Night Ranger Overnight Renewal Mask might be one of the most gentlest retinol-based skincare products on the market!
5. Moisturize your skin
While you sleep, your skin is most prone to dryness, especially if you sleep with air conditioning or heat. I like to use an emollient moisturizer when I sleep (and always), but this is a matter of personal preference. Emollient moisturizers leave your skin smooth and supple. If they contain essential nutrients such as vitamins A, C, and E, they are best. Why? These nutrients contain antioxidants that fight free radicals, fade dark spots and hyper-pigmentation, and promote rapid cell turnover.
So there you have it. While the Koreans may have a 12-step skincare routine, day and night. You can have the same results in a shorter amount of time or with fewer steps. I would love to hear from you - what is your nighttime skincare routine? Are you a cleanse and sleep kind of person, or do you like to lay it all on thick?! Leave a comment below! Until next time.