How To Master An Easy Nighttime Skincare Regimen If You Don’t Have One Slash Hate Yours
by Marissa Pomerance
Oh, hi there. You’re back for more. We revealed the perfect, beautiful, easy, semi-mindless morning skincare routine, and now you’ve become hooked on skincare. You’re welcome.
You’ve got that AM cleanser down. You’ve found a brightening vitamin C serum, you’re thrilled with how dewy your skin becomes with that moisturizer, and your SPF that protects your skin and helps keep it bright and gloriously plump.
But what do you do once the sun goes down?
Luckily, some of the greatest skincare products of all time are made for overnight use. Micellar water! Retinol! Glycolic Acid! Anti-aging oils and thick, gloopy serums galore! But undoubtedly, any normal, non-skincare-obsessed mortal can become quickly overwhelmed by the multitude of choices. Do you need an eye cream? What about an eye serum? And what the fuck is even the proper order of layering your toner, oil, and moisturizer? AND WHEN DO THE SERUMS COME IN?
We hear you.
And look, we could easily list out the most basic, no-frills skincare regimen that would most likely consist of Cetaphil and Cetaphil and more Cetaphil. But ease doesn’t have to mean boring. We firmly believe you can build a joy-sparking nighttime skincare regimen that you love. One that you’ll actually, you know, do.
1. Remove Your Makeup With THIS
We’ve already preached the gospel of micellar water approximately 167 times. It is truly The Easiest way to remove your makeup at night. Squirt some onto a cotton pad, soak the pad on your face for a minute, and then gently wipe it off. It’s mindless and yet it will really make you feel like you know what you’re doing.
2. Double Cleanse. Seriously. Do it.
A DOUBLE cleanse?! We know…we said this would be easy. But the rest of your potions and elixirs and reiki shamanic facials will be useless if your skin isn’t clean.
According to our go-to aesthetician and all around skin-wizard, Candace Marino, this step is “the deep clean,” because “now that the makeup is off, we need to get down to business and get the skin clean.” She recommends “a gel or foaming cleanser for this step so the skin isn't left with residue or a film.”
We love Maelove’s Refresher as your second cleanse in the PM—it’s exfoliating, refreshing, and will get all that crap off. This step will take about 30 seconds. Don’t fear it.
3. Use One Of The Few Eye Creams That Works
The jury is still out as to whether any of us really need an eye cream. But here’s this; you have skin around your eyes. That skin is thin. It can get dry. Eye creams provide ample moisture for that part of your face, without having to smear something so rich and creamy on the rest of your face (unless you’re into that sort of thing).
This drugstore eye cream works better than almost anything we’ve tried, and is bursting with hyaluronic acid and retinol, so it’s not just a pretty face.
4. Give yourself a spritz
Once we start getting into toners and essences, this “easy” regimen could quickly explode into a behemoth, 23-step regimen that you absolutely will not commit to.
But there is also an unparalleled joy in the quick spritz of a hydrating, refreshing facial spray. And though this works for the morning too, doing it at night adds a relaxing element that’s deeply soothing right before bed.
Our favorite, most moisturizing spray of all history and time is the Amore Pacific Moisture Bound, but an excellent budget spray is this one, which is lightweight, and lovely for all skin types. Plus, this step takes approximately .3 seconds and costs $11, so why not?
5. Use A Retinol Serum That “Does” Something
This is the step for those products that actually “solve” your issues, not just feel/smell/look good.
According to Candace, “serums are your power product because generally the serums will be the ingredients that will illicit change in the skin.” Your specific serum should be selected roughly based on what it is you’re trying to solve for, but
Candace believes all women should be using a form of retinol, for lines, wrinkles, tone, and texture.
We like this one, as it’s formulated for sensitive skin, so there’s no irritation.
6. Moisturize With the Greatest cream Known to woman
If you like using products that produce instantly glowing skin, have you met Augustinus Bader?
If you’re aging but oily, this cream will balance you out, give your skin a surge of moisture, and never make you greasy. If you’re aging and parched, it comes in a “rich” formula that is the moistest, most quenching drink of water for the skin like nothing we’ve ever tried. If you have acne, if you’re young, if you have huge pores, if you have bags, texture, redness, unevenness, this honestly could be the antidote.
7. Bonus: A Face Oil
Look, we’re not convinced that anyone “needs” a facial oil, which is why this is a bonus.
Do they provide hydration? Yes. Are they soothing? Mostly.
But the most important thing about a facial oil? You’ll like using it. The smell. The texture. The packaging. It’s an experience.
Which means you may be motivated to use it. Which means you may be motivated to DO all the previous 6 steps, too.
8. Bonus: An Overnight Lip Mask
Do you also “need” a lip mask? No, you don’t “need” a lip mask.
Does this lip mask feel luxurious and heavenly and make our lips look plumper and feel kissed by an angel’s soft lips? It does.
Marissa Pomerance is the Managing Editor of The Candidly. She’s a Los Angeles native and lover of all things food, style, beauty, and wellness. You can find more of her articles here.
