Everrrrything I Do In My Current Nighttime Skincare Routine

Taking care of your skin at night is SO important – it’s the time when your skin heals and repairs itself, so it’s essential that you nourish and hydrate to help it recover. I’m always switching up the products I use – it’s literally my job to test skincare – so I wanted to share my updated routine with you guys.

Step 1: You have to double cleanse every night, it’s literally the most important thing you can do. If you don’t double cleanse, you’re not going to get deep into your pores or remove all of your makeup or the grime that’s built up during the day.

I always start with a balm or oil makeup remover, which melts away makeup and SPF. I’m using our super gentle but very powerful Huda Beauty Makeup Remover Balm, $15. After that’s washed off, I use a water-based makeup remover, like a foaming or gel face wash, to cleanse deep into the pores. The first step essentially removes makeup, whereas the second cleanse is able to actually penetrate the pores and work its magic.

Right now, I love this slightly exfoliating wash from Tatcha, The Deep Cleanse Exfoliating Cleanser, $38. It’s super invigorating and helps to purify and detox pores with amino acids and exfoliating fruit extract, while Japanese wild rose helps tighten pores and smooth skin texture.

I sometimes like to use cleansing brushes or devices like the Foreo with my last cleansing step, and I also love to use a muslin cloth in my routine to remove cleansing oils or masks.

Extra Step: Exfoliation! Exfoliation is the key to smoother, softer, and beautiful skin, but it’s also important that you avoid over-exfoliating. I use our WISHFUL Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub, $39, two to three times a week after I’ve double cleansed, to slough off dead skin cells, detox my pores, and help to even my skin tone. What’s so great about this scrub is it’s gentle yet powerful, so you won’t run the risk of over-exfoliating your skin. Our Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub is infused with brightening pineapple and papaya enzymes, detoxifying BHAs and AHAs, and cellulose, a gentle physical exfoliator that carefully buffs away dead skin cells without scratching the skin surface. The lightweight scrub has done an incredible job of evening my skin tone and retexturizing and brightening my skin for a major glow. Find out more about Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub here.

Step 2: I always use toner. This helps get rid of any last traces of makeup that might have been missed around the hairline and also helps balance and prep the skin for the next skincare steps. I’ve been a long-time fan of the Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2, $17, which has witch hazel and hydrating sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid). It’s strong stuff and I feel like it really helps keep my skin clear – I’ve been using it for years!

Step 3: The next thing I use is the 111SKIN Antioxidant Energising Essence, $100, which has this really silky formula that melts into the skin. I honestly feel like essences are such a skincare game-changer, and this is one of my fave formulas. Find out more about using essences in your routine here.

Step 4: To ensure my skin is hydrated to the max, I use a hyaluronic acid serum to penetrate deeply and plump the skin. Right now, I’m obsessed with the Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum, $300, which plumps up my skin. However, it is a huge splurge, and I’m also a big fan of the Dr. Jart+ Peptidin™ Firming Serum With Energy Peptides, $48, that has a major plumping effect as well. The Mizon Hyaluronic Acid 100, $15, is also a great affordable option and I really like the texture and hydration this gives.

Step 5: To lock in all that hydrating goodness, I apply a moisturizer. I also like to do a little lymphatic drainage (when I have time) with either a Gua Sha or an eye massage tool, which helps remove toxins via the lymphatic system while it also helps with product penetration. Read more about using a Gua Sha for lymphatic drainage here.

Step 6: Finally, I use a face oil to nourish, soften and feed my skin. I’m a big fan of the Ren Skincare Rose O12 Moisture Defence Oil, $80, but check out these amazing facial oils to find one that’s perfect for your skin type here.

Extra steps:

Light Therapy: Depending on what’s going on with my skin, I like to use light therapy to target different things. Blue and purple light are great for getting rid of breakouts and preventing them, as the light kills bacteria while red light helps to give my skin a major glow as it boosts collagen and promotes healing.

Lash and Brow Oil: I have super sparse lashes but if there’s one thing that helps them grow thicker than ever, it’s the Tropic Isle Living Red Pimento Hair Growth Oil, $11, which also has Jamaican Black Castor oil. I apply it to my brows and on my lashes and lash bed so that it nourishes the lashes to make them strong, and it also gets to the skin where it can penetrate and boost lash growth.

Check out a slightly different variation on my nighttime routine below – of course, double cleansing and my Clinique toner are there too!

What does your nighttime skincare routine look like? Let me know what you do in the comments below!