Beautiful smiling woman with white cream face mask
Self-care

9 Step Evening Skincare Routine

Have you figured out in what order to use all the lotions, serums, oils, and potions you buy for your skin and when is the best time for your skincare routine? The fact is you need a morning and an evening skincare routine. In the morning you need a routine that will prepare and protect your skin for the day. In the evening you need a routine that will clear your skin of all that it has been exposed to during the day. The routine does not have to be complicated, elaborate, or time-consuming. With skincare, you just need to be consistent in order to see the result. Begin with the basics and add to it as you gain more knowledge about what your skin’s needs are, or what are the issues that you would like to take on. In this article, I lay out a 9 step evening routine that you can adjust according to the needs of your skin, and if you missed the previous article 6 step morning skincare routine here is the link.

AM-SKIN-ROUTINE

Evening Skincare Routine

Step one

Makeup Remover: Why use a makeup remover? A makeup remover will remove the layers of cosmetics, especially eye makeup, which is the most difficult to take off. What to look for in a makeup remover: that it takes off everything, that it won’t clog your pores, and that it does not leave a residue. Most makeup removers are oil base. Oil removes oil, as the saying says, “Water and oil do not mix.” Makeup removers are not meant to cleanse your skin; they do not have the components that cleansers have. Therefore you should cleanse after you remove your makeup. Since we are talking about eliminating makeup here is a tip. When removing mascara or eye makeup, it is best to wipe in the direction of the growth of your lashes, instead of rubbing to the sides which will tug on your lashes and can cause them to fall out. It will also pull on your skin which can produce wrinkles. Glamour has a great article on “How to remove makeup Correctly.”

woman washing face with water

Step two

Cleanse: When choosing a cleanser, look for one that does not contain alcohol or fragrance and that is suitable for your skin type. A cleanser is more moisturizing and hydrating than a face wash; it is also more effective in removing make-up, so if you missed any makeup during step 1 then your cleanser should be able to finish the job.

beautiful woman applying toner to her face with a cotton pad

Step three

Toner: Purpose of a toner is to remove traces of oil and make-up and correct and balance the PH of your skin, it can be applied using a cotton pad or sprayed onto the face. Some toners can also address other concerns such as help removing surface dead skin cells, or shrinking the appearance of pores. Toner is especially good for skin that is prone to acne and oil problems.

woman pointing to spot on her face

Step four

Spot Treatment: Why use a spot treatment? You will use a spot treatment if you suffer from acne, hormonal breakouts, or the occasional cyst spot. Spot treatments can help reduce swelling, redness, and pain caused by blemishes; they help dissolve the clog in the pores that cause the pimple. Over the counter spot treatments are helpful for the occasional zit. If you have frequent breakouts or suffer from acne nodules or acne cysts, you should consult a dermatologist. See this article on Cosmopolitan for the “6 spot busting treatments recommended by dermatologists.”

young woman applying serum to her face

Step five

Serum: A serum is a lightweight moisturizer, usually meant to target specific skin concerns such as wrinkles, acne, dullness, or a number of many others. Serums deliver active ingredients by penetrating deeper into the skin. Most serums are meant to be applied twice a day.

beautiful woman applying eye cream

Step six

Eye Cream: A moisturizer or serum for the delicate skin around the eye area. They are formulated to address specific issues such as fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness some may even take care of more than one issue.

Step seven

Moisturizer: Is meant to hydrate your skin, protect it from the elements and prevent it from drying out. Most moisturizers are created for specific skin types, some are also formulated for day or night. Some ingredients to look for in a moisturizer are Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ceramides, and Hyaluronic Acid. You may also want to consider a denser weight moisturizer for your evening routine and one that does not contain fragrance.

woman applying moisturizer

Step eight

Night Cream: Some of the benefits to using night cream is keeping your skin hydrated, boosting collagen, helps renew skin cells, restore elasticity, and will help prevent your skin from sagging. A night cream will help repair the damaged cells on your skin. What to look for when choosing a night cream? Look for a cream that does not contain fragrance, for a cream that is not to thick in texture and will feel good on your skin. Choose a night cream that will address your most important skin issues or concerns. For a list of some Night Creams to consider here is a link to Totalbeauty article “17 Best Night Creams for Perfect Skin Every Morning”.

brunette woman applying serum on her face with a dropper

Step nine

Face Oil: The primary function of facial oils is to supplement the natural oils in your skin and help keep the moisture in. Along with the leading role and according to the type of oil- argan, maracuja, rosehip, CBD (hemp seed), etc. It will have other benefits for your skin. For instance, argan and jojoba oil can help repair the skin barrier; rosehip oil has antioxidant benefits. For the 14 Best Facial Oils of All Times check out this article in Allure.

Bonus

Essence: If you are wondering in what step you would incorporate an essence, that would be right after your toner and before serum. Essence and toner are not the same things even if they look alike and are packaged in the same way. Although there are some skin care companies that have combined both toner and essence into one to save you steps in your skincare routine. An essence is basically a lightweight serum meant to soothe the skin and accelerate natural turnover to provide you with a smoother and healthier complexion and adding even more hydration.

Display of skincare products
Conclusion

All things considered, a good skin care routine is about giving your skin what it needs. It takes about 4 to 6 weeks to see a difference when using a product. Consistency is the key. This is a basic evening skincare routine that will take you about 10 minutes. With these routine, in place, you should see improvement in your skin’s health and appearance in as little time as a month.

“She was BEAUTIFUL, but not like those girls in a magazines. She was beautiful, for the way she thought. She was beautiful, for the SPARKLE in her eyes when she talked about something she loved. She was beautiful, for her ability to make other people smile, even if she was sad. No, she wasn’t beautiful for something as temporary as her looks. She was beautiful, deep down to her soul.”
-F. Scott Fitzgerald

I believe we should take care of or skin for our self and for our health, because it is a way of self-care. But realize that true Beauty does not come in a bottle, True Beauty comes from within, from who we are and how we treat others.
PM-Skin-Routin

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