I don’t know about you, but if there’s one thing I never miss it’s my nighttime skincare routine (yes, even tipsy Cyn can pull this off!). Taking care of your skin before bed is one of the crucial things to do when it comes to skincare. Why? Because all of the dirt, grime and makeup that’s collected on your face throughout the day needs to come off! Let’s dive into my nighttime skincare routine (the winter edition) to find out how I cleanse and prep my skin, what products I’m crushing on this winter and other tips that will help take your routine to the next level!
My Skin Type: combination/oily. While more recently I’ve been better at controlling my oil, during drier skin episodes my skin still revs up and can become extra oily. This is why I do my best to keep it hydrated in the winter!
Related Post: 50+ Holiday & Winter Content Ideas
DISCLOSURE: affiliate links are used on this page. I only recommend products and services I absolutely use and love! You can read my full disclosure here. If you decide to make a purchase through my links, I make a commission (at no additional cost to you) which goes to supporting my blogging dreams. which I can use to help support yours and many others! Thank you for all the love and support!
Table of Contents
Three Skincare Don’ts
1. Don’t fall asleep with your makeup on: I cannot stress this enough! It’s the perfect recipe to clog your pores and head straight for skin disasters.
2. Don’t touch your face without washing your hands: your hands are full of germs that get transferred right onto your face! Avoid spreading bacteria and try to minimize the amount of times you touch your face.
3. Forget to clean your makeup brushes: your makeup brushes harbour tonnes of bacteria if they aren’t cleaned routinely! Avoid smearing bacteria all over your face by cleaning your brushes at least weekly!
What Happens to Your Skin at Nighttime
Your skin behaves differently during the nighttime than it does during the day time! Throughout the night, your skin cells are regenerating! They also may be more receptive to skincare products during this time. Your skin also has a tendency to dry out during the night (which is why I never forget step six). To find out the full list of things your skin does throughout the night, check out this list by thehealthy.com!
(Step by Step) Nighttime Skincare Routine: Winter Edition
OKAY! Below I’m going to walk you through my nighttime skincare routine step by step! This way I’ll be able to share with you the steps, what products I use and why I’m doing each step! I’ll also be sharing what resources I use along the way to have crafted this skincare routine! Let’s dive into my nighttime skincare routine (the winter edition!).
Step One: Remove Makeup
So so SO important to get it all off! (Have you ever gone to wash your face and then used toner, only to find some of your make-up still on the cotton pad?!). Depending on where I am (at home V.S on the road) I like to use different products (depending on ease).
At home: Micellair Water! I honestly don’t break the bank for this product, I just pick up some at the drugstore – sometimes whatever is on sale. I simply add to a cotton pad (I’m working on finding a more reusable alternative!) and get started on removing all of my makeup. You can check out plenty of options for Micellair Water here!
On the road: Aveeno makeup removing wipes – easy to use, lightweight to pack and virtually do the same thing (I prefer the Micellair water but if I’m on the go this one’s easier to pack and use altogether!).
Step Two: Cleanse
After reading Huda Beauty’s blog, I’ve actually started double cleansing! Since I’ve started, I notice such a difference! My face feels cleaner (especially after having worn makeup all day!). You can check out more Huda Beauty skin tips here!
Products I’m currently using:
1. Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser (AM and occasionally PM – depending on breakouts)
2. La Roche Posay Effaclar Gel (PM)
3. Clarisonic Mia 2 (I’ve had mine for a couple years now – it’s held up well!) with the Cashmere brush head.
Side note: I’m currently in between cleansers, meaning I’m searching for the perfect cleanser! I started using the Aveeno when I was having bad breakouts and noticed a difference (thank you salicylic acid!) I’m currently looking to switch up my cleansers for this new year!
Step Three: Toner
There was a time in my life when I ran out of toner and couldn’t figure out why my skin was out of whack, but now I understand! Toner offers that extra little oomph when it comes to cleansing your face (making sure you really didn’t miss anything!)
Currently using (and have been for a little over 3 years): Clinique Acne Solutions Toner. I actually use this product AM & PM after washing my face!
FACT: I learned how to properly layer my skincare products by checking out the Huda Beauty blog! You can find out here how to layer your products appropriately for maximal impact!
Step Four: Serums
This is the part in the routine where I start to apply products. I try to leave at least two minutes (ideally five!) so that each product has a chance to soak in and truly start to work!
In this phase, I apply two serums to my face.
First: Herbivore Prism – a combination of AHAs (alpha hydroxy acid) and BHAs (beta hydroxy acid) work as an exfoliator! As I’m trying to move away from physical exfoliators (think of your walnut scrubs and face scrubs with hard little bits! These can actually create micro-tears in your skin) and move onto chemical exfoliators (such as Prism), I have found this product an important step of my skin care routine!
I use this product every night and have noticed a difference in both my pores and the brightness of my skin! (Their skincare line is also vegan and cruelty free, which is an added bonus!).
More Info: if you’re looking for a deeper explanation of how to approach both physical (not all are bad, you just need to be careful which ones to use!) and chemical exfoliators (and which types of each to avoid!) then I recommend checking out this article by In The Gloss!
Second: Biotherm Life Plankton Essence – I use this serum morning and night under my moisturizer and I have seriously had no dry days this winter! This keeps my skin moisturized, hydrated and looking radiant!
Price note: these products are both a little on the pricier side, however I find the serums last longer. I use approximately 1-3 drops only of the serums, and I find they last me upwards of 6 months. I personally prefer investing in skin care, and make efforts both to save and splurge on products I love and swear by!
Step Five: Night Cream
It’s common for your night cream needs to vary with the season (often varying with changes in weather!). Below are two products I use in rotation to ensure my skin is supple and hydrated throughout the winter.
My go to: Herbivore Moonfruit – excellent for dullness, hydration and unevenness! I use this product year round and find it holds true throughout summer and winter months!
For dry days: First Aid Beauty Intense Hydration – every so often (especially after adding in additional occasional skin treatments), my skin can become drier than usual. This is when I swap out Moonfruit for FAB’s Intense Hydration to give myself an extra shot of moisture. Usually when this occurs, I’ll use this for 2-3 days until it clears (I also use in the morning as well, depending on how dry my skin is!).
Step Six: Sleeping Mask
Think of a sleeping mask as like the final layer that seals in all of the moisture (which is something you want especially in winter months!) I have two go-to sleeping masks I swear by:
Every Day Use: LaNeige Water Sleeping Mask – this is something I use every night to lock in alllllllllll of the moisture! Simply apply over top of everything. This is the last step in my skin-care routine (then it’s lights out!)
Occasional: Glow Recipe Watermelon Sleeping Mask – I use this in combination with FAB’s Intense Hydration or if I’m starting to get a small dry patch. I find switching up my products occasionally gives my skin a break!
HOLY GRAIL ALERT: La Neige also carries a Lip Sleeping Mask which I swear by. I seriously use this stuff all day and right before bed. When my lips are super dry, I continue to use it throughout the day to keep hydrated. Where I go, this sleeping mask goes!
Other Skincare Treatments
Masks, peels and exfoliating are all great for your skin, however they should be done in moderation. Below I dive into each a little deeper and share my favourites to use for soft, clear, radiant skin!
Masks
I do masks at least once a week, but sometimes more depending on the state of my skin (dry, breakout, laclustre). Below are some of my go-to’s for masks I continue to replenish and swear by!
FAB Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask – I have gone through TUBES of this! It is the most hydrating mask I’ve been able to find (it has literally soothed my skin from dry, crusty and flakey and brought it back to life). An absolute must during the winter.
Chemical Peels
Yes! You can perform these at home! Often they come in multistep packages that step by step guide you how to perform in the comfort of your own home!
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Peel – I tried these as a sample travel size from Sephora (yes, an impulse checkout buy!) and Have been obsessed ever since. Note: I don’t use daily as I find them a little harsh, but I do use 3-4 times a week!)
Exfoliators
Like I said above, you need to be careful in which exfoliators you use as some can have pieces that are too large and cause micro-tears in your skin! I personally use Fresh Sugar Scrub as I find it is gentle on my skin (doesn’t feel like I scrubbed off an entire layer!). I use this product 2-3 times a week, depending on the state of my skin!
Clear as Mud?
It’s taken me a while to lock down a nighttime skincare routine that works for me. My main focus was hydration and correcting dullness, which is why I use many of these products. It’s important to keep in mind your skin changes with diet, exercise (sweat!), season, climate etc. I’m always trying to perfect my skincare routine and I’ll always try to share with you the best findings for all things skin care!
