By understanding your skin’s specific needs and following a thoughtful, personalised application sequence, you’re setting the foundation for healthier, more radiant skin.
Before you dive into layering your skincare products, it’s crucial to recognise that your skin is one-of-a-kind. Just like no two individuals are identical. No two skin types are alike; what might work wonders for one person could fall flat for another. This uniqueness is the cornerstone of any skincare routine, especially at night when your skin is busy repairing itself.
A solid evening routine isn’t just about picking the “right” products; it’s about choosing the ones that suit your skin and applying them in the right order. Properly layering your products ensures that each one can soak in completely and do its job, whether that’s hydrating, tackling acne or providing anti-ageing benefits. By understanding your skin’s specific needs and following a thoughtful, personalised application sequence, you’re setting the foundation for healthier, more radiant skin.
So, how do you get it right? Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to layering your skincare products for a powerful evening routine.
An oil-based cleanser is a fantastic choice for breaking down stubborn makeup and sunscreen, thanks to its lipophilic properties that help lift away impurities. Just massage it gently onto your dry skin for about a minute, then add a splash of water to help it emulsify before rinsing it all away. However, if you're dealing with active acne, congested pores, or very oily skin, it’s best to skip this step to prevent worsening any breakouts.
Follow up with a gentle gel or cream cleanser to effectively remove any remaining residue and to give your pores a deep clean. Ensuring your skin feels fresh and thoroughly purified.
A great oil-based cleanser is PCA SKIN DAILY CLEANSING OIL
This gentle yet powerful solution removes makeup, dirt, and excess oils without the need for harsh scrubbing. Packed with antioxidant-rich ingredients like grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, and vitamin E, this formula not only cleanses but also protects and hydrates your skin. It’s perfect for all skin types, whether you have oily or sensitive skin. This cleansing oil helps maintain your skin’s natural moisture balance, leaving it feeling soft, refreshed, and thoroughly hydrated after every use.
A highly effective gel-based cleanser is the JAN MARINI BIOGLYCOLIC FACE CLEANSER
This is a non-foaming, hydrating formula that works wonders in cleansing and exfoliating your skin, leaving it feeling soft and refreshed. The key ingredient is glycolic acid, which eliminates impurities from the pores and removes dead skin cells, unveiling a brighter complexion. Plus, with the added benefit of sorbitol, this cleanser helps keep your skin hydrated while prepping it to soak up all the goodness from your next skincare products.
Toners play a crucial role in your skincare routine by helping to eliminate any leftover impurities after cleansing. They work to restore your skin’s natural pH balance and set the stage for better absorption of the products that follow. Plus, they offer a boost of hydration, help reduce the appearance of pores, and calm the skin, leaving you with a smoother complexion.
An effective toner includes EXUVIANCE HYDRAPREP PH BALANCE TONER
This pH Balance Toner is a refreshing blend designed to hydrate, tone, and prep your skin for the next steps in your skincare routine. It features glycolic Acid (AHA) to gently exfoliate and refine your skin's texture, while gluconolactone (PHA) offers a mild renewal without irritation. Aloe vera provides soothing moisture, cucumber extract adds a cool, refreshing touch, and chamomile extract helps calm and soften sensitive or irritated skin, all working together to promote a balanced and healthier complexion.
The skin around your eyes is super delicate and thin, which means it tends to show fine lines and puffiness, so it deserves extra care. To apply, gently tap a small amount of eye cream around the eye area with your ring finger. Give it a moment to soak in before you move on to the rest of your face.
A great product is EVENSWISS REJUVENATING EYE COMPLEX
This serum features a triple concentration of Dermatopoietin Peptide Complex, which works by sending signals from the skin’s surface to activate deeper skin layers. This process boosts elastin, hyaluronic acid, and collagen by up to 90%, helping reduce fine lines and dark circles while easing puffiness. Natural plant oils and antioxidants, including sea buckthorn oil rich in omega-7, which support skin regeneration and repair, promoting healthier, rejuvenated skin.
Serums are powerful, concentrated formulas crafted to tackle specific skin issues. Here’s a golden rule to remember: always layer your products from the thinnest to the thickest. Since serums are made with smaller molecules and often have water-based formulas, they should be applied right after toner to ensure that those active ingredients are absorbed effectively. After that, you can follow up with cream or oil-based products, which create a protective barrier that seals in moisture and enhances the benefits of everything you applied beforehand.
When you're layering multiple serums, start with the lightest one, which is usually a water-based serum. This could be something like a hyaluronic acid serum to boost hydration or a niacinamide serum to enhance your skin's texture.
Great water-based serums are:
Targeted serums are packed with powerful active ingredients like retinoids and alpha/beta hydroxy acids (AHA/BHA) that tackle specific skin issues such as hydration, ageing, and sun damage. It's a good idea to start with a lower concentration to help your skin adjust and then gradually increase usage for the best results while keeping irritation to a minimum.
Effective targeted serums are:
The most important step in any skin-care routine is moisturising. Moisturisers are essential because they increase skin hydration and restore the skin’s protective barrier, which prevents water loss and keeps the skin soft and flexible. They contain ingredients that attract water, smooth skin texture, and form a barrier to lock in moisture, helping maintain healthy, resilient skin. Without moisturisers, dry skin can become rough, irritated, and more prone to damage.
Moisturisers should be chosen based on individual skin types to effectively support skin health
In short, getting the layering right in your evening skincare routine is key to boosting how well your products work and helping your skin repair itself while you sleep. When you apply your products in the right order, your skin can soak up all the goodness, which means better texture, more hydration, and an overall healthier complexion.
