According to a recent survey, women in the United States spend an average of $3,756 on cosmetics every year, including skincare1. But are you applying your skincare the right way?
The first step toward building an effective skincare routine is choosing the right products and applying them at the right time, in the right order. This will provide the best results for your skin and make the most of each product’s benefits.
For your daytime routine, you should focus on hydrating and protecting your skin from environmental risks like sun, dirt, and pollution. For your nighttime routine, it’s all about fighting skin issues, improving skin cell turnover, and letting the regenerative benefits of sleep take effect.
Whether you’re a skincare minimalist looking to apply only the basics or a skincare aficionado with an 11-step routine, knowing the difference between morning and nighttime skincare routines can make a big difference.
In this article, we’ll explore morning vs. night skincare routines and the right order to apply each product in your routine.
Why Morning vs. Night Routines Should Be Different
If you have basic products on hand — a cleanser, a serum, sunscreen, and a moisturizer — you might wonder why differentiating night and morning routines matters. But just like what you apply, it also matters when you apply.
Some products work better at night, while others are made for daytime use. Using the wrong product at the wrong time could mean you’re not seeing its full benefits. In some cases, it could even damage your skin.
At night, your skincare routine should heal and nourish the skin. While you’re not wearing makeup or other products like sunscreen, your skin has a chance to breathe. A nightly routine can also include a richer or heavier moisturizer to provide more hydration as your skin recovers.
The active ingredients can better penetrate the skin at night, making this a great time to target skincare concerns like acne, pigmentation, and aging skin2. Potent ingredients like retinol or salicylic acid could make the skin dry and damaged during the day, especially when exposed to sunlight. Products that contain retinoids can break down in the sunlight, making them less effective3.
On the other hand, a daytime routine should nourish and protect the skin. With hydrating products, gentle active ingredients, and sunscreen, you can protect the skin from pollutants, free radical damage, and sunlight.
The Morning Skincare Routine
When applying skincare products first thing in the morning, the products you use make a big difference in the health of your skin. The order you apply them in can matter too.
These morning skincare tips can allow your skin to handle challenges, from sun damage to dryness.
1. Use a Gentle Cleanser
Even if you wash your face before going to bed, you need to wash again in the morning to remove any sebum or skin cells that built up overnight. Use gentle products to achieve softer, more hydrated skin.
2. Apply a Toner
Next, apply an alcohol-free toner using a cotton pad or your fingers to prepare your skin. A hydrating toner can make your skin softer and more supple, helping your other products absorb more effectively.
3. Use a Facial Serum
While this step is optional, a hydrating and nutrient-rich serum can retain moisture throughout the day. It can also strengthen the skin barrier to keep you protected. Look for serum ingredients like Vitamin C or hyaluronic acid to improve your skin’s sun protection and radiance.
4. Apply a Moisturizer
One step that you can’t skip is applying a moisturizer. The right moisturizer can lock in the hydrating effects of your toner and serum. It can also protect you against environmental factors and balance your oil production.
5. Use SPF
Finally, you can top off your morning skincare routine with an SPF product — even if it’s cloudy or you’re staying mostly indoors. Whether a sunscreen, SPF moisturizer, or SPF spray, using a sunscreen product is the best way to protect and preserve your skin. An estimated 90% of all signs of aging come from harmful UV rays4.
The Nighttime Skincare Routine
At night, your skin cells regenerate during sleep. Using a targeted regimen will help you address any skincare concerns while helping your skin repair and restore itself.
Here are some essential steps for a simple nighttime skincare routine.
1. Remove All Makeup
Always remove your makeup before you go to sleep — especially if you’re applying other products on top. Use a gentle, oil-based makeup remover to remove buildup that can clog pores.
2. Wash Your Face
Once your makeup is removed, it’s time to cleanse. Be sure to cleanse deeply at night to flush out all the dirt, bacteria, and remaining products from your skin. Try using a double cleansing method for a deeper clean. Apply a light, oil-based cleanser first, and then use your usual cleanser afterward to thoroughly cleanse the pores5.
3. Use a Toner
As with the morning routine, the first step after cleansing should be tone. While it’s important to use hydrating products in the morning, you have more flexibility at night. If you want to target a specific skin concern, you can use a toner made to tighten the pores, smooth texture, or treat acne.
4. Apply a Serum
Whether hydration or exfoliation, nighttime is your chance to apply a serum with powerful benefits. Look for a serum to address your skin’s needs. For example, a salicylic acid serum can unclog pores to prevent acne, while a retinol serum can speed up cell turnover to minimize signs of aging.
5. Put on a Night Cream
Especially if you’re applying potent active ingredients, you always need to finish off with a moisturizer. A night cream is often thicker and richer than a daytime moisturizer, locking in moisture and restoring your skin’s natural glow. As with serums and toners, you can look for a night cream designed to tighten the skin or brighten discoloration.
Make the Most of Your Skincare Routines
If you apply the same products morning and night, you could be missing out on the full effectiveness of your products. Or worse, you could be damaging your skin. While you don’t need a complex routine, just a few simple products applied morning and night allow your skin to live up to its full potential. To learn more about how to build the most effective skincare regimen, explore more resources from My Skincare Routine.
SOURCES:
- Groupon: ” True Cost of Beauty: Survey Reveals Where Americans Spend Most.”
- Vogue: ” Here’s how skincare routine should change from day to night.”
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: ” Photodecomposition and Phototoxicity of Natural Retinoids.”
- Skin Cancer Foundation: ” Skin Cancer Facts & Statistics.”
- Healthline: ” A Beginner’s Guide to Double Cleansing“