If you wish to get the best results from your evening skin care products, you need to be using the best products for your skin type, and you need to be applying them in the correct order. Following a step-by-step skincare routine at night will give you the best outcome because your skin regenerates while you sleep. That’s why it’s called “beauty sleep!”

So, let’s talk about the perfect nighttime skin care regimen, which types of products you need to try, and the best order for applying them. It’s also important to understand why each product is essential to your mission for achieving glowing, healthy skin.

General Guidelines for Your Evening Skin Care Regimen

  • To retain moisture in the skin after you wash your face, apply a hydrating toner right away before the moisture evaporates.

  • A morning skincare routine should be centered around protecting your skin from the sun and environment, but your nighttime products should be focused on renewing and repairing the skin while you sleep.

  • If you struggle with being too tired at night to tend to your skin, try doing your evening skin care earlier. Instead of waiting until bedtime, try to do your regimen as soon as you know you’ll be in for the rest of the evening.

  • You may be tempted to skip your moisturizer in the evening to allow your skin to breath. However, moisturizer is crucial at night because it prevents moisture loss from your skin’s cells. Dehydrated skin looks older and shows fine lines and wrinkles more… definitely not the look most of us are going for!

  • While using a facial oil can produce amazing results, they can interfere with the effectiveness of sunscreen by diluting or dissolving it throughout the day. Incorporate them into your nighttime routine instead.

  • Make sure the skin care products you choose are formulated to work with your skin type.

Why is Establishing a Good Nighttime Routine is so Important?

Most people don’t realize it, but the way that your skin functions actually changes at night after the sun goes down. That’s why your evening routine should be different from your morning one.

  • The moisture levels of the skin’s cell are lower at night because of transepidermal moisture loss.
  • The protective barrier of the skin is more permeable at night, so products like serums will penetrate the skin better.
  • Cell division, DNA repair, and renewal happen much more rapidly at night than they are during the day.
  • Skin naturally detoxes at night.

8 Best Skincare Products to Use at Night

1. Oil-based Cleanser

Using an oil-based cleanser as your first step at night is essential because your skin has been clogged up with oil, dirt, sunscreen, and makeup all day. Most of us tend to touch our face a lot throughout the day, too, which can introduce germs and bacteria to the skin.

An oil-based cleanser will break down all of that gunk so that you can remove it without tugging or pulling at your skin, which can lead to premature aging.

To make sure every last bit of oil and makeup has been removed, follow your oil cleanser with a gentle water-based cleanser before you apply a toner.


2. Toner

​​​​Even if you don’t incorporate a toner into your morning routine, you really should use one at night. Modern toners are formulated to balance the skin’s pH, and they also lock in all that moisture your skin has after cleansing.

Choose a toner that has active ingredients for your specific skin type.

Try out: Thayers Alcohol Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel With Aloe Vera


3. Sheet Masks

If you want to address a specific skin issue, such as fine lines or dullness, one of the best ways to do it is to incorporate a sheet mask into your evening routine after you cleanse and tone your skin.

Sheet masks contain highly concentrated active ingredients, and they aren’t rinsed off so they can penetrate the skin while you sleep. Consider keeping a few different mask formulations on hand so that you can target specific concerns as they come up. 

Try out: Julep Triple Quench Deep Hydration Sheet Mask System


4. Night Serum

If you really want to get the best results from your evening skin care regimen, incorporate a serum that is formulated to address your specific skin concerns.

As we mentioned before, your skin is more permeable at night so your serum will be able to penetrate better. Apply your serum after you tone and mask for best results and allow it to penetrate for at least 60 seconds before you move on to your moisturizer.

Try out: AHAVA Time to Revitalize Extreme Night Treatment


5. Night Cream

After you apply your serum, you’ll want to lock in all those beneficial active ingredients and moisture by applying a moisturizer that’s suited for your skin.

It doesn’t have to be heavy or greasy, but it should be free of sunscreen. 

Try out: L'Occitane Immortelle Precious Night Cream


6. Sleep mask

​If you want to provide your skin with some extra support while you sleep, use a sleep mask in place of your nighttime moisturizer. Sleep masks are formulated with active ingredients that provide deep moisture and other benefits while you sleep.

They aren’t rinsed off, so they work all night, while you sleep to deliver brighter, smoother, plumped up skin when you wake up in the morning.

Try Out: Erno Laszlo Hydra-Therapy Memory Sleep Mask


7. Eye Cream

After your moisturizer or sleep mask, consider applying a nourishing eye cream. Using an eye cream at night is especially beneficial because you won’t be wearing sunscreen or makeup, which can interfere with the effectiveness of the product.

Remember, the eye area is the first place to show signs of aging, so it’s important to give it extra care.

Try Out: La Roche-Posay Redermic C Pure Vitamin C Eye Cream


8. Facial Oil

​If you use a facial oil, now is the time to apply it. An oil will give the skin a protective seal while preventing moisture loss. Ne​​​​ver put your facial oil on before your other products because it can prevent your other products from penetrating the skin.

Try Out: ELEMIS Superfood Facial Oil - Nourishing Face Oil


Incorporating these eight products into your nighttime routine will help you achieve the healthy, glowing skin you’ve always wanted. If your goal is to achieve the most noticeable results, paying particular attention to your skin at night is incredibly important.

Choosing the right products and applying them in the correct order assures that you get the most impact for your time and money.

[amazon table=”6417″]

[amazon table=”6419″]


Donna Maurer

As an experienced content creator, Donna has covered numerous topics related to the beauty industry. She is a former writer for an esthetician and skin spa and she’s constantly researching the latest skin care products and tutorials. Donna loves sharing new routines and treatments that worked for her, in the hopes that others will find similar, positive results.


Pin for Later: