What skincare does a 48 year old Beauty Editor actually use at night?

My evening skincare routine takes a little longer than my morning one, as night time is when you literally need to cleanse the day away and also prep the skin for repair. Because while you’re catching your zzzz’s, your skin is working its hardest to repair all of the damage it has endured during the day. 

CLEANSING IS A STEP YOU SHOULDN’T SKIP AT NIGHT

Remember that clean skin = healthy skin. And at night, you’re not just removing your makeup, but also rinsing away all of the dirt and oil that your skin has picked up during the day. 

I love to use a balm as they make cleansing less of a chore. I love the ones below as they literally feel and smell like ‘spas in a jar’ and make you want to spend a bit more time massaging them into your skin. They also don’t leave your skin feeling tight which I hate.  

Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm 

Liz Earle Superskin Advanced Nourishing Cleansing Balm 

ALWAYS TREAT SKIN WITH RETINOL OR SERUM 

Serum is a step often missed in skincare, but it’s one that I know has kept my skin in prime condition. It’s the product that delivers ingredients deep down beneath the layers. 

I use retinol serum every other night. Retinol is great for turning over the dull dead skin layers and also helping to keep stock of your collagen – the protein that keeps skin plump and smooth.

Expect brighter, more even and smoother skin when using retinol. 

Retinol should only be used at night as it is prone to causing sensitivity in sunlight, so always make sure you wear SPF, as you should anyway, the day after using it. 

At the moment I am loving Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10

If you are worried about sensitivity, introduce retinol once a week for 1 week, twice a week for 2 weeks, three times a week for 3 weeks and so on, until you have built up a tolerance.

For nights that I am not using retinol, my go to’s are repairing serums like Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair and No7 Future Renew Night Serum

EXFOLIATE ON DRAB SKIN DAYS

I use a chemical exfoliator like Alpha H Liquid Gold + Vitamin C on days when my skin just looks drab and like it needs a bit of oomph! 

TIP! To make this step extra strong, your skin will benefit from skipping the next step 😀