Why would you need to apply different skincare products in the evening to the ones you use every morning? After all it’s the same skin, and mostly the same concerns, be it dehydration, fine lines or pigmentation. Well generally speaking if you have a good morning regime that is adapted to your skin, you probably don’t need to make any big changes come evening, except add makeup remover and skip SPF. But if like me you’re a skincare enthusiast then this is the opportunity to include some hard-working products that work their magic overnight, when skin can absorb nutrients without having to tackle daytime aggressors such as pollution. Here are the 7 steps I take my skin through most evenings – not quite a Korean skincare routine but enough for my husband to complain about bathroom hogging.

1. Cleanser

In order to remove the day’s build-up of makeup, London dirt and sebum I start with a cleanser. There’s no point in applying expensive serums and creams on a clogged up face, they just won’t be as effective as they can’t penetrate skin. I discovered this Facial Mud Bar from British indie brand Love Absolute thanks to The Natural Beauty Box. Banish all notion of dried out skin from your mind, this solid vegan bar leaves skin feeling refreshed and cleansed. This takes off my normal makeup look which tends to be on the light side, but if I’m wearing a particularly stubborn mascara I’ll start with an eye makeup remover.

2. Scrub

Three times a week I add a scrub to the line up to slough away dead skin cells. This smoothing face polish from Niskama – another natural indie brand I discovered thanks to The Natural Beauty Box – contains ground hibiscus flowers and rice powder which act as exfoliants. To add a nourishing element it also features coconut, sweet almond, peppermint, bergamot and mandarin oils, leaving my skin baby soft. I tend to use a muslin cloth with warm water to remove the scrub for an extra gentle exfoliation action and a mini spa feel.

3. Serum

Next I’ll apply a serum to cleansed skin. The type of serum will depend on the skin concern I have at that time, or quite simply what I fancy using that evening. For a light blemish-fighting formula I’ll go for something like Caudalie Vinopure Blemish Control Infusion Serum, or if I feel that my skin needs a more nourishing formula I’ll pick Botanicals’ Rosa-Renew Anti-Ageing Serum. Cruelty-free, vegan and certified organic by The Soil Association (impressively it’s 99% organic), I discovered this brand when they got in touch about reviewing a couple of their products. I really enjoy using their Nourish Hydrating Mist (reviewed in my post Beat the Summer Heat) and this serum lives up to expectations. As the formula is quite viscous you only need 3 drops to cover face and neck. Fine lines are not my top concern at the moment so I can’t speak to its anti-ageing results, although with skin regenerating rosehip oil, nourishing carrot oil and frankincense for the prevention of fine lines, it’s got some great natural ingredients to tackle mature skin. I use it for the satisfying sense of hydration I get from it. The product photographed is a sample.

4. Facial oil

If I’ve applied a rich serum I’ll skip the facial oil so as not to overload my skin. But with a light version I’ll follow up with a nourishing oil. Anyone who’s read my post Top 5 Natural Facial Oils will know I have a penchant for natural oils. To add to my collection is Relaxayvoo Renewal Night Face Oil which is made up of only 8 natural oils. These include rosehip oil, prickly pear seed oil (an ingredient I discovered for the first time in Alexa Sky Botanicals’ Cactus Fruit Eye Serum), nourishing argan oil, softening sweet almond oil, jojoba seed oil (great for dry skin) and soothing chamomile oil. This rich formula is best left to work its magic overnight as some essential oils can cause photosensitivity, meaning it can cause skin to react when exposed to UV light (redness or discoloration). Luckily it sinks into skin relatively quickly so there’s no greasy patch left on my pillowcase – my pet peeve.

5. Lip balm

In one of my earlier posts Desert Island Beauty Product: The Lipbalm I shared my number one beauty essential. My lips tend to get dry towards the end of the day, especially if I haven’t been drinking enough water! Before heading to bed I make sure my lips are suitably hydrated to see me through the night. I’ve been doing this for so long now, if I don’t have a lipbalm handy – hard to believe seeing as I have two on my bedside table, another in my handbag and several in my spare box under the bed – my lips feel uncomfortable. Ice Ice Baby Vanilla lip balm from Canadian cruelty-free brand Lowens comes in an old school stick format and delivers effective fuss-free results: moisturised lips with a delicious – and subtle – vanilla scent.

6. Mist

I love spritzing a mist to finish off the skincare routine. Caudalie’s bestselling Beauty Elixir is one that has definitely grown on me. The initial spray was a bit of a surprise as I wasn’t expecting the 100% natural formula to smell so strongly of peppermint oil. It feels quite revitalising so I initially used it solely in the morning to set my makeup. It has however grown on me and I now use it every evening too – and throughout the day if I’m home – to give my skin a final boost of essential oils (including rose and rosemary).

7. Essential oil

The finishing touch: not a skincare product as such, but a lovely way to end the night time ritual and signal to your body and mind that it’s time to switch off. You can add 3 drops of Neal’s Yard Remedies Lavender Essential Oil to a diffuser or mix with a carrier oil such as coconut for a relaxing effect.

What does your night time skincare routine look like? Leave a comment below to let me know.

Features gifted products.