Perfecting Your Night Routine for Glowing and Healthy Skin

Last Updated on July 24, 2024 by Prissila Murillo

Do you ever see photos of ladies with glass-like skin? The secret to achieving glowing and healthy skin is your nighttime skincare routine. Glass skin is shiny and hydrated with an even texture and soft dewiness.

Consistency is key when it comes to skincare. If you have a consistent routine with the same products and low-concentration acids and exfoliants, your night routine is already probably better than many others. However, the products in your routine are important too.

We have compiled a list of the best skincare products for your night routine along with instructions on how to apply them. Once you’ve mastered what works with your skin and what doesn’t, you can follow this as your nighttime skincare routine for consistently glowy, glass-like skin.

Steps

Night Routine Step 1: Oil-based Cleanser

You may have heard of the method of double cleansing before, and it is an essential part of your night routine if you wear makeup or SPF (which you should always be wearing). One of our favorite oil-based cleansers is the Banila Co Clean It Zero 3-in-1 Cleansing Balm. On dry skin, scoop a small amount of the cleansing balm into your palm and rub it into your face. This will melt away all of the stubborn makeup or anything that you put on your face throughout the day.

Next, rinse your face with cold water. Cold water is gentle on the skin. Using hot water on the skin is irritating and will strip your dead skin cells. Contrary to popular belief, you need deceased skin to achieve a glowy look. Once all of the makeup and balm is rinsed off your face, pat your skin dry gently with a towel.

Night Routine Step 2: Water-based Cleanser

As a part of the double cleansing method, it is now time for your second cleanser. This cleanser is a water-based cleanser and will ensure your face is completely clean. We recommend the SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser. This cleanser is creamy and suitable for all skin types (yes, even sensitive skin). Use this again with cold water and pat dry with a towel.

Night Routine Step 3: A Hydrating Exfoliant

The key to glowy skin in your night routine is hydration. That goes for your exfoliant as well. Exfoliants can strip your skin if they are too harsh or you use them too often. We recommend the PCA SKIN Daily Exfoliant.

This exfoliant is gentle yet effective. Start with this exfoliant once a week after your cleanser. Apply a few drops to your hands and pat it into your face. After some time, you can use this up to three times a week. Overdoing exfoliants can irritate, and your skin will dry out. However, exfoliants will help create an even texture by reducing the appearance of pores and blemishes. 

Night Routine Step 4: Toner

Toners are always optional in a night routine, but they can help with extra hydration. The Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Toner is a great toner for hydration, glow, and smooth skin. AHA is a type of exfoliant, so we do not recommend using this at the same time as the PCA SKIN Daily Exfoliant.

Apply a few drops of toner right on the skin and pat it in with your hands until absorbed. Use this on the days you aren’t using exfoliants, especially the night before you put on makeup. 

Night Routine Step 5: Calming Serum

Healthy, glowing skin comes from taking care of your skin and restoring your moisture barrier in your night routine. The Dermalogica UltraCalming Serum reactivates dead, lifeless skin to be radiant and shiny again.

This serum is great on all skin types, especially sensitive skin. Take a pea-sized amount to your fingertips and rub it into your entire face slowly. When it comes to serums and actives, less is more, so don’t use too much. This is also a great product to use in a night routine if you have irritated, itchy, or burning skin.

Night Routine Step 6: Hydrating Serum

It is no surprise to anyone that a hyaluronic acid serum is included in our night routine. We have raved about Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 before because it is not only super effective at plumping the skin but also one of the least expensive acids on the market. Let’s not get things mixed up, since hyaluronic acid is not a hydrating acid in and of itself. However, it pulls water to the surface of the skin, creating the appearance of more hydrated, supple skin.

Hyaluronic acid serums are also a great base for moisturizing and hydrating products. The Ordinary’s formula is somewhat sticky, which helps lock in moisture from the products you will use after this step. If you are going to use makeup the day after your night routine, hyaluronic acid will help your makeup stay put while keeping it looking smooth and glowy.

Night Routine Step 7: Moisturizer

Now it is time to moisturize. Moisturizing is an important step in any skincare routine. However, if you want to wake up glowing, you will need a more intense night cream. The Tula 24-7 Moisture Hydrating Day & Night Cream is a whipped moisturizer that doubles as a night cream that will penetrate deep into the skin to revive dull and tired skin. We recommend adding this into your night routine for glass-like skin the next morning. Apply a small amount all over your face and neck after your hydrating serum or hyaluronic acid.

Night Routine Step 8: Eye Cream

To have youthful-looking skin, it is essential to add an eye cream to your night routine. Eye creams can be difficult to find because the area of your eyes has very thin, sensitive skin. The RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream combats wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness. It has a low concentration of retinol for boosting collagen production and decreasing signs of aging. Use the smallest amount on your fingertip and pat it into your under-eye gently.

Night Routine Step 9: Slugging

You may have read that heading and been very confused. Yes, slugging is the final step of your skincare night routine. And, no, we don’t mean putting slugs on your face. Slugging is using a product like Vaseline to lock in moisture to your face. Slugging was derived from K-Beauty. Essentially, Vaseline’s main ingredient is petrolatum, which, when applied to the skin, helps to prevent transepidermal water loss and keep moisture in your skin. This is a pretty recent trend, so we aren’t surprised if this step is not for you.

However, people have been using this technique for many years to achieve glass-like skin. We have provided you with several high-quality, hydrating, and moisturizing products so far, so ensuring they will work to better your skin is essential. Apply a small amount of Vaseline all over your face and neck. 

Final Step

The final step is easy: go to bed and catch some Z’s while knowing you will look glowy in the morning. This skincare night routine will be your secret weapon for glowy, healthy, and younger-looking skin. We have also given you some wonderful product suggestions as well as two new methods you may or may not have heard of (double cleansing and slugging). Try these techniques and products to elevate your skincare. Don’t forget to keep up with this routine every night to see your skin transform.