Perfecting Your Night Routine for Glowing and Healthy Skin

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Do you ever see photos of ladies with glass-like skin? Glass skin is shiny and hydrated, with an even texture and soft dewiness, and a good nighttime routine is one of the best ways to work toward it.

Key Takeaways

• Double cleansing (an oil-based cleanser, then a gentle water-based one) helps remove makeup and sunscreen.
• Rinse with lukewarm water, not hot, and pat skin dry.
• Exfoliate in moderation, and don’t layer several exfoliating acids on the same night.
• Hyaluronic acid draws in water, so follow it with a moisturizer to seal hydration in.
• Avoid retinol during pregnancy, and skip slugging over actives or if you’re acne-prone.

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. Note: REN Clean Skincare, the maker of the toner in Step 4, closed in 2025.

Steps

Night Routine Step 1: Oil-based Cleanser

You may have heard of the method of double cleansing before, and it’s a helpful part of your night routine if you wear makeup or sunscreen (which you should be wearing every day). 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 melts away stubborn makeup and sunscreen from the day.

Next, rinse your face with lukewarm water. Hot water can strip your skin’s natural oils and leave it dry and irritated, so dermatologists recommend lukewarm instead. Once all of the makeup and balm is rinsed off your face, pat your skin dry gently with a soft 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). Rinse again with lukewarm 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 leave skin red, irritated, and dry. Used in moderation, though, exfoliants help create an even texture by reducing the appearance of pores and blemishes. 

Night Routine Step 4: Toner

Update (October 2026): REN Clean Skincare has discontinued this product. 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. AHAs can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so wear sunscreen every morning. 

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 is designed to soothe stressed, reactive skin and support your moisture barrier.

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. It’s also a nice choice on nights your skin feels irritated. If itching or burning keeps coming back, see a board-certified dermatologist.

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. Don’t let the word “acid” confuse you: hyaluronic acid isn’t an exfoliant. It’s a humectant that attracts and holds onto water, which makes skin look more hydrated and supple.

Hyaluronic acid serums are also a great base for moisturizing and hydrating products. The Ordinary’s formula is somewhat sticky, so follow it with moisturizer to seal that hydration in. 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 helps revive dull, tired-looking 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

An eye cream isn’t essential, but it can be a helpful addition 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 targets wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness. It contains retinol, which can boost collagen and reduce signs of aging over time. Skip retinol if you’re pregnant or trying to conceive. 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 became popular on social media. Vaseline’s main ingredient is petrolatum, which, when applied to the skin, helps to prevent transepidermal water loss and keep moisture in your skin. Slugging isn’t for everyone. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, it could make breakouts worse.

Also, skip slugging on nights you use exfoliants, AHA toner, or retinol, since trapping those actives under petroleum jelly can irritate your skin. On other nights, apply a small amount of Vaseline all over your face and neck as the last step. 

Final Step

The final step is easy: go to bed and catch some Z’s. This night routine can help you wake up to glowy, healthy-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, introduce new ones one at a time, and stay consistent to see your skin improve.

Sources

• American Academy of Dermatology – Face washing 101
• American Academy of Dermatology – How to safely exfoliate at home
• Cleveland Clinic – Hyaluronic Acid: What It Is, Benefits, How To Use & Side Effects
• American Academy of Dermatology – Retinoid or retinol?
• Cleveland Clinic – Slugging: Does This Skin Care Trend Work?
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Alpha Hydroxy Acids
• Cosmetics Business – Unilever to close British ‘clean’ beauty pioneer REN Skincare after 25 years