The Best Nighttime Skincare Routine

After a long day, it can be tempting to fall into bed without even changing into your pajamas, much less paying any attention to your skin. But there’s good reason why it’s called ‘beauty sleep.’ While you snooze, your skin is hard at work, repairing and regenerating itself. And that means that bedtime is the perfect time to give it a little extra boost by using products with active ingredients that can help kick all of those restorative processes that are already happening into high gear. Best of all, an effective PM skincare routine doesn’t have to be complicated and time-consuming (contrary to popular belief).

Ahead, a simple, six-step nighttime skincare routine protocol. Beauty sleep, indeed.

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The Best Nighttime Skincare Routine

Step 1: Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water

Washing the day's gunk and grime off your face is important not only to prevent clogged pores (and breakouts), but also to create a clean slate so that all the other products you're about to use can work more effectively. While it may seem like a hassle, a two-part cleanse is ideal. First, use a micellar water, like this Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water, to remove makeup. Soap-free and ultra-gentle, it contains micelles, which act like little magnets to whisk away makeup, oil, sunscreen, you name it. By getting rid of all this 'stuff' sitting on the surface, your cleanser will be better able to do its job and actually cleanse your skin...
Step 2: C'est Moi Gentle Foaming Cleansing Gel

To that point, now it's time to actually thoroughly wash your face. The new C'est Moi Gentle Foaming Cleansing Gel is fragrance-free, and loaded with skin-soothing extracts, such as organic aloe and calendula to gently cleanse your skin, without leaving it stripped or irritated.
Step 3: GlyDerm Gly Mist

Any dermatologist will tell you that exfoliation is an essential part of any skincare routine. You can do a more intense exfoliation a few times per week, or, opt for a gentle chemical exfoliant that you can use nightly. The GlyDerm Gly Mist fits the bill, thanks to a mild .2 percent concentration of glycolic acid that not only gently exfoliates to leave skin bright and radiant, but also helps keep pores clear and even deliver anti-aging benefits, too. Mist it on post-cleansing, and allow to dry before moving on to your next product.
Step 4: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Oil

Trendy new skincare ingredients may come and go, but retinol remains the number one gold standard. It works both on the surface of your skin to even out tone, and on the deeper layers, stimulating collagen production to help minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles. The Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Oil features a unique type of retinol that starts to work in as little as just one week. Apply four to five drops of the lightweight serum-oil all over.
Step 5: Dove DermSeries Overnight Face Cream

Your skin's natural moisture evaporates while you sleep, making this an even more important time to moisturize. The new Dove DermSeries Overnight Face Cream contains glycerin to draw moisture to the skin and shea butter to help lock it in. You can use it over your retinol product, or, if your skin is super sensitive, try sandwiching the retinol in between two layers of this. It's a dermatologist-favorite trick for helpingminimize any of retinol's potentially irritating side effects.
Step 6: Paula's Choice Clinical Ceramide-Enriched Firming Eye Cream

The skin around your eyes is the thinnest on your body, and where signs of aging can show up first, making a dedicated eye cream a must. Paula's Choice Clinical Ceramide-Enriched Firming Eye Cream packs pretty much every standout skincare ingredient into one formula. Ceramides hydrate, vitamin C brightens, and retinol and peptides fight fine lines and wrinkles, addressing any and all of your eye issues in one fell swoop.