Having a good nighttime beauty routine is essential for healthy and radiant skin! In this article, discover the basics to have and adapt according to your needs. I'm starting this post with the nighttime beauty routine, which is the most comprehensive and, in my opinion, the most important.

Some chronobiology studies show that cell multiplication is at its peak at one in the morning, while it produces three times less at one in the afternoon. It's at night that the skin is finally at peace, bare, and rests after a day of shielding itself from the outside world. It regenerates intensely, blood microcirculation is boosted, and the skin barrier is strengthened.

Some explanations and tips on the key steps.

Always remove your makeup at night

This is the step you don't forget in your nighttime beauty routine, even if you come home from a party at 6 in the morning, I beg you! There's nothing worse than going to sleep with makeup on your face, even if it's smudged after a night of dancing! And even without a wild night out, if you've only applied a little blush and mascara for the day, you still need to remove your makeup.

Personally, I'm a fan of cleansing oils. For me, there's nothing better for truly removing everything, even waterproof makeup and the slightest bit of mascara residue. You should know that makeup is mainly composed of fat. Removing it with another fatty substance (like oil) really dissolves everything. Plus, it's really gentle on the skin.

For those who really don't like the feel of oily products (especially people with oily skin), I can recommend balms or oil-gels, or alternatively, cleansing milk.

They are all applied in the same way: take a small amount of product on your fingers and massage it onto your face in circular motions, clockwise, over your entire face, neck, décolleté, and eyes. For eyelashes, go gently, from top to bottom, and for eyebrows, against the hair, from the tail to the head of the eyebrow.

Consider cleansing in your evening routine

This step is also essential in your nighttime beauty routine, after makeup removal. Especially if it's done with an oil: cleanse the skin. The first step of makeup removal removes makeup (yes, as the name suggests) while cleansing cleanses the skin (yes, again, as the name suggests) of dust, pollution, excess sebum, etc.

There are several possible formulations:

• Foam: despite its airy feel, it can be a bit drying because it often contains micelles (like micellar water)
• Gel: the fresh texture is great for all skin types
• Soap: some soaps can be used on the face without any problem. You must choose one that is cold-saponified and indicated for the face. What's pleasant is that feeling of perfectly clean skin, but be aware of possible tightness
• Milk: richer, it will be very good for skin lacking comfort or very sensitive skin

Personally, I love cleansing gels.

Note: you often hear "This texture is for such and such a skin type," but there are no strict rules. Use what you like and what makes you feel good ☺

A word about micellar water: when I was younger, and probably like you too, I used micellar water to remove my makeup and cleanse my skin. Worst skincare mistake ever!!! Micellar water is very drying for the skin because it is mainly composed of often aggressive micelles that can sometimes remain on the surface of the skin. So NO, no micellar water!

To perfect these first two steps, apply a floral water that will finish removing any product residues and the limescale that water can leave when rinsing off the cleanser.

Floral water will also provide active ingredients to your skin, so I invite you to take the time to choose it carefully according to your needs. I really like rose floral water, orange blossom floral water, or even carrot floral water.

If necessary, exfoliate (optional)

This step is optional because, if you use a "traditional" granular scrub, for example, it should only be done once or twice a week.

However, you can use a gentle exfoliating lotion that can be used every day or every other day.

I personally like to use this type of product, especially in winter for about 2 months. I strongly advise against it in summer because daily exfoliated skin exposed to the sun can lead to pigmentation spots, among other things.

If necessary, apply a serum (optional)

The serum is also an optional step because it is not essential depending on your skin's needs, your desires, and the product you apply afterwards.

However, it should be noted that serum is a specific product concentrated in active ingredients. It should not be applied alone: it is essential to apply a treatment (usually a cream) over it to allow the active ingredients to penetrate. Therefore, it should be chosen according to your skin's needs.

Take care of your eye contour

For me, this is an essential treatment because my eye contour is very marked (fine lines, dark circles, puffiness) despite my age (25 years old).

The eye contour is the part of the face where the skin is thinnest, and the most important thing is to choose the right product according to your own needs and expectations (dark circles, puffiness, dehydration).

Note: there is no age requirement, but rather a need or not to apply it. If you feel the need, go for it, and if you are over 25 (the age at which eye cream is generally recommended) and don't feel the need, enjoy it ☺

Application: it's best to use your middle finger to apply your treatment because you'll press less hard than with your index finger (which is stronger). Apply the product from the inner corner to the outer corner, smoothing it on and then gently tapping.

Tip: you can apply any leftover product on your fingers to your eyebrows, massaging them from the head to the tail.

Finish your evening routine with a treatment

The hardest part of this step is choosing the right product. To do this, you need to take the time to understand your skin's needs in order to provide the active ingredients it requires (this topic will be the subject of another article). You also need to take into account external factors such as stress, environment, hormonal fluctuations, etc.

Personally, in the evening, I like to apply a single vegetable oil because I like the rich and "comforting" feel that this type of formulation provides to my skin. You can also use a cream, fluid, or gel.

I also sometimes use butters, especially when my skin is very irritated, to repair it deeply, and when I have imperfections (yes, yes!), shea butter will reduce inflammation and redness caused by pimples. It's kind of my 100% natural overnight mask.

The claim night cream often indicates that the cream will be richer because, as mentioned previously, the skin needs to regenerate at night. Also, you can be sure that it does not contain a sun filter or mother-of-pearl particles, for example, which are more appreciated during the day to give a "glow." However, my personal opinion is that this claim also allows them to sell you a specific treatment for the night and another for the day. So know that you can also use your "day" moisturizing cream at night if it suits your skin's needs.

The most important thing, especially in the evening, is to take your time because this step is key. Massage your face, finding the right rhythm between gentleness, so as not to damage the tissues, and just the right dose of force to activate blood microcirculation. It is essential to activate it so that the applied treatment is even more effective. The skin regenerates naturally and gains a lot of radiance.

Tip: use tools like roll-ons or Gua Sha to amplify the effects of your treatments and enjoy a true moment of relaxation.

Bonus for a top-notch evening beauty routine!

An effective evening beauty routine should make you feel good! Take the time to perform your skincare routine mindfully: feel the warm water on your skin, take time to smell the floral water on your face. Personally, I like to listen to music (more or less gentle depending on my mood) while applying my treatments. At the end of my routine, I apply orange blossom cologne, which greatly soothes me because it reminds me of my grandmother. It's up to you to find what soothes you and makes you feel good, and your routine will be even more effective!

You will also understand that getting enough sleep is important for mental health but also for skin health. The best advice would therefore be: do not neglect sleep!

I hope this article helps you understand the basics of a good evening skincare routine.

Kisses, kisses,

Cathy