Amidst our busy schedules, establishing a routine can give you some much-needed solitude which can lead to a calm mind and body. An evening routine is perhaps the most crucial one of all—or at least just as important as a morning one. Research shows that consistent bedtime behaviors can increase sleep quality and duration.
Any type of dedicated routine is somewhat beneficial, but a skincare regimen comes with an extra long list of benefits. The results that come from using the right products (hello hydrated skin!) can boost confidence and build self-esteem.
Finding the right products? Well, that has its own challenges, especially when you have tough-to-treat skin that requires extra care. Luckily, we’ve done the tough work for you.
Here’s your nighttime guide to glowing skin with clean, budget-friendly products. Plus, weekly additions for some extra pampering. These products were curated with extra sensitive skin in mind, but there is something here to benefit any skin type.
YOUR EVENING ROUTINE
Double Cleanse: Oil + Foam
Over the course of just one day, your skin accumulates lots of unwanted pollutants. By double cleansing with an oil cleanser before you wash with a foaming cleanser will ensure you’re truly clean. Jurlique’s Nourishing Cleansing Oil is a natural blend of pure botanicals grown, harvested and extracted at Jurlique’s organic farm. Since oil attracts oil, it’ll draw out impurities like sebum while its natural-based antioxidants will help protect the skin. Follow with a foaming cleanser such as Indie Lee’s antioxidant-rich foaming cleanser (which is free of 1,300+ banned ingredients that are often the cause of irritation).
Jurlique’s Nourishing Cleansing Oil, $34.00
Indie Lee’s Purifying Face Wash, $34.00
Toner
To ensure your skin is squeaky clean, apply a toner with a cotton ball. A swipe of toner will replenish skin and provide a perfectly clean base for product application. Opt for an unscented, alcohol-free option like Thayers Witch Hazel &Aloe Vera Toner. Witch hazel will tighten pores and control oil production, while aloe vera will reduce redness and inflammation.
Thayers Witch Hazel Toner, $10.95
Chemical Exfoliator: AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid)
Face scrub can feel rejuvenating, but chemical exfoliators are better than physical exfoliants for daily use. The word “chemical” can be intimidating to those with sensitive skin, but most chemical exfoliators are extremely gentle. BHA’s are safe for morning use, but you should use AHAs in the PM, as they cause photosensitivity (hence the importance of SPF!). Lather on Paula’s Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment every other night and see your skin transform. The product is made with glycolic acid, the most common of all the AHAs, which works to refine the surface of skin with gentle and non-abrasive exfoliation. A wonderful exfoliant, it’s also a hydrator! Expect a mix of antioxidants that help fight the impact of free-radical damage, plus ceramides and peptides to restore moisture.
Paula’s Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA, $37.00
Moisturizer
Finish off your night with a creamy lotion. While you rest, Avegan Beauty’s Plant Based Night Cream will help replenish those precious ceramides that you washed away in the beginning of your nighttime routine. Ceramides are natural lipids that act like “the mortar between the cells” to build firm skin, so you’ll definitely want those back! It’s naturally preserved, vegan, gluten-free, and made with 55 percent organic ingredients. Given that most moisturisers out there solely cater to dry skin, your sensitive face will thank you for this one.
Avegan Beauty Plant Based Restore Night Cream, $41.00
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a savior for easily irritated skin. It has antibacterial and antioxidant properties that calm inflammation, eliminate new pimples, erase scars, and prevent future blemishes. Unlike other toners and astringents, this hydrating Tea Tree Oil is mixed with nourishing ingredients like Vitamin E to create a dewy radiance. It’s paraben-, silicone-, GMO- and cruelty-free and best of all? It’s made with consciously sourced clean ingredients that won’t end in a bad reaction.
Beauty Foundry Tea Tree Face Oil, $14.48
JUST A LITTLE MORE PAMPERING
Fancy, yet effective hand sanitizer
Though not a face product, an effective hand sanitizer may do wonders for your face. Our hands come in contact with so many surfaces, only to then spread those germs onto our face in one touch. Regular alcohol-based hand sanitizers can leave skin dry, cracked, and more prone to infection. Puracy’s FDA-Approved Hand Sanitizer includes a blend of purified water and plant-based moisturizers to help keep hands silky-smooth. Made with citrus and sea salt and wrapped in a beautiful sustainable packaging, it’ll pamper and protect. Grab the travel size pack to ensure you have a bottle everywhere you are.
Puracy Gel Hand Sanitizer, $35.97 for a 3-pack
Physical Exfoliator: Face Scrub
While chemical exfoliators are effective, there’s nothing like a good scrub to shed dead skin remnants. Surprisingly, a lot of scrubs on the market are irritating because the particles are too sharp and rough for facial use. So, it’s best to make your own with ingredients you can trust like this Coffee Yogurt Mask. Keep in mind, your face will need an intense dose of moisturizing after a deep scrub.
Oil-Control Clay Mask
De-clog pores and rid of any excess oil with a weekly clay mask. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay is an all-natural option with a cult following. It’s made from 100% Natural Calcium Bentonite Clay, which has the ability to improve sensitive skin conditions like dermatitis. Just like the scrub, top this one off with some moisturizer.
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay, $14.95
Humidifier
No matter how much moisturizing we commit to, dry air can do a number on our faces. Placing a humidifier by your bedside and using it overnight can soften and hydrate the skin. This Lanhui Night Light Humidifier doubles as a relaxing night light, which can aid in relaxation and sleep- two factors linked to clearer, happier skin.
Lanhui NightLight Humidifier, $26.41
(photo credit: Shutterstock and brands)