Nighttime skincare is so important as the skin repairs itself while you sleep.  The most vital step is makeup removal.  No matter how tired I am, the one thing I ALWAYS do is remove my makeup!   Years ago, I didn’t really care and would frequently go to bed with a face full of makeup, thinking the worst that could happen is, I’d wake up with Panda eyes! Nope!  Wrong!  This would have drastically contributed to how bad my skin used to be, clogged pores and full of breakouts!

At night, the skin needs to breathe so removing all of the dirt and makeup is key!  Not doing so will clog pores and inevitably lead to break-outs!

So, my nighttime routine starts with one of the best products I have used.  I have tried all kinds of makeup removers and the one that I now can’t live without is the Garnier Skin Active Micellar Cleansing Water.  It is brilliant at removing makeup, including eye make up.  If I am going to bed after a really late night out, even if I do nothing else from my usual routine, I will make sure that I use this until the cotton wool pads come away clean!

At the moment I have a travel size version of Clinique’s Take The Day Off makeup remover, but I find this a bit too oily for my liking, which is great for removing mascara, but if I have used this on my eyes, I will still go over my whole face with the Micellar Cleansing Water.

I then cleanse my face as per my morning routine detailed in my last blog, using the Clinique 3-Step, I cleanse, exfoliate and moisturise my skin with those 3 steps.

As the skin needs to repair overnight, the serum that I use is Estēe Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair.  This is quite expensive but the bottle lasts a very long time.  I have had mine for months and given that you only need a few drops each night, it is value for money.  It can also be used during the day, or even mixed in with foundation. It is claimed to fight signs of ageing, dryness, dehydration, lines and wrinkles, dullness and loss of radiance.  It is also oil free which is great for me.  This is the second version of this serum and I’m pleased that they reviewed it as I was put off by how tacky the original one left the skin after application.  The new version does not have that feel to it and feels very light by comparison.  It leaves my skin feeling very soft.  If I have missed this step of my routine, my skin does feel different in the morning.  It is almost like if I do use the serum, my skin feels fresher in the morning and nowhere near as oily as it is without it!  You don’t need to apply a lot of this product, a little really does go a long way!

Next I apply my eye cream, and like other products I have, I think I have only ever
purchased 1 of these in the time I have been using it because you need such a small amount, I have always had a trial size version and it lasts forever!  The one time I bought a full size (at the airport making it cheaper!!) it lasted months.  This is the Estēe Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye.  This too is said to fight signs of ageing, fine lines, wrinkles, puffins, dark circles, dryness and uneven skin tone.   Just like the ANR serum, I can tell a difference when I haven’t used this.  I have dry skin under my eyes and this gel creme is amazing.  I was given a tip with this, in the morning when applying makeup, mix a tiny bit of this creme with concealer…it feels like a really moisturising concealer!

I’ll admit, I don’t always apply a moisturiser at night as I don’t feel that I need one, with the Clinique Lotion at the end of the 3-step and the ANR serum, my skin feels just right.   That said I do have a sample of the Estēe Lauder’s NightWear Plus designed to detox the skin while you sleep.  When I have used this I will say it is lovely a fresh with a cucumber scent, that always makes your skin feel soft.  I probably should use this more often and am likely to in the Winter months.

This blog probably sounds contradictory to one of my other blogs where I stated I try not to get caught up in cross selling and use one brand, but I feel Clinique skin care is amazing, and I don’t honestly believe I’ve tried a better serum than Estēe Lauder so I do tend to stick to those brands for skincare.  Not only that but I haven’t bought all of these products, some are trial size that have been in with a Gift with Purchase!

The final product that I don’t use often at all but is lovely (again this is trial size!) is Estēe Lauder’s NightWear Plus 3 minute Detox Mask.    It is a very light clay mask, not like the heavy duty BodyShop one that I use once a week during the day.  You apply a thin layer and wait 3 minutes, wash it off and your face feels wonderfully soft and clear.   It works to reduce pore size, which I’m not sure it does as such but it does leave pores feeling clean, which I guess if they’re clogged and enlarged then this will at least help them to appear smaller.  Again, another product I should use more often!

In terms of day to day, I don’t tend to go much further than the serum and I feel that is enough for my skin.  As I’ve said before, I do what works for me….that’s what you should do too!

Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think in the comments box below or on my facebook page. Follow me on Instagram: beautyandtheballroom xx