My skincare in general changed quite a lot a while ago when I started following Caroline Hirons blog with the help of her ‘Cheat Sheets’ and YouTube videos.  My evening routine in particular changed with the addition of the ‘Double Cleanse’ part.  I used to avoid oils, I used foaming cleansers, traditional alcohol based toners and moisturising cream wasn’t a big part of my routine!

I decided to revisit my skincare routine as it does change with the addition of new products, with changes in my skin, and with changes in the weather so since posting my Morning Skincare Routine a couple of weeks ago, I thought I would update my evening routine.

This would be my general routine in the evening:

1.  Cleanse

If I have been wearing makeup or SPF (SPF is pretty much every day unless I am staying home all day!) then this is where the ‘Double Cleansing’ will come in as I will need to remove the makeup / SPF first before I clean my skin.

My favourite makeup remover is the Clinique Take The Day Off Balm.  It is probably the most gentle makeup remover I have used especially on my eyes!  It dissolves makeup effortlessly and removes mascara without the need to scrub at my eyes!  I apply this to dry skin and remove with a wet flannel.

Once my makeup is removed I then use a second cleanser to clean my skin.  My personal preference is the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm.

The smell of this cleanser is AMAZING!  Although I have used this as a morning cleanser at times, the consistency of this balm makes for a wonderfully relaxing face massage or leaving on for a ten minute face mask when I’m relaxing in the bath.  I apply either straight after my first cleanse, or on it’s own when I haven’t worn makeup / spf.  Either way my skin is usually dry when I apply it, I then add a little water where it slightly emulsifies, then I remove with a wet flannel.  It’s certainly my current favourite and my skin feels so soft, smooth and clean after use!

2.  Acid Tone / Hydration Tone

As with my morning routine, I use an acid toner which generally will be a glycolic acid such as Pixi Glow Tonic or The Ordinary’s 7% glycolic toner and follow this with a hydrating toner.  This would be the step where I use a much stronger acid on a weekly basis (still followed with lots of hydration) but they’ll be mentioned at the end of this post as they’re not part of my every day routine.  I have been loving the Clinique Moisture Surge face spray for my hydration toner and this will be featured in my Empties post in the next few days. I have just received the Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist (SDSM) from NIOD which I’ve used for a few days now morning and night.  I will review this soon with all of the information about it but so far so good!

3.  Eye Cream

I make sure I use an eye cream both morning and night.  I prefer using a heavier cream at night so in the past have used products with a thicker consistency but more recently have introduced NIOD’s Fractionated Eye Contour Concentrate (FECC) into my routine.

This watery serum is contains 28 ‘technologies’ to target signs of ageing and is suitable for use on the whole eye area including the upper lids.  It is said to target the look of various lines, loss of elasticity, dark circles, puffiness and texture issues.   I have been using this continously for around 3 weeks now and am starting to see a difference in my fine lines.  I do find that it’s not very hydrating but given other serums and creams can be used alongside this for added hydration I’m prepared to put up with that if it’s working on the lines!!

4.  Serum

I tend to layer serums and the general rule is water before oil.  I have some new serums that I’m slowly introducing into my routine, so I will post more on these soon but at the moment I am using the same serums that I am using in my morning routine…Hyaluronic Acid and Buffet by The Ordinary followed by Clarins’ Double Serum.

This combination of serums seems to be working really well for me in terms of hydration, helping with fine lines and plumping my skin.  Every other night I use The Ordinary’s Advanced Retinoid 2% which I chose as an introduction for my skin to this type of product.  It is a milky-white liquid, that I’ll be honest, has quite an unpleasant smell to it, however, this does not last!  (Thank goodness!)   Once absorbed, you cannot detect the strange smell that comes with this serum!

The science behind retinols and retinoids isn’t really in my domain however what I do understand is that retinols are used as an anti-ageing product thanks to their cell turnover and elastin production qualities.  Retinols are long associated with purging of the skin, sensitivities, reactions and so on, generally from going in too harsh from using nothing to then hitting the skin hard!  Skin needs to be introduced to these products and from what I have seen when looking into these products, the Advanced Retinoid serum is a stable, more gentle formula to begin with.

Please check The Ordinary website for the technical side of this product!  In terms of a user view, this product I believe is working wonders for my skin.  It is designed for anti-ageing and acne prone skin, so again this serum may well be the reason I am noticing a difference in my skin.

5.  Oil

I’m starting this one with…..the smell isn’t great but it feels lovely on the skin!  Ha!  I just wanted to get that out there….it has a very strange smell to it but given how lovely this product is, I am willing to put up with it and I would highly recommend trying it however off putting the smell is!

Being cold-pressed, the process in producing this oil has retained the  linoleic and linolenic acids and pro-vitamin A which would otherwise be degraded when subjected to a heating process.  This oil helps to reduce signs of ageing.  It is classed as a ‘daily support formula for all skin types’.  Personally I love this oil used on top of the Advanced Retinoid.  I only use 1 drop of this and find it is plenty for covering my face.  If there’s something to note about this oil it is that the only way I have found I can apply it is to pat it on.  Massaging it into the skin causes pilling no matter how little product I use.  Patting it on is absolutely fine.  This does of course mean it sits on the skin much longer but in honesty, I am not bothered by that…I am applying it and going to sleep!

6.  Moisturiser

If I am not using the Oil, I use the Formula Absolute Sleep Cream.  It has a lovely soft and almost relaxing scent and leaves my skin feeling smooth and comforted.  There’s no greasy feeling, it absorbs quickly, and my skin feels soft and refreshed the next morning.

This cream is a thick consistency but it layers brilliantly with anything I have ever used under it, including times when I have applied it on top of the oil.

7.  Skin Treats

There are other products that I use on my skin that I love but don’t use frequently in my daily routine.  There are two particular products that I love that are in the same category of AHA+BHA acid peels so I would not be using them on the same day!!

Dr Dennis Gross Alpha-Beta universal daily peel is something I would love to use daily and if money were no object I would be using them daily!!  They are a two-part peel that exfoliate my skin and leave it super soft and smooth.  I absolutely love them!  Individually wrapped makes them fab for travel too!

The Ordinary AHA+BHA Peeling solution is definitely a budget peel price wise but is super strong and can only be used once a week for at most, 10 minutes.  I have only used this twice and am still letting my skin get used to it by starting with 4 minutes, then 8.  As I am used to using acids I’ve had no bad reactions to this and my skin does feel soft after use.  I will be stepping it up to 10 on my next use.

That’s my evening routine as it stands at the moment!

I am looking at trying some more products from The Ordinary but if you are confused about any of their products (as they can be a little confusing!!), check out a fab group on Facebook for which I am a Moderator.  It has over 36,000 members all asking for advice, giving advice, sharing stash photos, before and after photos and just generally helping each other out!!  Click here to check this group out!

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