Night skincare routine: the right order, step by step
Four steps, in an order that makes sense, with how long to wait between them, what changes on retinol nights, and a version for oily and for dry skin.
By the editorsUpdated 4 min read
How we chose: This is a research roundup. We compared formulas, finishes, shade ranges and what buyers report after weeks of use. It isn't a hands-on test, and we'll say so in the post when we've tried something ourselves.
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A good night skincare routine is short, and the order matters more than the number of products. Anything that sits on your skin for eight hours should be clean, simple and kind to your barrier, so the job at night is to take the day off your face, then add one treatment and something to hold the moisture in.
This is a research-based guide. We've looked at the formulas and what buyers say about them, and we haven't tested these products ourselves.
The night routine, in order
The rule behind the order is simple: thinnest and most watery first, thickest last. Cleansing comes before everything because nothing else works through a layer of sunscreen and oil.
Night, about five minutes
Step 1: Take off makeup and sunscreen
Massage a scoop over dry skin for about a minute, add a little water until it turns milky, then rinse. Skip this step on days with no makeup and only a light sunscreen. The e.l.f. balm further down is a cheaper swap.
Step 2: Cleanse
About thirty seconds with lukewarm water. This is the second half of a double cleanse, and it takes off what the balm left behind. If your skin is oily, the CeraVe foaming cleanser is the swap.
Step 3: Treat
A pea-sized amount for the whole face on retinol nights, and nothing near the corners of your eyes or nose to start. On rest nights, use a hydrating essence instead (see rest nights, below).
Step 4: Moisturize
A light lotion over the treatment seals it in. Dry skin should use a thicker cream, which we cover below.
Retinol nights and rest nights
Retinoids are the best-studied thing you can add to a night routine, and they're also the easiest thing to overdo. Start with two nights a week, with a day off in between. After a month, go to three. Most people settle at three to five nights, and that's enough.
On the nights in between, the point is recovery. Use a gentle cleanser, a hydrating step, and moisturizer, and skip anything that exfoliates. Don't put a retinoid and an exfoliating acid on the same night. If your skin stings after moisturizer, you've probably overdone it, so take a week off.
If you're pregnant, trying to be, or breastfeeding, skip retinoids and ask your doctor what to use instead. Retinoids aren't recommended in pregnancy.
COSRX
Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
A watery essence made with snail secretion filtrate. It's a cult pick for skin that feels tight and dehydrated.
Skip it if you're allergic to snail-derived ingredients, or you want something with an active ingredient. This one is for hydration only.
How long to wait between steps
There's no strict clock, but a few waits are worth keeping.
- After washing, pat your face dry and leave it a minute or two before a retinoid. Damp skin absorbs more, and more retinoid means more irritation.
- After a watery essence or serum, give it a minute to sink in so the moisturizer doesn't pill.
- After the moisturizer, wait a few minutes before you lie down. It keeps the product on your face instead of your pillow.
Double cleansing, explained
Double cleansing means an oil or balm first, then a water-based cleanser. The first step dissolves things water won't, like long-wear makeup and sunscreen. The second rinses off the residue. If you wear a mineral sunscreen or waterproof mascara, it's worth doing. If your day was bare skin and a light moisturizer, one wash is enough.
Both balms in this post work the same way. The Banila Co one has a sorbet texture that turns milky with water, and the e.l.f. one is the cheaper option for the same job. For the water-based half of the double cleanse, see our best facial cleansers.
e.l.f. Cosmetics
Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm
A balm that melts into an oil to break down makeup and sunscreen, then rinses off with water.
Skip it if you have very sensitive skin. Check the ingredient list for fragrance first.
Oily skin and dry skin versions
For oily or combination skin, use a gel or foaming cleanser, keep the moisturizer light, and don't skip it. Oily skin still needs water and a barrier, and skipping moisturizer usually just leaves it tight and shiny at the same time. The CeraVe PM lotion above is the pick.
For dry or mature skin, use a cream cleanser, add the thicker CeraVe cream on top of your treatment, and consider a thin layer of ointment over very dry patches. If you're in your 40s, our skincare routine for your 40s has more on what changes.
CeraVe
Moisturizing Cream
A thick, fragrance-free cream with ceramides. One tub covers face and body.
Skip it if your skin is oily or breaks out easily. It's a thick cream and may feel heavy.
Questions people ask
What order should I do a night skincare routine in?
Makeup remover, cleanser, treatment (retinol or serum), then moisturizer. Go from thin to thick, so the heavier products are on top and keep the lighter ones in place.
Can I use retinol every night?
Most people shouldn't start there. Begin with two nights a week and add one night a month if your skin is fine. Plenty of people stay at three or four nights, and that's a good result.
Do I need to double cleanse every night?
Only if you wore makeup or a sunscreen that doesn't rinse off with water. On a bare-skin day, a single gentle wash is enough. Washing twice with a strong cleanser mostly just dries you out.
Should I put moisturizer on before or after retinol?
After, for most people. If your skin gets irritated easily, put a thin layer of moisturizer on first, then the retinol, then more moisturizer. It softens the effect a little, but it's still worth it if the alternative is stopping altogether.
When should I see a dermatologist?
If you have persistent redness, burning that doesn't settle after you stop a product, or breakouts that don't improve after a couple of months, see one. They can also prescribe stronger retinoids than anything you can buy on Amazon.
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