Glow on the Go – 5min PM Skincare Routine

Having a regular skincare routine (and remaining consistent with it) is by far the best tip I can give to any client who wants to not only maximize their makeup application with me when they’re in my chair, but to help them elevate the appearance of their skin, with or without makeup, in their daily lives. Skincare, according to my preteens and social media feeds, is “having a moment,” and this thrills me! More and more, people are embracing “natural beauty” and opting to focus their time and hard-earned dollars on caring for their body’s largest organ and first line of defense.

Elevating your skincare game doesn’t have to be a daunting endeavor. In a world of TikTok shop, influencers and endless tutorials, it can get overwhelming. It’s no wonder that most of my clients have opted to stick to the same routine from early adolescence- the smelly medicated white cream or that orange transparent bar of soap, and call it a night. In this blog post, I’d like to give readers a quick and easy-to-digest nightly skin routine. In under five minutes, you’ll be resting that pretty head on your pillow, knowing you’ve taken just a few extra minutes for yourself, and your skin will thank you for it. I will, of course, provide my favorite products and links to them (I am NOT affiliated with these brands and do not receive any monetary compensation for recommending them), but there is a whole world of products and lines out there, so feel free to explore and experiment!

The first step in any skincare routine, no matter how basic or complex, is always cleansing. Here is where we “remove the day” from our faces. Depending on the types of products you applied earlier in the day, you may need to start with an eye makeup remover (waterproof mascara, for example). This is an optional step, and for this I’m not too picky. If you have something you’ve always used and loved, great! If not, I like La Roche-Posay’s Respectissime Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover. It is gentle, even on my super-sensitive eyes and quickly removes waxy, waterproof products.

Next, I love Murad’s AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. This cleanser is a staple in my vanity because it exfoliates beautifully using a dual-action, chemical and physical exfoliation formula, while its creamy consistency dissolves makeup, products and grime with ease. On the chemical side, it uses the “holy trinity” of acids: salicylic, lactic, and glycolic. (I will have to do a deep dive into acids in a future post, but for now, as the moniker implies-these three together are heavenly). The physical component is jojoba beads. I love these suckers because on a magnified level, they are smooth, round, pearl-like structures that are incredibly effective at sloughing off “gray skin,” and unlike other bead-exfoliants that are made from plastics, they are biodegradable. Yay for eco-friendly beauty products!

So now you have effectively erased the day from your face. It is always best to pat your skin dry with a clean towel. For acne-prone skin, I recommend going one step further and using Clean Skin Club’s Biobased Face Towelettes. While this may seem like unnecessary cost and waste, for those with especially sensitive or acne-prone skin it is a game changer. Even after laundering, washcloths can harbor bacteria, dirt and impurities. However, a clean, white washcloth is perfectly acceptable.

Next, we will want to use a toner to balance the skin’s ph level back to it’s slightly acidic state. This preserves the skin barrier and helps with resisting bacteria. My current favorite is Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray.

It is at this point that we would apply any serums or treatments to the face, before locking those in with our PM moisturizer, but since this is the “Quick and Clean Routine,” we will address that in a future post that will cover a more advanced PM skincare regimen.

For our final step, we want to replace any lost moisture and protect the skin barrier, allowing the skin to become plump and supple through the night. I often tell my clients that I “go to bed every night with my face looking like a glazed donut,” and this is the step that does that. Now, with a night cream, I typically like to go with a heavier, more hydrating formulation. Dryness is the enemy to great skin, and since we are just going to bed, looking like an oil slick is of no consequence, and will only improve oil production over time. For my final step, I love Sonia Roselli’s Intense Barrier Cream.

That’s it! You’re done! In under five minutes, you have upped your skincare game and can rest well knowing that you will wake to soft, supple skin in the morning! Be sure to stay tuned for upcoming, related posts: Exfoliation Obession and Glow Pro-Intense PM Skincare Routine