I’m not exaggerating when I say I spend all day counting down the minutes until it’s time to shower, get into a matching pajama set, and complete my nighttime skincare routine. There’s no better feeling than being freshly glazed and lying in bed with my Kindle. But it turns out there can be a downside to using too many products in my treasured ritual.
I chatted with dermatologist Hallie McDonald, MD, cofounder of barrier-focused skincare brand ERLY, who broke down everything you need to know about creating a proper nighttime routine. Let’s just say her advice most definitely has me rethinking some of my steps. And Cosmo’s beauty team shared our very own regimens.
Keep scrolling for everything we rely on to wash, treat, and hydrate nightly. Spoiler alert: It might be time for us to pare back…a lot. For most people, three steps is plenty: cleanse, moisturize, and, if you need it, a targeted treatment.
You don’t need a 10-step routine to have healthy skin. In fact, I’m a big believer that a simple routine you actually stick with is much better than a complicated one that leaves your skin irritated or overwhelmed. More products means more opportunities for irritation, dryness, clogged pores, and disrupting your skin barrier.
Layering a lot of products can also change how they interact with one another and how well they absorb, so more isn’t necessarily more effective. It can also make it difficult to figure out what’s actually working or what’s causing a reaction. Think of it like getting your skin ready for bed: Clean it, treat it, then tuck it in.
Start with a cleanser to remove makeup, sunscreen, oil, and dirt. If you use a treatment, that comes next, followed by moisturizer to support your skin barrier and keep hydration locked in. My favorite rule of thumb is to apply products from thinnest to thickest.
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