This Hydrating Skincare Routine Will Revitalize Your Skin While You Sleep
This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, we may earn a small commission for any purchases made through these links. Click here for the disclosure statement.
We all have our own skincare routines these days; some people prefer a simple cleanse, moisturize, and be done, while others have a 10-step evening skincare regimen. Both approaches can give you hydrated night time skin if you’re using the right products. While it’s important to clean your skin both in the morning and at the end of the day, the nighttime is a great opportunity to provide deep hydration and use reparative treatments while you snooze.
So, how can you do this yourself? You’ll want to use skincare that hydrates and a range of night serums or oils to make the most of your overnight skincare routine.
How To Create Your Own Hydrating Skincare Routine
Step: Cleansers
Cleansing is a no-brainer: you want to clear your skin of dirt, sweat, and remaining makeup, so that you have a fresh face before layering on any other products. At night, you should do a double cleanse—a two-step process that, as the name implies, uses two different cleansers, one oil-based and the other water-based. As the first step in this face washing routine, an oil-based cleanser pulls away oil-based products—such as makeup, sunscreen, and excess oils—before a water-based cleanser rids skin of any leftover remnants from dirt, debris, and sweat.
Tip: If you typically use a toner, apply that before your next step so that it can absorb into clean skin first.
Suggested Products:
Image: Sephora
Avocado Ceramide Moisture Barrier Cleanser
Glow Recipe
This cleanser hydrates skin and helps strengthen the skin barrier. It’s suitable for all skin types and can address uneven skin texture and redness.
Image: Amazon
Hydrating Facial Cleanser
CeraVe
CeraVe’s cleanser is affordable and accessible. It has over 100,000 ratings and is known as a gentle and hydrating skincare staple.
Image: Amazon
Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm
Versed
The Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm is great for the first step of double cleansing. It has eucalyptus and vitamin E and clears away makeup, while also keeping skin soft.
Step: Eye care
I’ve heard it said that you want to apply products from thinnest to thickest, so that each item can effectively absorb into the skin. However, the exception to that rule is with under-eye creams. Though they can be thick moisturizing creams or balms, applying them before your other nighttime treatments will help protect the sensitive skin around your eyes.
Eye creams are an optional step, but I find them especially relaxing after a day of wearing my glasses or more than usual screen time.
Suggested Products:
Image: Sephora
Overnight Eye Cream
Tula
This product from Tula fights signs of aging, reduces under eye darkness, and helps firm the under eye area. It has a rich, creamy texture with the brand’s signature blend of “polyglutamic acid, evening primrose, fermented green tea seed oil, and ceramides.”
Image: Sephora
Flash Nap Instant Revival Priming Eye Gel-Cream With Green Tea + Persian Silk Tree
Fenty Skin
This instant-result eye cream is great if you know that you won’t get a full night of sleep, but still want to look rested. It has hyaluronic acid for hydration and is oil-free.
Step: Serums
Your body is restoring itself as you sleep, and serums will help your skin do the same. This step is for any prescription topicals you may have or for serums that have regenerative qualities; products like tretinoin, acne creams, and retinoids all fall into this category. Serums can be simple, too, such as single ingredient products that boost the skin’s hydration levels. If you don’t already use any essences or serums, this step may feel superfluous and extra, but these types of products are what will get you that smooth, moisturized skin when used over time.
Suggested Products:
Image: Sephora
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum
The Ordinary
The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid is a fan favorite. It’s a simple serum that works for all skin types, making it a nighttime skincare essential.
Image: Sephora
Honeymoon Glow Body 12% AHA/BHA Bump-Smoothing Night Serum
Farmacy
This Farmacy serum can be used on your face and body and uses lactic acid and BHAs to smooth rough or bumpy skin—providing pep to dull winter skin.
Image: Ulta
T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
Drunk elephant
Drunk Elephant’s AHA/BHA night serum works to remove skin’s impurities overnight while combating excess oils.
Step: Moisturizers
Moisturizing is a critical step. You want to look for moisturizers that will nourish your skin with hydrating ingredients. They can also help soften skin or even your skin tone over time, depending on the products you use on a regular basis. In the colder months, look for a thicker cream or balm moisturizer to help your skin stay supple, even in freezing temps.
Suggested Products:
Image: Goop
All-in-One Nourishing Face Cream
Goop
Goop’s face cream is a whipped texture that melts into skin and claims to deeply nourish and firm skin in only 48 hours.
Image: Weleda
Sheer Hydration Daily Dew Lotion
Weleda
Weleda makes great lotions and moisturizers. The Daily Dew lotion is gel-like and has prickly pear cactus and aloe extracts for ultra-hydrated skin.
Image: Glossier
After Baume
Glossier
This moisturizer is “like a puffy jacket for your skin.” It’s soothing and hydrating and made with Cupuaçu Butter and Babassu Oil.
Step: Overnight Masks
Overnight masks are just what they sound like: long-wearing products that sink into your skin and hydrate throughout the night. These types of masks aren’t like other timed face masks you may have used. Instead, they’re usually smoother, less colorful, and thinner—all of which are great for your quality of sleep and bedding. Try an overnight mask if you’d like a fresh face in the morning! I prefer to use one a few nights a week, and use other skincare combinations (like a night oil) on other nights.
Suggested Products:
Image: Loops
Dream Sleep Face Mask
Loops
The Loops Dream Sleep Face Mask does all the work of slugging for you. The sheet-mask has bakuchiol, ceramides, and niacinamide that will hydrate skin. Plus, the mask helps your skin to better absorb the products you’ve already applied in your skincare routine.
Image: Sephora
Water Sleeping Mask with Squalane
Laneige
Laneige makes great hydrating products across the board, but this Water Sleeping Mask packs in moisture with squalane that mimics the skin’s natural lipids.
Image: Ulta
Resurfacing Sleep Mask
Cocokind
This mask is lightweight and absorbs into the skin quickly. It’s made with bakuchiol and helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles, as well as smooth your skin’s overall texture.
Step: Oils
I love layering an oil on as the last full-face step of a nighttime routine. Even people with oily skin can benefit from a face oil—they’re hydrating at a deep level and can feel luxurious after a long day. Compared to water-based serums, “facial oils are generally made with plant oils and emollients, like olive-derived squalane,” says Kiehl's skincare. Oils pair great with a facial roller, quick massage, or a gua sha practice.
Suggested Products:
Image: Fine Feather
Living Libations Best Skin Ever Seabuckthorn
Fine Feather
This oil’s name says it all. It’s packed with omega fatty acids, vitamins, lipids, and bioactive compounds that will hydrate skin and make it glisten.
Image: OSEA Malibu
Essential Hydrating Oil
Osea
Osea’s beachy skin care is all about repairing and nourishing the skin. Its mixture of Jojoba and macadamia oils hydrate, while essential oils clarify and soothe
Image: Kitsch
Stainless Steel Gua Sha
Kitsch
Use a gua sha tool to drain lymph and promote circulation. It can be a few quick swipes across your face or turn it into a 10-minute ritual.
Step: Lip Treatments
After brushing your teeth and completing your evening oral care, your lips can feel parched or bare. Add a lip treatment for an extra boost of hydration for your lips, or stick with a swipe of lip balm to keep things simple.
Suggested Products:
Image: Beautycounter
Clean Swipe Hyaluronic Lip Balm
Beautycounter
Beautycounter’s Clean Swipe lip balm is a new release for 2023. It’s a creamy lip balm that comes in four shades. The hyaluronic balm is smooth, makes lips appear plumper, and wears well throughout the day. Wear the clear balm to bed to keep your bedding clean.
Image: Ilia Beauty
Lip Wrap Overnight Treatment
Ilia
Ilia’s smooth lip mask can be applied day and night. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and papaya enzymes work to soften and hydrate lips.
Don’t Neglect Your Body
While we often associate a skincare routine with our face, don’t forget to show the rest of your skin some TLC, too. Layer on hydrating skincare products after dry brushing or bathing for the best results. And, don’t forget to drink water!
Suggested Products:
Image: Amazon
Sugar Scrub Body Love
Raw Sugar
A gentle body scrub removes dirt and smooths skin. This duo is citrusy and bright and will make your skin feel fantastic.
Image: OSEA Malibu
Undaria Body Bestsellers
Osea
The Undaria Algae Body Butter and Body Oil are holy grails. They’re lightweight yet rich and will have your skin glowing in no time.
Follow our guide (in full or pick your favorite parts) for a hydrating routine that will leave your skin smooth and hydrated come morning!
