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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.

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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!