MY SKINCARE ROUTINE OVERHAULED – EVENING ROUTINE
As we enter the final instalment of my skincare routine overhaul, today I look at what constitutes the correct evening routine (see here why it’s being overhauled). Does your evening skincare routine need to be different from your morning skincare routine? Does a one-skincare-routine-fits-all approach do the job?
The answer is no.
Using the same products in the morning as you do in the evening isn’t giving your skin the right ingredients at the right time. Your skin has different needs during the day than when you are asleep. However, the same basic three step approach still applies. More of that in a minute.
The evenings offer the opportunity to step your routine up a notch as you have a little more “me time”. Also, while you are asleep, your skin renews and repairs itself, which presents the perfect opportunity to apply more intensive products that both nourish and repair the skin.
The DIY of an Evening Routine
Now that we are all on the same page regarding what should and should not be done, let’s get down to the elements of my evening routine.
This is the part I said we would get back to. The evening routine starts with a good cleanse and thereafter, application of toner. See my post here that deals with cleansing and toning in detail. Remember I said that cleansing and toning should be done twice a day, in the mornings and at night? Kick in cleansing and toning, evening style.
I follow the same approach as outlined in the previous post, but just as part of my evening shower. I use Kiehl’s Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash as my facial cleanser followed by Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal Extract Toner to prepare my skin for the evening nourishment to come.
Now that my face has been properly cleansed from all the dirt, oil and bacteria build up of the day and my toner has been applied, I apply Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution. You will recall from my previous post that this step is necessary to address hyperpigmentation and prevent the formation of future dark spots.
I give it two or three minutes to absorb into my skin, before continuing with my evening routine.
This product has to be my favourite in the Kiehl’s range. The Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate is a 99,8% natural, paraben free formula that boosts my skin’s natural reparative functions while I sleep. The more I use this product, the more my skin feels smoother and the firmer it becomes. Well, so say my friends, and colleagues, and, well, passers by. Well maybe not passers by, but I have never taken the time to stop and ask them, so you never know.
You are only meant to use 2 – 3 drops of this overnight elixir, but to be honest, I use more like 3 – 4 drops, probably because my skin is dry. Maybe I just lose concentration when using the dropper, but it’s not a bad thing! It is designed for all skin types and will work wonders on your skin too.
I recently started adding four drops of Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate to a hot towel, which I apply to my face, once a week. My skin really absorbs the concentrate and I so enjoy the extra special mid-week spoil to my normal routine. Make sure you do this when you have a little extra time to yourself, to really enjoy the “me time”.
Last but not least
As a fourth step to my evening routine I apply a night cream, but that is another product which I will soon be writing a review on. Let’s get these three steps right first!
What does your evening routine comprise of, or have you considered starting one? Are there any special treatments you allow yourself mid-week? Share with us on Twitter, in the comments below and Facebook as we continue our healthy skincare routine review!
Kiehl’s products are available the following Edgars stores: Sandton, Eastgate, Menlyn, Brooklyn, V&A Waterfront Pavillion; at standalone stores in Rosebank Mall and Canal Walk and at Edgars Cosmetics Gallery in Hyde Park, as well as at the Red Square pop up shop in Clearwater Mall.
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