The Best Morning & Night Skincare Routines

There’s an overwhelming amount of information out there when it comes to skincare routines, and it can be difficult to know which option is best for your skin.

But your morning and nighttime skincare routines don’t have to be complicated, 10-step regimes. You can achieve radiant, smooth and firm skin using a few quality skincare products.

Your skincare routine should be personalised to your specific skin type, along with any skin concerns you may have, such as dry skin or acne.

Read on to discover how to build a skincare routine that works for you.

 

Morning skincare routine  

Whether you decide to apply makeup or not, your morning skincare should prep your skin for the day.

Our simple skincare routine steps will ensure that your skin looks radiant all day, every day:

Simple skincare routine steps will ensure that your skin looks radiant all day, every day:

Step one: cleanse

Cleansing your skin when you wake up in the morning is the first step towards radiant skin. Cleansing removes any excess oils and sebum that have built up on your skin overnight.

Our Cleansing Cream also has the benefit of mild exfoliation but is still gentle enough to use twice daily for smoother, softer skin.

Step two: apply serum

Applying a face serum will help keep your skin looking (and feeling) hydrated throughout the day and it’s the best way of addressing some of your most pressing skin concerns. Many serums feature ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid for deep, long-lasting hydration or Vitamin C, which provides a brightening effect.

Faeye McAuley, Global Head of Spa at Carol Joy London explains, “If you’re using a serum formulated with a high concentration of Vitamin C, the great news is that this can enhance your SPF – which you should be wearing daily! It’s also recommended you avoid using a retinol treatment alongside Vitamin C, as the two powerful ingredients can sensitise skin.”

Step three: moisture

Next, apply your moisturiser – this step will not only keep your skin looking supple and soft, but help boost overall radiance. Our Everyday Moisturiser contains Collagen Peptides, helping to support healthy collagen production within your skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Step four: apply SPF

Finally, it’s essential to apply a good SPF every day (dermatologists recommend SPF 50 or above). Sun damage is the cause of many skin health concerns, including certain types of cancer – it’s also the number-one cause of premature signs of ageing, including sagging skin and wrinkles.

A good night skincare routine will remove any makeup you have applied during the day while also getting rid of the build-up of any dirt or sebum.

Night skincare routine 

Our basic skincare routine steps will thoroughly cleanse and nourish your skin:

1. Cleanse

2. Tone

3. Apply serum

4. Apply eye cream

5. Moisture 

Step one: cleanse

Cleanse your face every evening to ensure healthy skin, free from impurities. Faeye says, “If you are double cleansing, use our Cleansing Cream to remove any makeup and daily impurities and follow with our Cleansing Foam to thoroughly cleanse, gently exfoliate and protect against free radical damage.”

 

Step two: tone

After cleansing, apply a toner to give your skin an extra boost of hydration – it can tackle other problem areas too. Our Boosting Toner is formulated with AHA-rich Raspberry Fruit Extract, providing gentle exfoliation and decongesting pores for a smooth, healthy complexion.

Knowing when to use toner, day or night, is important. You can use your toner during the day as well, providing a healthy base for any make-up you choose to apply and allowing for maximum serum absorption. However, you may find it easier to tone in the evening, as you will likely have more time to carry out your skincare routine, perfectly prepping your skin for your nighttime serum and treatments.

Step three: apply serum 

If you are looking to incorporate retinol into your skincare, try applying a retinol serum at night. Retinol aids your skin’s natural production of collagen. This makes it the perfect partner for our collagen skincare collection, further boosting this protein within your skin and leaving your complexion radiant and smooth.

Dermatologists recommend keeping retinol separate from exfoliants, so if your toner has exfoliating properties, try alternating between the two each night.

Step four: apply eye cream

Applying eye cream as part of your evening routine will help to keep the skin around your eyes looking youthful and radiant. Faeye explains, “our Lifting Eye Contour utilises Arabian Jasmine and Hawthorne Extracts to lift and sculpt the skin around your eyes, reducing the appearance of crow’s feet while hydrating and nourishing.”

Step five: moisturise

Finally, remember to apply your moisturiser. You might want to swap your everyday moisturiser for a richer formula that will absorb into your skin as you sleep. Our Intense Moisturiser contains Golden Millet Oil to repair, protect and strengthen the skin barrier, delivering unparalleled nourishment.

Personalising your skincare routine

If you have a specialist skincare concern, such as very oily or acne-prone skin or dry, tight skin, you can add specific treatments that target these issues into your skincare routine.

Best skincare routine for dry skin

There are a number of ways you can tailor your skincare routine to combat dry, tight or dehydrated skin.

Focus on richer moisturisers and gentle cleansers, with intensely hydrating properties, such as our Intense Moisturiser and Cleansing Cream. Look out for ingredients like Golden Millet Oil that reduce transepidermal water loss to keep your skin hydrated for longer.

Faeye recommends opting for face masks with Hyaluronic Acid to further aid hydration. “This hero ingredient can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, leaving your skin looking plump and radiant. Our Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid Face Mask provides intense hydration in just 15 minutes.”

A skincare routine for dry skin should focus on brightening treatments and hydrating skincare to stop skin from looking dull or lacklustre and encourage continued hydration.

Morning skincare routine for dry skin

1. Cleanse (gentle formula)

2. Apply serum

3. Moisturise (rich formula)

4. Apply SPF

 

Night skincare routine for dry skin

1. Cleanse (gentle formula)

2. Tone

3. Apply a hydrating face mask

4. Apply serum

5. Apply eye cream

6. Moisturise (rich formula)

 

Best skincare routine for oily skin 

Those with oily skin can make a couple of changes to our simple skincare routine to ensure their skin feels soft and free from excess oil.

Even if you struggle with oily skin, you should still apply a moisturiser – sometimes skin that’s producing excess oil is doing so because it’s crying out for moisture! However, you’ll want to opt for lighter, non-comedogenic formulas that will not clog your pores.

Faeye suggests adding an exfoliating treatment or face mask into your evening routine after you cleanse, but before you apply your toner. “Our Face Polish contains AHA-rich Raspberry Fruit Extract to break down dead skin cells while Diamond Powder removes pore-clogging impurities, resulting in a smoother, clearer complexion.”

Focus on purifying and detoxifying skincare to keep your skin looking healthy while minimising excess oil. Look out for products containing BHAs to unclog pores and deeply exfoliate.

Morning skincare routine for oily skin

1. Cleanse

2. Apply serum

3. Moisturise (light formula)

4. Apply SPF

Night skincare routine for oily skin

1. Cleanse

2. Exfoliate and tone (BHA formula a couple of times a week)

3. Apply serum

4. Apply eye cream

5. Moisturise

 

Best skincare routine for acne-prone skin

Acne-prone skin can be tricky to deal with. However, there are a couple of treatments you can try to ease symptoms.

Skincare for acne often contains gentle exfoliants. Look out for toners with AHAs to exfoliate the top layer of your skin as part of your morning routine and one containing BHAs to help unclog your pores at night – but be sure to only use strong exfoliants a couple of times a week and not in the same routine.

Avoid any exfoliators with an overly gritty formula as these have the potential to cause micro-tears in your skin and worsen your acne. You should also approach chemical peels with caution – although this treatment is proven to reduce acne, it may cause a reaction in those with sensitive skin leading to redness and even further scarring. Chemical peels should always be applied by a trained professional.

Those who suffer from serious breakouts should consult a doctor or dermatologist for specialist skincare for acne.

 Morning skincare routine for acne-prone skin

1. Cleanse

2. Tone (AHA formula a couple of times a week)

3. Apply serum

4. Moisturise (light formula)

5. Apply SPF

Night skincare routine for acne-prone skin

1. Cleanse

2. Exfoliate and tone (BHA formula a couple of times a week on alternate nights to your morning AHA toner)

3. Apply serum

4. Apply eye cream

5. Moisturise (light formula)

Best skincare routine for anti-ageing

There are a number of ways you can personalise your regular skincare routine to target the signs of ageing.

Opt for skincare containing Collagen – this hero ingredient plumps and firms skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. We utilise Collagen Peptides and Soluble Collagen Molecules that are small enough to penetrate the skin barrier and get to work from the inside.

Harness the anti-ageing power of Three active collagen technologies by using a mix of products from our exclusive collagen collection.

For instance, our Collagen Eye Masks contain Collagen Peptides that are small enough to penetrate the surface of your skin, as well as Native Collagen Fibres. These masks get to work in just 15 minutes to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines around your eyes.

Faeye suggests coupling these masks with “our unique Pure Collagen Spray, the first of its kind in the world! This innovative spray uses Soluble Collagen Molecules to give you an instantly refreshed and rejuvenated complexion in one simple spray. Pairing these products will provide you with the anti-ageing benefits of Three active collagen technologies.”

Serums with Vitamin C can be used during the day to help minimise dark spots and hyperpigmentation. When it comes to your evening routine, focus on serums that contain retinol to boost your natural collagen production.

An eye cream infused with caffeine can also help to reduce puffiness and dark circles by encouraging microcirculation and lymphatic drainage for a fresh, bright look.

You’ll also want to focus on your hands, as well as your neck and décolleté, as these are the first areas to show the signs of ageing. Our Neck and Décolleté Cream uses Collagen to lift and firm any sagging skin around your jawline and redefine your facial contours for a more youthful appearance. 

You can also a face oil into your evening routine, after applying your moisturiser. Smooth it into your skin and follow with a facial massage using a face roller to reduce puffiness and smooth skin.

Focus on firming and anti-ageing skincare to keep your skin looking plump and youthful for longer.

Morning skincare routine for mature skin

Prioritise Collagen-infused products.

1. Cleanse

2. Apply Vitamin C serum

3. Moisturise

4. Apply SPF

 

Night skincare routine for mature skin

Prioritise Collagen-infused products. 

1. Cleanse

2. Tone

3. Apply retinol serum

4. Apply eye cream (caffeine-infused formula)

5. Apply neck and décolleté cream

6. Perform facial massage with a facial roller

7. Moisturise

8.Apply face oil

FAQs

Do skincare routines need to be completed daily?

Yes, you should follow your skincare routine at home every day in order for it to be effective. You should alter your routine based on the time of day and tailor the products you use to your specific skin type or concern.

What is the most basic skincare routine I can do?

The most basic morning skincare routine involves three steps: cleansing, moisturising and applying SPF. These are the essentials for clean, hydrated and healthy skin. In the evening, you should also be cleansing and moisturising as a minimum.

However, if you have specific skin concerns, such as excessively oily or very dry skin, you can add more targeted steps into your regime.

At what age should I start following a skincare routine?

You should begin a basic skincare regime in your teens. However, specialist products featuring more potent ingredients, such as retinol and Vitamin C, should be reserved until you reach your mid- to late-twenties.

Contrary to popular opinion, anti-ageing skincare routines should be observed from your early twenties as a preventative measure against wrinkles, fine lines and sagging skin. But if you haven’t been following a regular routine, don’t panic! You can still reap the benefits of Collagen-infused and anti-ageing skincare.

Can I use a face mask regularly?

Regular face masks are recommended, particularly if you are looking to boost your skin’s hydration or target the signs of ageing. Those with oily skin will want to prioritise masks containing AHAs to get rid of dead skin cells on the surface of the face.

If you struggle with oily or acne-prone skin, chemical peels can also be beneficial – however, these should be used sparingly and should only be applied by a professional. Those looking to build a skincare routine for sensitive skin should avoid these harsher treatments altogether.

Most face masks can be used as part of a weekly skincare routine, while some may be suitable for more frequent use. Always follow the instructions on your particular product.

Should I exfoliate?

Exfoliation helps to unclog pores and keep your skin looking smooth. It can also help to balance skin and enhance your glow.

Those with oily or spot-prone skin should exfoliate a couple of times a week, while those looking to build a skincare routine for sensitive or dry skin might want to limit this to once every week or two and use gentle products.

Does one skincare routine suit everyone?

No, you should tailor your skincare routine at home to suit your skin type or concern. If you think you require more intensive treatments or specialist products, consult or doctor or visit a skincare professional.

What’s the best skincare routine for rosacea?

Those with sensitive skin concerns like rosacea should use gentle skincare, sticking to a simple routine of cleansing, moisturising and applying SPF.

Avoid harsh chemicals and intense exfoliation and remember to always discontinue the use of a product if it causes further irritation.

If you are struggling with your rosacea, further specialist skincare products can be obtained from a dermatologist or doctor.

Which skincare products do I need?

You should use a mix of skincare products, tailored to your skin type or concern.

However, everyone needs a good cleanser, moisturiser and SPF as skincare essentials, regardless of your skin type.

Whatever your skin type or concern, there’s a morning and night skincare routine for you. Achieve the radiant, smooth skin you have always dreamed of with a regular, targeted routine.

For quality skincare products backed by science for effective, visible results, browse our exclusive collection today.