A good evening skincare routine is both about cleansing the skin after the day and giving it hydration and care for the night. Unlike the morning routine, you do not need to finish with sunscreen, which also makes the evening a good time for products and ingredients that you do not use in the morning.
A simple evening routine can consist of cleansing, serum, and face cream.
If you use makeup or sunscreen, you can start with double cleansing. If you want a more complete routine, you can also add toner, essence, Eye cream, and other products based on what your skin needs.
Evening skincare routine in the right order
A more complete evening skincare routine can look like this:
| Step | Product | What does it do? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oil-based cleanser | Dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and oil-based impurities |
| 2 | Water-based cleanser | Cleanses the skin of sweat, dirt, and residue from the first cleanse |
| 3 | Toner | Prepares the skin and can add hydration and caring ingredients |
| 4 | Essence | Provides additional hydration and care in a light layer |
| 5 | Serum | Customizes the evening routine based on what you want to focus on |
| 6 | Eye cream | Hydrates and cares for the skin around the eyes |
| 7 | Face cream | Hydrates and helps the skin retain moisture |
You do not need to use all seven steps every evening. The important thing is to cleanse the skin properly and then choose products that serve a purpose for your specific skin.
Exfoliation, retinol, and Sheet mask can also be part of the evening routine, but they are not fixed steps that need to be used every evening. How and how often they are used depends on the product and your skin.
Steps 1 and 2: Cleanse the skin after the day
Cleansing has a particularly important function in the evening. During the day, the skin has come into contact with, among other things, sebum, sweat, and dirt, while you may also have applied sunscreen and makeup.
That is why double cleansing is often used in the evening within Korean skincare.
Start with an oil-based cleanser
An oil-based cleanser is used on dry skin as the first step in double cleansing. It helps dissolve, among other things, makeup, sunscreen, and oil-based impurities.
Oil-based cleansers are usually available as cleansing oil and cleansing balm. Which variant you choose largely depends on which texture and feel you prefer.
After cleansing, you often add water so that the product emulsifies before it is rinsed off. Always follow the instructions for the product you are using.
Continue with water-based cleanser
After the oil-based cleansing, continue with a water-based cleanser. It takes care of sweat, dirt, and residue that remain on the skin.
Just like in the morning, cleansing should be adapted to your skin. Dry and sensitive skin may prefer a gentle and moisturizing cleanser, while oily skin may appreciate a product that effectively cleanses away excess sebum.
Your skin should feel clean afterward, but not tight and dried out.
Double cleansing does not necessarily have to be needed every evening for everyone. For example, if you have not worn makeup and are using a sunscreen that washes off easily, a single cleanse may sometimes be sufficient.
Step 3: Prepare the skin with toner
After cleansing, you can use toner as the first caring step in your evening routine.
A toner can give the skin an initial layer of hydration and prepare it for essence, serum, and face cream. The contents vary greatly between different products, which means that toner can also be chosen based on your skin's needs.
There are, for example, toners focused on hydration, the skin barrier, and radiance, as well as exfoliating toners with, for example, AHA or BHA.
That is why it is good to look at more than just the product category. A hydrating toner and an exfoliating toner serve different functions and do not need to be used in the same way or as often.
Step 4: Continue with essence
Essence is common in Korean skincare and often has a light consistency that makes it easy to add extra hydration and care without making the skin feel heavy.
Depending on the product, an essence may, for example, contain ingredients focused on hydration, radiance, or the skin barrier.
The difference between toner and essence is not always crystal clear, and some products overlap. The most important thing is therefore the function the product serves in your routine, not that you must use both toner and essence every evening.
Step 5: Customize your evening routine with serum
Serum makes it possible to tailor your evening routine more specifically to what you want to focus on.
This may, for example, involve:
- hydration
- radiance
- more even skin tone
- the skin barrier
- more even skin texture
In the evening, you can use the same serum as in the morning if the product is intended for that. You can also choose to divide different serums between morning and evening to keep each routine simpler.
A hydrating serum may, for example, be a good fit after cleansing, while other serums contain more active ingredients and need to be used according to the product's instructions.
You do not need to combine several serums at the same time. One serum that complements the rest of your evening routine may be entirely sufficient.
Where do retinol and exfoliation fit in?
The evening routine is a common time for both retinol and exfoliation, but they should not be seen as two additional steps that everyone needs to add.
Retinol is usually used in the evening and applied according to the instructions for the specific product. If you are new to retinol, it is wise to start cautiously instead of using the product every evening right away.
Exfoliation is used to remove dead skin cells and can be done with, for example, AHA or BHA. Exfoliating ingredients can be found in several different product categories, including toners and serums, so where exfoliation fits into your routine depends on which product you use.
It is also not necessary to use retinol and exfoliating products in the same evening routine. A simpler solution can be to use them on different evenings and let the other days focus more on hydration and the skin barrier.
Always follow the product's instructions and adjust use based on how your skin reacts.
Step 6: Care for the skin around the eyes
If you use Eye cream, it is applied toward the end of the evening routine.
Eye creams are developed for the thin skin around the eyes and can have different focuses depending on the product. This may include hydration, dryness lines, or giving the skin around the eyes a more refreshed appearance.
In the evening, you can choose a richer Eye cream if you appreciate more hydration, while others prefer the same lightweight product morning and evening.
Eye cream is not a must for everyone, but it can be a good addition if you want to tailor your skincare specifically for the area around the eyes.
Step 7: Finish with face cream
The face cream is usually the last step in the evening routine.
After toner, essence, and serum, the cream helps hydrate the skin and retain moisture. Since you do not need to apply sunscreen or makeup on top, you can also choose a richer cream in the evening if your skin needs it.
Dry skin may, for example, appreciate a more nourishing face cream, while oily or combination skin often does better with a lighter lotion or gel cream.
However, there does not need to be a separate night cream in the routine. If your regular face cream works well for your skin, the same product can often be used both morning and evening.
Do you really need all seven steps in the evening?
No. Just like in the morning, it is better to choose products that serve a clear function than to try to fit in as many steps as possible.
A simple evening skincare routine can be:
- Cleanse the skin
- Apply serum as needed
- Finish with face cream
If you use makeup or sunscreen, cleansing can instead consist of both an oil-based cleanser and water-based cleanser.
After that, toner, essence, Eye cream, and other products can be added if you want to tailor the routine further.
Should you use Sheet mask in the evening?
Sheet mask can be used as an extra step when you want to give the skin more hydration and care.
It is usually used after cleansing and toner but before the final steps in the routine. The exact placement may vary depending on the mask and the other products, so follow the instructions on the packaging.
Sheet mask does not need to be used every evening. Think of it more as a complement to the regular routine than as a mandatory step.
What is the difference between a morning and evening routine?
The biggest difference is what the skin needs to be prepared for.
In the morning, you build a routine for the day and finish with sun protection. In the evening, you instead cleanse away what has accumulated on the skin during the day and follow up with moisturizing and nourishing products.
| Morning | Evening |
|---|---|
| Gentle cleansing if needed | Cleansing, double cleansing if needed |
| Toner/essence as needed | Toner/essence as needed |
| Serum according to the skin's needs | Serum or other products as needed |
| Face cream | Face cream |
| Sun protection | No sun protection |
The evening also provides more room for, for example, retinol, exfoliation, and richer products.
So you do not need to use completely different products in the morning and evening, but there is also no reason to try to make the routines identical.
Adapt your evening routine to your skin
The basic order can be the same regardless of skin type. The difference mainly lies in which products and ingredients you choose.
Dry skin may appreciate gentle cleansing, several thin layers of hydration, and a richer face cream as the final step.
Oily skin also needs hydration, but may prefer lighter toners, serums, and gel creams. Good cleansing is important, but the skin does not need to be cleansed aggressively just because it is oily.
Combination skin can use lighter products over the whole face and adjust the amount of face cream depending on where the skin needs more hydration.
Sensitive skin may benefit from a simpler routine with gentle cleansing and a focus on moisturizing and barrier-supporting products. Be especially careful when introducing exfoliating products, retinol, or other more active ingredients.
The skin's needs can also change over the course of the year. During the winter, a richer evening routine may feel better, while fewer and lighter layers may be sufficient during the summer.
Common questions about an evening skincare routine
In what order should you do your skincare in the evening?
A complete order can be oil-based cleansing → water-based cleanser → toner → essence → serum → Eye cream → face cream. You do not need to use all the steps, but can adapt your evening routine to your skin and the products you use.
Do you need to double cleanse every evening?
No. Double cleansing is mainly useful when you want to remove makeup, sunscreen, and oil-based impurities. If you have not used makeup and your sunscreen washes off easily, one cleanse may sometimes be enough.
Should you use serum in the evening?
Yes, serum can be used in the evening and is an easy way to adapt the routine to the skin. Which serum is suitable depends on which ingredients you want to use and what the rest of your routine contains.
When should you use retinol in your evening routine?
Retinol is usually used in the evening. The exact placement and use may vary between different products, so follow the instructions for the retinol you use.
Can you exfoliate the skin every evening?
It depends on the product, the ingredients, and the skin, but exfoliation generally does not need to be a daily step. Follow the product's recommendations and adapt use based on how your skin reacts.
Should you use face cream in the evening?
Face cream is usually used as the final step to moisturize and help the skin retain moisture. Choose the texture according to your skin, from a light gel cream to a richer face cream.
Do you need to use a night cream?
No. You do not need to have a product specifically called night cream. If your regular face cream suits your skin and works well in the evening, you can use it.
Can you use the same skincare in the morning and evening?
Yes, several products can be used both morning and evening. The main difference is that the morning routine ends with sunscreen, while the evening routine often includes more cleansing and can make room for, for example, retinol and exfoliation.
