Night skin care routine order

The order, step by step

1. Step 1

   Oil or balm cleanse

   Oil dissolves oil. This first cleanse lifts SPF, makeup and sebum so the second cleanse can actually reach skin. Skip it only if you wore neither sunscreen nor makeup.

   Pairs with: Nutricentials cleansing balms and oils

2. Step 2

   Water-based cleanse

   The second half of a double cleanse clears what the oil left behind. A cleansing device such as the ageLOC LumiSpa iO handles this step.

   Pairs with: ageLOC LumiSpa iO · gel cleansers

3. Step 3

   Tone or essence

   Rebalances skin after cleansing and pre-hydrates so treatment serums absorb rather than sitting on the surface.

   Pairs with: Nutricentials toners and essences

4. Step 4

   Treatment serum

   Night is when retinol, peptides and exfoliating acids belong — no UV exposure and skin repairs while you sleep. Use one strong active per night, not three.

   Pairs with: ageLOC Tru Face · retinol and peptide treatments

5. Step 5

   Eye cream

   Thin formulas sit closest to skin, so eye cream goes before your night cream. Pat along the orbital bone.

   Pairs with: ageLOC eye treatments

6. Step 6

   Night cream or sleeping mask

   The final layer seals everything in and supports overnight barrier repair. Richer than your daytime moisturiser, and no SPF needed.

   Pairs with: Night creams and overnight masks

Adjusting for your skin type

Oily / combination

Double cleanse properly, then keep treatments light. A gel night cream is enough — heavy occlusives can clog through the night.

Dry

Layer a hydrating serum before your treatment serum, and finish with a rich night cream or sleeping mask on slightly damp skin.

Sensitive

Start retinol twice a week, buffered with moisturiser, and build up slowly. Alternate actives rather than stacking them.

Mature

Retinol or peptides most nights, plus a richer barrier cream. Consistency over intensity — eight to twelve weeks before judging results.

Blemish-prone

Spot treatment straight after cleansing on dry skin, then hydrate around it. Don't combine an acid and a retinol on the same night.

Take the skin quiz for a routine built around your skin.

Where devices fit

A cleansing device replaces the second cleanse. Treatment and microcurrent devices go after cleansing on clean, dry skin — before any serum.

How often to use a cleansing device

Frequently asked questions

What is the correct night skin care routine order?

Oil or balm cleanse, water-based cleanse, toner or essence, treatment serum such as retinol or peptides, eye cream, then night cream. No SPF is needed at night.

Do I need to double cleanse every night?

Only if you wore sunscreen or makeup. Oil-based products need an oil cleanser to break them down; on a bare-skin day a single water-based cleanse is enough.

Can I use retinol and exfoliating acid on the same night?

Better not to. Both increase turnover and combining them often causes irritation. Alternate nights instead, and always follow with moisturiser.

Should I use a different moisturiser at night?

A richer one helps, because water loss through the skin peaks overnight. A night cream or sleeping mask as the final layer supports barrier repair.

How long before I see results from a night routine?

Eight to twelve weeks — roughly three skin-cell turnover cycles. Change one product at a time so you can tell what worked.