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OUR BEST NIGHT-TIME SKINCARE ROUTINE
July 2026
A solid night's sleep can be the foundation for a great day; it can improve our mood, attention, memory, productivity and also offers a multitude of long-term physical health benefits, including having a restorative effect on our skin.
Our skin works hard during the day, protecting us from the sun and other environmental stressors. Overnight, it steps things up another level, working overtime to help repair damage incurred in the day.
As your skin is more permeable at night too, it’s also at its most receptive to skincare. A good evening skincare routine that addresses specific skin concerns like dehydration, congestion or pigmentation can really make the most of your beauty sleep.
Read on to discover the best night skincare regimen for your skin.
Night routine for skincare: key takeaways
- Your skin enters its peak repair and renewal phase overnight, making nighttime the ideal moment for targeted skincare.
- A consistent nighttime skincare routine can help address concerns such as dehydration, dullness, congestion, fine lines, and uneven texture.
- The recommended nighttime skincare routine order is cleanser, toner, serum, moisturiser, with optional masks and eye care treatments added as needed.
- Retinol should always be applied at night, as it can increase skin sensitivity to UV exposure and works best alongside the skin’s natural overnight renewal cycle.
- Richer creams, hydrating serums and overnight masks can help support the skin barrier and reduce overnight moisture loss while you sleep.
How to create your nighttime skincare routine
Follow these simple night skincare routine steps to wake up with a refreshed and deeply nourished complexion. From the correct order of skincare at night, to learning which products to use in the evening, read on to learn how to get the most from your evening skincare regimen:
STEP ONE: CLEANSE
Nobody likes a dirty workspace. Morning or evening, cleansing properly should always be the first step in your nighttime skincare routine order to help remove pollutants and wash dirt from the day.
If you wear makeup or SPF (as you should!), workout regularly, or your skin type is on the oily side, you may want to double cleanse before bedtime. We recommend using an oil-based cleanser to clean the surface of makeup, oil and dirt, before following with a foaming cream or gel formula for a more thorough cleanse that targets dead skin cells and pores without stripping the skin of moisture.
STEP TWO: TONER
Using a toner after cleansing can help remove any remaining impurities while helping to rebalance and refresh the skin. Depending on the formula, toners can also help hydrate, refine the appearance of pores, and prep the skin for the rest of your nighttime skincare routine.
For clearer-looking pores and a smoother, more radiant-looking complexion, swipe a gentle, skincare acid toner across your face on a pad to exfoliate, smooth and brighten your skin’s appearance.
STEP THREE: SERUM
If you're new to incorporating a serum into your nighttime skincare routine steps, these potent formulas are ideal for targeting specific concerns and do much of the heavy lifting of your routine.
We recommend applying our Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate, specifically formulated to be used during your facial routine at night. This powerful concentrated serum contains rejuvenating botanical extracts like lavender oil, evening primrose, and passion flower to help nourish skin, support the skin barrier, and visibly reduce fine lines.
Another great nighttime skincare routine product is our Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum, a potent anti-wrinkle serum that’s expertly formulated to be gentle on skin, ideal for first-time retinol users.
Retinol should always be used in your night skin routine as it increases your skin’s sensitivity to UV light. Applied at night, retinol works in sync with your skin’s natural overnight renewal cycle, helping to accelerate cell turnover and reduce the appearance of wrinkles as you sleep. Always wear broad-spectrum SPF when using retinol products.
STEP FOUR: MOISTURISE
The final step in your nighttime skincare routine order should be a good moisturiser, which will help to lock in all the benefits from your serum. As your skin is more likely to lose moisture overnight, it’s also a good time to pump it full of hydrating ingredients and creams that complement its overnight recovery process and help target signs of skin ageing.
Our Super Multi-Corrective Cream targets the 7 key visible signs of ageing, including fine lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity and uneven tone and texture. Don’t forget to apply it around your neck area too to get the most benefits from its firming and skin-tightening formula.
Alternatively, try our Midnight Recovery Omega Rich Botanical Night Cream, designed to be added as part of your evening skincare routine to help visibly plump and replenish your skin as you sleep. Thanks to its cloud-like, lightweight texture and Omega 3 & 6 Fatty Acids blend, you’ll wake up with a plumper, more youthful-looking skin by morning.
OPTIONAL STEP: OVERNIGHT MASK
Whether you’re battling a breakout, your sensitive skin has flared up, or you just fancy a little self-care to help you unwind, an overnight mask is a great way to calm your skin and mind.
Indulge in a luxurious night face care routine by tuning into some calming music and applying one of our targeted facial masks. For an overall hydrating mask, try our Ultra Facial Overnight Rehydrating Mask, formulated with 10.5% Squalane and Glacial Glycoprotein, for a deeply nourishing mask that helps strengthen your skin barrier.
"If my skin’s feeling extra dehydrated, I pop my Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydrating Mask in the fridge for 10 mins to make it extra cooling and refreshing!" – Safia, Kiehl’s Skincare Expert, London
Want to address specific skincare concerns? Why not try:
Best for anti-ageing and firming skin’s feel:
Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Mask
Best for reducing the appearance of pores:
Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask (note: not overnight)
Best for soothing sensitive skin:
Calendula Petal-Infused Calming Mask
Best for brightening dull complexions:
OPTIONAL STEP: FINISHING TOUCHES
Your nighttime skincare routine is almost done. Just add some finishing touches, and you’ll have given your skin that little extra TLC.
First, consider the skin around your lips. Right before bedtime, we love applying our deeply nourishing Buttermask For Lips lip balm, so you can wake up with a perfectly supple pout.
Next, think about the delicate area around your eyes. As a final night skincare routine step, we recommend our de-puffing, smoothing, and brightening Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado.
