What should a night skincare routine include for anti-ageing?

A good night anti-ageing routine includes: oil-based or balm cleanser (to remove SPF and makeup), gentle second cleanser if needed, treatment serum (retinol or peptides), and a rich moisturiser or night cream with ceramides. Avoid over-complicating the routine — active ingredients need time to work undisturbed.

What order do I apply night skincare?

Apply in order from thinnest to thickest: cleanse → optional toner → serum (retinol or peptide serum) → eye cream (if used) → night moisturiser or night cream. If using retinol, allow skin to dry fully before application to reduce irritation risk.

Can I use retinol every night?

Most people should not start using retinol every night. Begin with once a week, then twice a week, then every other night — building over several months. Using retinol too frequently before skin has adapted causes unnecessary irritation and may make you abandon it before seeing results.

What should I not mix with retinol at night?

Avoid using retinol on the same evening as high-concentration AHAs or BHAs (alternate nights instead). Vitamin C is generally better reserved for the morning. Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and peptides are compatible with retinol.

Is a night cream different from a regular moisturiser?

Night creams are typically richer and thicker than day moisturisers — they often contain more occlusive ingredients like shea butter, beeswax, or oils. They are designed for overnight wear when you are not wearing SPF. Whether you need a dedicated night cream depends on your skin type — dry skin often benefits from a richer night product.

Evening routine

Night skincare routine for wrinkles — repair, hydrate, treat

Evening is the ideal time for your most active skincare steps. Without the interference of UV exposure or makeup, your skin is ready to absorb and benefit from your treatment products overnight.

Evening skincare products on a bedside table — night cream and serum routine

Evening routine at a glance

Step 1: Thorough cleanse (double cleanse if wearing SPF or makeup)
Step 2: Treatment — retinol OR hydration serum (alternate nights)
Step 3: Moisturiser — richer at night, with ceramides or peptides
Step 4: Eye cream (optional)
Barrier repair: A balm or occlusive on very dry skin (optional)

Quick answer

A good night routine for wrinkles: double cleanse (oil then water-based), retinol serum on dry skin 1–3 nights a week, and a rich moisturiser with ceramides. On non-retinol nights, use a peptide serum instead. Night is when skin repairs — keep the routine consistent and avoid over-layering actives.

Step 1 — Cleansing: remove the day properly

Evening cleansing is more thorough than morning. You need to remove SPF, pollution, makeup, and the accumulation of the day before applying treatment products — anything on the skin surface can reduce how effectively your actives work, and residue from SPF in particular can interfere with overnight treatments.

Single cleanse

If you wear minimal or no makeup and use a light SPF, a thorough single cleanse with a gentle face wash is usually sufficient.

Double cleanse

If you wear makeup or a water-resistant SPF (most modern SPFs are), a double cleanse is more effective:

First cleanse: an oil-based cleanser, balm cleanser, or micellar water to dissolve SPF, makeup, and surface debris
Second cleanse: a gentle cream or gel face wash to clean the skin itself

Avoid harsh rubbing, very hot water, and overly foaming cleansers that strip the skin barrier.

Step 2 — Treatment nights vs. hydration nights

One of the most useful ways to think about an evening routine is to alternate between "treatment nights" and "hydration nights." This approach allows you to use active ingredients like retinol regularly without overdoing them.

Treatment nights (2–3 times per week once adapted)

Apply your active treatment — retinol, a retinol cream, or a peptide treatment — after cleansing on dry skin. Wait a few minutes before the next step to allow it to absorb. If your skin is sensitive or you are new to retinol, buffer it by applying a thin layer of moisturiser first.

See the full retinol guide for how to introduce this gradually.

Hydration nights (on other evenings)

On nights when you are not using retinol or actives, focus on hydration and barrier support. A hyaluronic acid serum applied to damp skin, followed by a rich moisturiser, is an excellent choice for these evenings. Your skin benefits from a break from active ingredients, and a hydration-focused routine supports the barrier.

Step 3 — Moisturiser

Evening is a good time for a richer moisturiser than you might use in the morning. Night creams and richer moisturisers with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, or peptides work well here. They seal in your treatment products and support overnight skin repair.

If you have very dry skin or your skin barrier is compromised, consider a richer occlusive step — a thin layer of petroleum jelly, a facial oil, or a skin barrier balm — on top of your moisturiser once or twice a week. This technique (sometimes called "slugging") traps moisture and supports overnight barrier repair. It is not for everyone, particularly those with oily or acne-prone skin.

Step 4 — Eye cream (optional)

If the eye area is a concern, apply a dedicated eye cream after your moisturiser. Use your ring finger — which applies the gentlest pressure — to pat it softly around the orbital bone. Do not tug the skin.

Look for eye creams with peptides, hyaluronic acid, or ceramides. If using retinol near the eyes, apply it carefully and only once you are well-adapted to the ingredient on the rest of your face. See our eye cream guide for more detail.

Barrier support — when and why

The skin barrier undergoes much of its repair work overnight. Supporting this process with ceramide-rich products, avoiding over-exfoliation, and using an occlusive layer when needed gives the barrier what it needs to recover and function well.

Signs your barrier needs more support: persistent tightness or dryness, stinging when you apply products that didn't previously sting, or skin that feels reactive without a clear cause. If this happens, take a break from all actives for a week or two and focus on gentle cleansing, ceramides, and hydration.

What not to combine on the same evening

Do not use retinol and a high-concentration AHA on the same night — significant irritation risk
Do not use retinol and benzoyl peroxide on the same night — they can deactivate each other and worsen dryness
Vitamin C is better reserved for mornings; it serves little purpose at night and some formulations are not ideal under occlusives

A weekly pattern — an example

Night	Routine type	Key step
Monday	Treatment	Retinol + rich moisturiser
Tuesday	Hydration	HA serum + ceramide moisturiser
Wednesday	Treatment	Retinol + rich moisturiser
Thursday	Hydration	HA serum + ceramide moisturiser
Friday	Treatment	Retinol or peptide serum + moisturiser
Saturday	Hydration + barrier	Ceramide cream + optional occlusive
Sunday	Hydration	Simple gentle routine only

This is an example only — start with retinol once a week and build up over months. Adjust to what your skin tolerates.

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Frequently asked questions

A good night anti-ageing routine includes: oil-based or balm cleanser (to remove SPF and makeup), gentle second cleanser if needed, treatment serum (retinol or peptides), and a rich moisturiser or night cream with ceramides. Avoid over-complicating the routine — active ingredients need time to work undisturbed.
Apply in order from thinnest to thickest: cleanse → optional toner → serum (retinol or peptide serum) → eye cream (if used) → night moisturiser or night cream. If using retinol, allow skin to dry fully before application to reduce irritation risk.
Most people should not start using retinol every night. Begin with once a week, then twice a week, then every other night — building over several months. Using retinol too frequently before skin has adapted causes unnecessary irritation and may make you abandon it before seeing results.
Avoid using retinol on the same evening as high-concentration AHAs or BHAs (alternate nights instead). Vitamin C is generally better reserved for the morning. Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and peptides are compatible with retinol.
Night creams are typically richer and thicker than day moisturisers — they often contain more occlusive ingredients like shea butter, beeswax, or oils. They are designed for overnight wear when you are not wearing SPF. Whether you need a dedicated night cream depends on your skin type — dry skin often benefits from a richer night product.

Night skincare routine for wrinkles — repair, hydrate, treat

Evening routine at a glance

Step 1 — Cleansing: remove the day properly

Single cleanse

Double cleanse

Step 2 — Treatment nights vs. hydration nights

Treatment nights (2–3 times per week once adapted)

Hydration nights (on other evenings)

Step 3 — Moisturiser

Step 4 — Eye cream (optional)

Barrier support — when and why

What not to combine on the same evening

A weekly pattern — an example

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

Morning skincare routine

Retinol creams — how to start

Eye wrinkle creams

Sensitive skin routine advice

Dry skin wrinkle creams

All wrinkle cream ingredients