Skincare after dark

During the day your skin is mostly defending: against UV, pollution, temperature changes and the friction of daily life. At night the demands change. Research suggests skin loses water more readily overnight, and that repair processes are more active, which is why night is a good time to support the barrier rather than add stress to it.

The most useful thing you can do at night is take the day off properly. If you wear sunscreen or makeup, a first cleanse to lift it and a second to clean the skin underneath is a common approach. Be gentle either way, since a cleanser that strips skin undoes the work of everything after it. The Reset can be used as a first or second cleanse.

After cleansing, apply your serum and give it a minute to sink in. Then close the routine with a cream. The Seal's directions suggest a slightly heavier layer at night, since it is the last step and nothing else will go on top.

Active treatments such as exfoliating acids or retinoids belong here for some people, but they are not required, and they are best introduced one at a time with a doctor's advice if your skin is sensitive.

Sunscreen is a morning job and the single most useful product for long-term skin health. Everything about the night routine can be simpler than the morning one, and still do its work: cleanse, balance, seal, and go to sleep.