Your evening routine does most of the work

Most people build their routine around the morning. Cleanse, moisturize, sunscreen, out the door. That is the right order for the day, but the day is not when your skin does its repair work.

Overnight, skin cell turnover speeds up and water loss through the skin goes up too. It is the window where active ingredients have hours of uninterrupted contact and no sun to argue with. If you only have the energy for one considered routine, make it the one before bed.

A long routine you skip half the week loses to a short one you do every night.

1. Cleanse once, properly. Lukewarm water, thirty seconds of contact, pat dry. If you wore sunscreen or makeup, a first pass with an oil or balm cleanser takes it off without scrubbing.
2. Treat. This is where a targeted serum goes. For uneven tone and dark spots, apply a thin layer on dry skin and give it a minute before the next step.
3. Seal. A night cream holds water in while you sleep. Warm a pea-sized amount between your fingers and press it in rather than rubbing.

Sunscreen, obviously. Vitamin C also earns its place in the morning, where it backs up your SPF. Anything that makes skin more sun sensitive, like retinoids or exfoliating acids, belongs at night.

Skin turns over roughly every four to six weeks. Judge a new evening routine after two full cycles, not two nights. Take a photo in the same light on day one so you have something honest to compare against.