Nighttime Skincare Regime (Ver. 2012)

I'm beginning a new skincare regime this year. I shall post the results of this regime after two month of use. I try to go for low to medium cost products, so no hundred dollar night cream for this broke college student. The only splurge item I own would have to be the Clarisonic, but I consider it an investment on my part since I expect it to last several years.

Before I describe my routine, a bit of background about my skin. I am in my early 20s, have oily/combination, acne-prone skin. I breakout easily from poor quality products that will irritate my skin so I'm constantly on the look for something cheap and effective!

This is Part 2/3 of my "Skincare Regime" series. For part 1, which describe my daytime routine, go here. I will be copy-pasting a lot of the same items that I used, so you can skip over those if you read it before.


***Evening Routine***

Step 0: REMOVE

Before we start washing, it is imperative to remove any traces of makeup. If I am wearing any sort of tinted moisturizer, BB cream, foundation, etc I need to remove those before I wash my face so it can improve the penetration of the remaining products. Thus, before I wash my face, I use a Cleansing Oil to remove eye makeup and face makeup. I recommend using Kose Softymo Deep Cleansing Oil, available on Amazon and Asian specialty stores. You can also use DHL or Shu Uemura, which are other popular brands for Cleansing oils. Cleansing oils are awesome because you are restoring the balance of oils in your skin while gently removing oily makeup and other residue from your face. I like the Kose brand because you get the best bang for the buck. A bottle of 230ml goes for $12 and lasts a long time.

Rating: 4.5/5

Step 1: WASH

I will be using the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash from The Body Shop along with my pink Clarisonic Plus. It is suited for Blemished Skin and is designed to remove impurities. It does not foam, which makes it a good complement to my Clarisonic Plus. This cleanser got really good reviews online and I had used it before a couple of years ago, so I decided to give it a shot once again. Plus, it's pretty affordable-- $11 for a big 8.4 fl oz bottle.

Rating: TBA


I really love my Clarisonic Plus and do feel that it is worth the hefty price tag. It is very well made, comes with a standing charge cradle, and is waterproof. It really does leave your face squeaky clean. The only con to the brush would have to be the expensive brush replacements that are recommended every 3 months. (Tip: If you clean your brush daily after use, and weekly with a bit of Hydrogen Peroxide, you can make it last up to 4 months). For the Clarisonic, I use it with the Acne Cleansing Brush HeadThis is not available online via the Clarisonic store, but you can get it from spa stores, or from eBay for around $17 each. The brush itself comes in a set for $225, but I got it off eBay for around $160. So yep, shop around for the best deal!

Rating: 4/5

Step 2: TONE


I will be using the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner from The Body Shop. This is part of the Tea Tree set I purchased, and is supposed to clear away any remaining cleanser residue and impurities from my skin. There is also ingredients in the toner to help with oil control. For toners in general, I just put a bit on a cotton pad and wipe away, focusing on areas that are most likely to have leftover residue (sides of nose, jawline, under the lips, etc.). It also got really good reviews online. A big 8.4 fl oz bottle goes for $11, and should last a long time.

Rating: TBA

Step 3: PREVENT

I normally use a serum type of product at this point of the routine. Right now I am using an Oil-free anti-wrinkle serum with 10% Glycolic AHA from Alpha Hydrox. This product contains one of the highest concentrations of AHA on the market. AHA, which stands for Alpha Hydroxy Acid, helps speed cell turnover and renewal. It helps prevent wrinkles and heals old acne scars. This chemical makes the skin sensitive to UV rays, which is why I am using it at night. You can find this product at some drugstores, but your best bet is online. It goes for about $11 or so. My only complaint is that the packaging is horrible and the product is very runny, but I would purchase again.

Rating: 4/5

Step 4: EYES

I also use an eye cream to reduce my dark circles and moisturize the area around the eyes, which are more delicate than the rest of my face. Right now I am using All about Eyes from Clinique. I would say this product is average and does its job, but its no miracle worker. It's also on the pricier side. I'm still on the lookout for a better eye cream that isn't too heavy, but for now this will do. This product goes for $30 for 0.5 oz.

Rating: 3.5/5

Step 5: HEAL AND MOISTURIZE

This is the night time counterpart to the day time moisturizer from the Body Shop. I will be using the Tea Tree Blemish Fade Night Lotion from the Body Shop. It helps with blemishes and also acne scars. This is the most expensive product out of the entire Body Shop line, and goes for $18.

Rating: TBA