Morning vs. Night Skincare: What's the Difference?
Priya Sharma
Head of Product
Your skin has different needs during the day versus at night. Understanding these differences will help you build more effective morning and evening routines.
Your Skin's Day vs. Night Mode
**During the day**, your skin:
- Faces environmental stressors (UV, pollution)
- Produces sebum to protect itself
- Needs protection and defense
**At night**, your skin:
- Enters repair mode
- Cell regeneration peaks
- Is more receptive to active ingredients
- Loses more water (transepidermal water loss)
The Ideal Morning Routine
Your AM routine should focus on **protection and preparation**:
1. **Gentle cleanser** or just water
2. **Hydrating toner** (optional)
3. **Antioxidant serum** (Vitamin C is ideal)
4. **Light moisturizer**
5. **Sunscreen** (SPF 30+, the most important step!)
Keep your morning routine light—heavy products can pill under sunscreen and makeup.
The Ideal Evening Routine
Your PM routine is for **repair and treatment**:
1. **Oil cleanser** (removes makeup, SPF)
2. **Water-based cleanser** (double cleanse)
3. **Exfoliant** (2-3x per week, not daily)
4. **Toner**
5. **Treatment serums** (retinol, acids)
6. **Eye cream**
7. **Rich moisturizer**
8. **Face oil or sleeping mask** (optional)
This is when you use your powerhouse ingredients.
Product Placement Guide
**Morning only**:
- Vitamin C (works best against daytime stressors)
- Sunscreen (obviously!)
**Evening only**:
- Retinol (sun-sensitizing)
- AHAs/BHAs (can increase sensitivity)
- Heavy treatments
**Both AM and PM**:
- Hyaluronic acid
- Niacinamide
- Moisturizer
- Eye cream
Why Double Cleansing at Night?
Sunscreen and makeup don't fully come off with one wash. Oil cleansers dissolve oil-based products (SPF, makeup), while your water-based cleanser removes remaining impurities.
In the morning, you can skip this—just use a gentle cleanser or even plain water since you went to bed with a clean face.
Common Mistakes
❌ Using the same heavy routine AM and PM
❌ Skipping moisturizer in the morning because "it makes me oily"
❌ Not removing SPF properly at night
❌ Using too many actives at once
✓ Keep AM light and protective
✓ Use PM for treatments and repair
✓ Always finish with sunscreen in the morning
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