cruelty free pamper night time skincare routine for sensitive skin

Lockdown has been a time to slow down, smell the roses, and take a closer look at your skincare routine. I know that what I used to use daily has changed completely. I’m 25, so while I still have relatively fresh skin (thank god for my obsession for moisturiser!), it’s definitely time to start looking into keeping it that way. As you know, this is a cruelty free blog so all of these products are ethical, and I got them all on Boots.ie, so they’re available at drugstore prices!

My late introduction to skincare has been caused by my dry and sensitive skin, so if you’re weary of putting things on your face I’ve already been your guinea pig (though all skin is different, so make sure to patch test before using anything new on your face)! When I have a pamper night, this is my favourite routine to relax, so grab a glass of wine- if that’s your fancy-, pop on your favourite Netflix show, light the candles and enjoy some time for you!

Step one: cleanse

My night time routine starts by removing all of the makeup and grime from my face using the Botanics All Bright Micellar 3 in 1 Cleansing Solution (€6.99/£5.49) and several cotton pads. To avoid any tugging, especially while removing waterproof liquid eyeliner and mascara, soak a cotton pad with the micellar water and hold over your eye makeup for several seconds to make sure that everything breaks down and easily wipes off.

It’s important to double cleanse after a long day, especially if I wear a full face of makeup (which is most days!).

After the micellar water, I use the Boots Glow Cleansing Stick (€5.99/£4) to make sure that I get the last bits of makeup that I might have missed. The instructions on the stick says to apply on makeup to melt it away, but I don’t like the idea of contaminating the tip of the stick with the day’s dirt and germs, so I always use it after an initial cleanse. No need to wet your face before using this product, just wipe the silky stick all over your face and remove with a cotton pad. I don’t usually like fragranced products on my sensitive skin, but as I’ll be washing my face at the next step I don’t mind it too much. If you love the scent of watermellon, you’ll love this!

Step two: face mask

I’ve only recently started using a face mask, and I’m loving the Pink Clay one from Revolution Skincare (€10.49/£8). Revolution Skincare is a brand that I’m absolutely loving, and I can’t wait to try more products, especially more masks. The mask detoxifies the skin- I apply it carefully all over my face, grab a straw for my wine (it gets hard fast!) and watch beauty videos on YouTube for 15 to 20 minutes. While I’m waiting, I love to apply baby night time oil all over my body, helping to relax me and get ready for bed. When my timer goes off, I gently wash it off with warm water- making sure not to miss any product around my nose!

Step three: exfoliate

One of my latest discoveries in the complex world of skincare is the importance of chemical exfoliation vs physical exfoliation. I used to only cleanse my face in the morning before my makeup and call it a day, but it’s important to exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin cells. Since I have sensitive and dry skin, it’s important not to physically exfoliate with a face scrub, but chemically exfoliate instead.

‘Chemical’ sounds scary, but it’s really not.

I use a few drops of The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA (€6.80/£5.80) right after my face mask. It’s the most gentle of chemical exfoliants, and I haven’t had any issues with it, though The Ordinary does have a 5% lactic acid if you prefer to start with a smaller dose.

Step four: serums

I go a little crazy with serums- I have so many to choose from! For my night time routine, I like to use my most hydrating serums to last me through the night. I start with a couple of drops of Revolution Skincare CBD Serum (€12.99/£10). I’ve written a review on the product here if you want something more detailed, but in essence I see such a difference using hemp-based products in terms of the moisture in my skin.

When that has settled, I use Botanics All Bright Radiance Concentrate serum (€11.99/£8.99) to improve skin texture and brighten my skin. Finally, I use three drops of The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum (€6.80/£5.90)- a full review on the serum here! Hyaluronic acid is great for dry skin, as it draws moisture from the air to keep the skin hydrated for longer. After my CBD serum, it’s my favourite and I see a significant difference since using it.

Step five: eye cream

Eye creams are a sweet little extra in a skincare routine, but it’s one of my favourite steps- there’s nothing quite so nice as putting a cool serum under the eyes. The only one I’ve tried so far (but will definitely be repurchasing) is the Botanics Triple Age Renewal Eye Serum (€14.99/£11.99). Formulated to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, I’ve so far noticed that my eye bags have almost disappeared since using it.

Step six: moisturise

I don’t always do a full night time routine,

but I always make sure to moisturise, it’s the most important step in any routine.

With my sensitive skin, the only moisturiser that I’m not allergic to is an aqueous cream. While that might not be the most interesting of products, it’s the one I can’t live without, and it’s great for all over my body. The aqueous cream that I’m using currently is one that I found in desperation in a local chemist, but Superdrug has a great own-brand one for £2.99- and that’s for 500ml of product! Superdrug usually does a ‘buy one get the second half price’ offer on their own brand, so I often buy two in one go, so I’m sorted for at least six months.

While I have a basic night time routine with fewer steps every night, I enjoy pampering myself two or three nights a week and I highly recommend having some me-time!

Thank you for reading my post, and following me on Instagram @lapetitemis! I hope this helps to make the wild world of skincare a bit more simple. See you next time!