I’ve made no secret of my love a little lazy girl beauty shortcut. Yes, I may own and trial and gazillion products but when it comes down to the crunch – and the crunch for me is either end of the day – I want quick solutions and I want them fast.
At the start of the day it’s all about getting out the door and looking presentable enough should I run into someone on the school or coffee run.
At the end of the day it’s all about giving my skin a little bit of a goodnight kiss and tuck-in before bed. It’s usually late (still working on that lifestyle change!) and I know I’m not helping my skin by not giving it the sleep it deserves so I rely on some key products to make up the shortfall for me.
Do you want to check out what I’ve been whacking on my skin late at night?
Just four products. Yep, I’ve got it down to that.
Now, I know for some of my readers this will seem excessive but stick with me as it’s really a pared-back routine, a lazy-girl routine … especially for a old post-40s chick like me. At a minimum I need to cleanse, a serum to give my skin a helping hand, a moisturiser and something to give my eyes and the area around my lips a smoothing hand.
So, here goes:
1. Yes, I know I should be a using a proper cleanser but it’s late, I need to remove the day fast. So I do. I’m a big fan of face wipes. I’ve been playing with a few different brands lately and thanks to all the suggestions from readers on this post, I picked up some Simple wipes from Priceline. While I was there I got me some more Yes to Blueberries Brightening Facial Towelettes (currently on sale at Priceline for $7.99 a pack) as well. Loved the Simple ones but still love the Yes to Blueberries ones best. They’re so soft and the formula is one that my face seems to just love.
2. I’ve been a HUGE fan of the original Trilogy certified organic rosehip oil and I just about peed my pants when this one landed on my desk. The Trilogy Advanced Formula Rosehip Oil Antioxidant + ($29.95) is like the original but on steroids. Except not really because steroids are not organic or natural 😉 What you’re getting here in one little gem of a bottle is a serum that gives you the Omega fatty acid goodness of the original – the stuff that works at minimising wrinkles and making you look radiant. And the PLUS bit? It’s the antioxidant bit. Antioxidants work to protect the skin from all that we assault it with and in this product, the antioxidants come from the tomato and acai berry.
3. I don’t look like Miranda Kerr and, let’s face it, I never will but I must say I’ve fallen for her skincare range. Maybe it’s that two steps removed from Orlando thing? Or that we both have sons named Flynn? Most probably it’s the lovely, light formulation of the Kora Organics Hydrating Day and Night Cream ($59.95). It gets a big tick for being a product that is interchangeable between day and night and love that it’s packed full skincare goodness – rose, Omega 6 fatty acids, lavender, noni extract, rosehip, mandarin oil and bergamot. (Just quietly, I fell for the cream cleanser too).
4. I’ve been super impressed with the Dr LeWinn’s Line Smoothing Complex Corrective Line Filler ($79.95), patting it on around my lovely smile lines and the upper lip area. And yes, I’ve seen a bit of minimisation of lines around the lip area. Re the eyes: if you’re new to my blog, you may not have read that my eyes get a little helping hand with some Botox love twice-a-year – it’s something I’ve done since the year I turned 40. I’ve always been upfront about it but I know it’s not for everyone. I only get it in a small area – and my face still moves! In between Botox sessions (the Botox usually only lasts about four months), I’ve found it really helps to lessen the lines around the eyes with a product like this. This is said to contain a “breakthrough ingredient Argireline, which is considered an alternative to Botox. Not sure that it’s done that for me but it’s certainly helped to maintain the area nicely.
There you go … my four-step, lazy-girl, night-time beauty routine. If I could only turn off the night-owl in me, I’d be adding eight hours beauty sleep to that too. I will try. I promise.
Tell me, what does your nightly skincare routine look like?
Comments 37
Dr Lewinns sounds like just the thing I’m looking for. My lines need a bit of maintenance right about now.
Worth a try … as is the Kiehl’s one mentioned below!
Depends on whether I’ve been out or not, if I have then I use a makeup remover wipe, but if not it’s the same as always, cleanse, tone, moisterise.
Works for me!
The minute I get home, I take my face off! I’ve usually been on mucky construction sites all day so the amount of crap that comes off truly grosses me out. I just use the woolies wipes (I think $2 a pack…. They are suprisingly good). Then I sit down, have dinnner, chill with house mates! Just before I go to bed I quickly wipe some toner over my face to make sure ive washed away all the dirt from the day, then apply a small amount of bio oil and then my usual evening moisturiser!!! Easy!
Amy, I love it … you make it sound so simple!
As of right now, most of my nightly (and morning) routine is all about trying to regain some ground in my losing batter again stretch marks on my Bump. Some days are better then others and I did discover a beautiful “stress reducing” moisturiser by Avena that even if it doesn’t do anything, smells divine and is great to go to bed with!
I’ve been a huge fan of facial wipes, so I’m going to hit price line today for some blueberry ones!
Oh, I love that your bump gets extra special attention!
I use face wipes (L’oreal regenerist are great, i’m going to try the yes to blueberries next) if I don’t have the time bust most nights its philosophy cleanser, retinol/acne treatment, eye cream and a serum. I’m about the try the triology rosehip oil, have been hearing so many good things for such a long time.
I like the sound of your routine … and if you do try the wipe and rosehip oil, let me know what you think!
I have a couple of routines, the variables being whether I am too tired to be bothered or trying harder not to create unnecessary waste.
If I’m being good – almond oil, wipe off any makeup/dirt with one facecloth, then rosehip oil and hold another hot damp facecloth over my face (20 seconds in the microwave is more than enough – think a nice steam). This is actually pretty blissful, but does require a supply of face towels and a bit of soaking pre-laundry especially if there’s lots of mascara or eyeliner involved.
If I’m just plain too tired to think straight, I have baby wipes (look for ones made in Australia, no scent – so much cheaper than face wipes!) and then a quick wipe of rosehip oil.
I know genetics, not smoking and sun avoidance have played a part, but my 46 year old skin looks about 30. Now if only I could convince my hair not to go white (correct, too lazy to colour it, plus environmental and financial costs)…
Hi Tuffhr … I love the sound of the facecloth ritual … and yay to your good genes!!
Oh my god you use face wipes!! I do too and always thought that was the most cardinal of sins!! This makes me so happy.
And virtual snap to the rest of your routing – Trilogy + Night cream. The end 🙂
I think it is a sin but I’m prepared to overlook your’s if you’ll overlook mine 😉
I’ve heard great things about the Trilogy rosehip oil but have yet to try it. I must be really lazy as I only use two products. I take off my makeup with Sothys Clearness Cleansing Milk and use my Olay ProX cleansing brush to make sure I get every last bit off. I then follow with Sothy Hdroptimale moisturiser.
Sounds good to me Jennifer – I’d say clever, not lazy!
I like my night-time routine to be quick too and all at my little dressing table, so that means cleansing properly is out 99% of the time. I have 3 products that I use: Yes to Cucumbers facial wipes, Ultraceuticals Even Skintone Serum and Vitamin A cream. xx
Oh, you shall be an even more beautiful bride! And the Yes to Cucumbers wipes are perfect for your skin!
I am lazy too,but I always cleanse ,with the simple wipes and I will have to try the yes to carrots range too,(Thankyou)and then I like a night cream but at the moment since my skin has been behaving badly, I have to reintroduce every product I had one at a time,so I’m using Indio smooth memulsion night and morning ,it’s a lovely range that you can only get from cosmetelogists and it’s website calls it botox in a bottle,so I hope it works like that too,it does sink in nice and fast and your skin is smooth and it’s not tested on animals so another tick from me and is full of good oils and other good stuff.
I had to layoff the rosehip oil for a while but fingers crossed I can go back to it in the future as it does plump up my old chook face nicely .Eye cream well I love that too ,i have been using it for years and I think it does help ,but I will never know now.I also have to wear something on my lips to bed ,people think I am weird but I like to put pawpaw ointment on my lips.I have been thinking of getting some botox but since my skin went haywire I have had a free chemical peel ,maybe in the future.
Love that you try out things for us Nikki and tell us what their like so we can buy them wouldn’t mind trying the Kora line as it’s all natural.
Thank you again for another good post.
Thanks Lisa … would love to hear more about your reaction to the rosehip oil. Did it inflame your skin?
Nikki, it was a really bad allergic reaction,i had red welts on my face and then it subsided into a red angry rash ,it was itchy and sore ,then all my skin peeled off, i really wanted to use the rosehip oil ,i will try it again in the future,i want dewy plump skin ,my skin is very dry and a tad sensitive ,though now more so than before .
I googled reactions to rosehip oil and it’s quite common,i may be able to try it again and dilute it,fingers crossed because it does work wonders on 40+ skin.
Definitely not excessive at all Nikki, I think I’ve got 6 products on the go at the moment eep! Oil cleanser, normal cleanser, serum, moisturiser for face, moisturiser for neck and chest, eye cream – it’s tiring thinking about it and some nights I just cannot be bothered though so I think I’ll have to check out those wipes 🙂
I SHOULD use more than a wipe at night but this generally only happens if I’m jumping into the shower as well … lazy 😉
I don’t wear makeup usually so my nighttime routine is wash my face, put on night cream, put on eye cream 🙂 if I wear makeup, then makeup remover, wash face, put on night cream, put on eye cream..
And that is why your skin is so gorgeous x
At worst my night time ‘routine’ is a swipe with a facial cleansing wipe (currently using Johnson & Johnson gentle wipes) and a slap of my Aldi 7 moisturiser (just like Olay, only cheaper … shhh…).
My regular routine is remove mascara (which is usually all the eye make up I use) with olive or almond oil on a cotton ball, wash face with Olay cleanser, wipe over with Olay toner, massage in Aldi 7 moisturiser and pat on some eye cream (currently using Almay brightening). When in bed, if I remember I massage in some Manicare cuticle oil before heading into dreamland.
I’m so slack at remembering the cuticle oil. Must. Do. That. And thanks for the tip re Aldi 7 moisturiser 😉
I will have to give those Yes to Blueberries wipes a go- I go to wipes for post-work and pre-pilates quick cleanse (as this can be done in the car, if need be!), then I try to do a proper cleanse just before bed.
At night I’m currently using Bobbi Brown Cleansing Oil, MD Formulations Night Repair and Strvectin-C eye cream.
Love your night-time routine – and agree that wipes are a great addition to the car beauty routine (oops, there’s another lazy girl beauty post right there!)
I’m loving my Trilogy Rosehip oil at the moment too, it’s perfect for a tired mama at the end of the day. I just slather it all over my face and neck. I also add some La Prairie eye cream and that’s about it! I love to see what you use, so keep us posted if you find any new wonder products. I need all the help I can get right now 🙂 Amy xxx
LOL Amy … I will sure keep you posted – the Trilogy Rosehip Oil is often enough moisturising for some. My skin is a little *ahhem* older so is dryer and needs extra x
Hey Nikki – so glad you are enjoying the Kora products, Kora and Antipodes are my favourite two brands that I use regularly. And I too love wipes at night if I’m super tired and only have a smidgen amount of make up to get off 🙂
Love the Kora products and currently loving an Antipodes brightening cleanser!
I’ve actually been meaning to ask you. Is there a BB cream on the market that isn’t tinted or have SPF? To use at night?
No, Vicky … not here in Australia at least. They’re actually designed as complexion enhancers so as far as I’m aware they’ll always have that tint to them.
I just bought the Triology oil. It’s very nice but I still prefer Clarins Lotus oil. That would be hard to beat. Rachel xx
I think the key is finding an oil/serum that works for you – and just use it consistently. They do make a big difference!