Complete Skincare Routine for Morning and Night: Affordable to Luxury Options

As a perpetually exhausted mum of two, keeping up with a skincare routine can feel impossible. Between sleep schedules, endless winter viruses, and a to-do list that never ends, taking care of my skin is often the last thing on my mind.

But I’ve learned that having a simple morning and evening routine not only keeps my skin healthy but also gives me a much-needed moment of calm in the chaos. Whether you’re a parent or not, carving out time for skincare can be a small act of self-care that helps set the tone for your day, or helps you unwind at night.

This post will walk you through a simple yet effective skincare routine that works for any skin type, with my top product recommendations at different price points for combination skin. If you’re ready to create a routine that works for your busy life, grab a cuppa and let’s dive in!

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Morning Skincare Routine: Protect & Prep

Mornings are all about hydration and protection, prepping your skin for the day ahead. If you want a more detailed breakdown of my morning skincare, check out my Daily Skincare Routine for Busy Mums.

Step 2: Eye Cream

A lightweight, hydrating eye cream helps reduce puffiness and dark circles. If you wear makeup, pick a formula that won’t cause concealer to crease or slide off.

Luxury Option: Sunday Riley Autocorrect Brightening & Depuffing Eye Cream (£60/$65) — See my review here!
Mid-range Selection: Glossier Full Orbit Eye Cream (£28/$28)
Budget Pick: The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream (£10/$12)

You can check out more of my favourite eye creams in these posts:

• Best Hydrating Eye Creams
• Brightening Eye Creams

Step 3: Serum (Hydration & Brightening)

This is where you can tailor your routine to your needs. I alternate between:
✔ Vitamin C (for brightening & antioxidant protection)
✔ Hyaluronic Acid (for hydration & plumping)

💡 Quick Tip: If using Hyaluronic Acid, apply it to damp skin and follow up quickly with moisturiser.

Luxury Option: Allies of Skin 20% Vitamin C Serum (£93/$101) / Tatcha The Dewy Serum (£86/$89)
Mid-range Selection: Medik8 C-Tetra Serum (£39/$48)) / Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum ($20.99)
Budget Pick: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (£8.80/$9.90) / The Inkey List 15% Vitamin C Serum (£15/$17)

Step 4: Moisturise

A lightweight, non-greasy moisturiser is ideal for combination skin. You want something hydrating enough for dry areas but not too heavy for oily zones.

Luxury Option: Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream (£62/$69)
Mid-range Selection: Byoma Moisturising Gel Cream (£12/$14) — Reviewed here!
Budget Pick: The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + HA (£6.10/$7.50) — Reviewed here!

Step 5: SPF (The Most Important Step!)

Sunscreen protects your skin from UV damage and prevents premature ageing.

Luxury Option: Ultra Violette Supreme Screen SPF50 (£34/$36)
Mid-range Selection: Skin1004 Hylau-Cica SPF50 (£10-20) (reviewed here!)
Budget Pick: Byoma Ultralight Face Fluid SPF30 (£14.99/$17.50)

Evening Skincare Routine: Repair & Rejuvenate

Evenings are all about cleansing away the day and letting your skin recover and repair overnight.

💡 Time-Saving Tip: Do your routine right after putting the kids to bed instead of waiting until you’re too tired! Light a candle and turn it into a spa-like experience!

Step 1: Double Cleansing (PM Essential!)

If you wear makeup or SPF, double cleansing is a must. Oil-based or balm cleansers break down product, while gel or cream cleansers remove residue and refresh the skin.

Luxury Option: Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm (£52)
Mid-range Selection: Skin Rocks Cream Cleanser (£32/$40)
Budget Pick: The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser (same as AM routine) (£14.90/$21)

Step 2: Exfoliation or Retinol (Depending on the Night!)

Step 3: Eye Cream

Use the same one from the morning, or skip if your eyes feel sensitive at night. If you are concerned about fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, try one of these Retinol Eye Creams.

Step 4: Night Serum

On nights when I haven’t used retinol or a chemical exfoliant, I like to add a peptide serum. They can help with anti-ageing, barrier support and collagen boosting.

Luxury Option: Medik8 Liquid Peptides (£59)
Mid-range Selection: Naturium Multi-Peptide Advanced Serum (£27/$24.99)
Budget Pick: The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum (£15.90/$19.90)

Step 5: Moisturiser (Lock in Hydration)

A richer night cream helps your skin repair itself overnight.

Luxury Option: Skin Rocks The Moisturiser (£58/$72)
Mid-range Selection: Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Gel Cream (£45/$45)
Budget Pick: The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + HA (same as AM routine) (£6.10/$7.50)

On retinol nights, I use Byoma Barrier+ Repair Treatment (see my review here!) as the moisturiser step to reduce irritation.

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While both morning and night routines share similar steps, they serve very different purposes:
✔ Morning → Hydration & protection from environmental damage
✔ Night → Repair, renewal, and deeper hydration

Consistency is key! Even a simple routine can transform your skin if you stick with it.

What does your skincare routine look like? Do you have a go-to product you swear by? Let me know in the comments!