Complete Skincare Routine for Morning and Night: Affordable to Luxury Options
Last Updated on March 11, 2025 by Amy
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!
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 1: Cleanse
A gentle cleanse in the morning removes sweat, oil, and any leftover skincare from the night before. Look for a hydrating, non-stripping cleanser—especially if you have combination skin.
💡 Quick Tip: If you love foaming cleansers, choose an SLS-free option to avoid skin barrier damage. Washing your face in the shower with hot water? That can increase irritation!
🔹 Luxury Option: Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturising Cleanser (£38)
🔹 Mid-range Selection: Jordan Samuel Skin The Matinee Gel Cleanser (£29)
🔹 Budget Pick: Beauty Pie Japanfusion Pure Transforming Cleanser (£10 for members) — Read my review here!
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) — See my review here!
🔹 Mid-range Selection: Glossier Full Orbit Eye Cream (£28)
🔹 Budget Pick: The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream (£10)
You can check out more of my favourite eye creams in these posts:
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) / Tatcha The Dewy Serum (£86)
🔹 Mid-range Selection: Medik8 C-Tetra Serum (£39) / Beauty Pie Triple Hyaluronic Acid Serum (£24 for members)
🔹 Budget Pick: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (£8.80) / The Inkey List 5% Vitamin C Serum (£15)
Step 4: Moisturise
A lightweight, non-greasy moisturiser is ideal for combination skin—hydrating enough for dry areas but not too heavy for oily zones.
🔹 Luxury Option: Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream (£62)
🔹 Mid-range Selection: Byoma Moisturising Gel Cream (£12) — Reviewed here!
🔹 Budget Pick: The Ordinary Natural Moisturising Factors + HA (£6.10) — Reviewed here!
Step 5: SPF (The Most Important Step!)
Sunscreen protects your skin from UV damage and prevents premature ageing.
🔹 Luxury Option: Ultra Violette Fave Fluid SPF50 (£37)
🔹 Mid-range Selection: Sculpted by Aimee Beauty Base Protect SPF50 (£23)
🔹 Budget Pick: Beauty Pie Featherlight SPF50 (£15)
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: Elemis Superfood AHA Glow Cleansing Butter (£35)
🔹 Budget Pick: The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser (£13.90)
Step 2: Exfoliation or Retinol (Depending on the Night!)
Now this is where things get a little more complicated. If you are using a retinol product then you would skip any acid toners and instead use your retinol product at this stage. Check out my Retinol Skincare Guide for more details and product recommendations.
If you are new to chemical exfoliants I wouldn’t recommend using them every evening. This is what currently works best for my combination skin:
- Retinol/Tret x4 nights per week
- BHA toner x1 night per week
- Hydrating serum/barrier repair product x2 nights per week
Check out my posts on acid toners for dry skin and acid toners for oily/combination skin for more exfoliating tips and product recommendations!
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
If you’ve exfoliated or used retinol, keep it simple with a hydrating or repairing serum.
🔹 Luxury Option: Medik8 Liquid Peptides (£55)
🔹 Mid-range Selection: Beauty Pie Youthbomb Serum (£44 for members)
🔹 Budget Pick: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc (£5)
Step 5: Moisturiser (Lock in Hydration)
A richer night cream helps your skin repair itself overnight.
🔹 Luxury Option: Emma Lewisham Supernatural Face Cream (£90)
🔹 Mid-range Selection: Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Gel Cream (£45)
🔹 Budget Pick: Beauty Pie Japanfusion Power Elixir (£18 for members)
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!
