KNOW WHEN TO APPLY YOUR SKINCARE FOR MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS
FOR EXFOLIATING
IN THE EVENING, NEVER IN THE MORNING.
Exfoliating in the evening helps prepare the skin to better absorb treatment serums and thus boost its ability to renew itself overnight. Since exfoliation can increase your skin’s sensitivity, it will then have the whole night to rebuild its skin barrier. This barrier is essential to protect it from external aggressors and prevent dehydration during the day. You will then need to provide it with the nutrients it needs upon waking so that it can strengthen itself throughout the day.
FOR CLEANSING
IN THE EVENING ONLY.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to cleanse your skin in the morning. During the night, your skin is not exposed to external aggressors such as pollution, dust, or makeup. It naturally produces a protective hydrolipidic film, made up of sebum and sweat, which maintains the balance of your skin barrier. By cleansing your skin in the morning, you risk removing this natural protection and weakening your skin against the aggressions of the day. A simple rinse with clear water or the application of floral water or a toner is more than enough to gently wake up your skin.
In the evening, however, double cleansing is essential. This two-step method effectively removes all the impurities accumulated throughout the day:
First cleanse (oil-based cleanser): Apply a cleansing oil or cleansing balm to dry skin to dissolve makeup, sunscreen, and excess sebum. Gently massage for 1 to 2 minutes to allow the active ingredients to work properly and dislodge all impurities.
Second cleanse (water-based cleanser): The second cleanse removes any remaining residue and deeply purifies the skin. Massage again for 1 to 2 minutes and leave it on briefly to maximize the cleanser’s effects.
This double cleansing ritual ideally prepares your skin to receive your nighttime skincare (serums, oils, creams), which can then penetrate effectively and work while your skin regenerates.
FOR APPLYING AN OIL
IN THE EVENING FOR ITS OCCLUSIVE PROPERTIES
In theory, oils can be applied in the morning and in the evening. But oils have the particularity of being occlusive, so they should be used as the final step in your beauty routine. During the day, however, they could dilute your sunscreen, which also needs to be applied as the last step in your routine for optimal protection. That is why, for greater comfort, the ideal is to apply your oils in the evening (preferably in a generous layer).
FOR APPLYING SUNSCREEN
IN THE MORNING, AS THE VERY LAST LAYER.
UVA and UVB rays are responsible for sun damage, which leads to early signs of aging such as fine lines and skin sagging, and can worsen pigmentation and acne scars. Applying sunscreen is therefore non-negotiable. It must be applied as the final layer so that it is not diluted by other skincare products applied on top.
FOR DOING A MASK
RIGHT AFTER A SHOWER.
The ideal time to apply a face mask is immediately after your evening shower, and here is why:
Heat dilates the pores. The warm steam from your shower naturally opens the pores of your skin, allowing the mask’s active ingredients to penetrate much deeper into the epidermis. It is like opening the doors to let the benefits of your treatment in.
The skin is perfectly prepared. After a shower, your skin is free from surface impurities, clean, and receptive. The mask’s active ingredients can therefore work directly without any barrier.
Moisture optimizes absorption. Applying your mask to skin that is still slightly damp (not completely dry) promotes the penetration of active ingredients. Water acts as a carrier that helps the nutrients spread more effectively through the layers of the skin.
Application tip: Do not dry your face completely after the shower. Gently pat with a towel to remove excess water, then immediately apply your mask to this slightly damp and still-warm skin. Leave it on for the recommended time, generally 10 to 20 minutes depending on the type of mask.
FOR MASSAGING YOUR FACE
MORNING AND EVENING, BUT NOT IN THE SAME WAY
Facial massage is beneficial at any time of day, but the technique should be adapted to the moment and the desired goal.
IN THE MORNING: PRIORITIZE LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE
When we wake up, our face may be puffy, the features drawn, sometimes with under-eye bags. This is the ideal time for a draining lymphatic massage. This technique stimulates the circulation of lymph, the fluid that carries toxins and waste accumulated during the night.
Lymphatic drainage helps to:
- Depuff the features and reduce puffiness
- Activate microcirculation for a radiant complexion
- Naturally lift the face
- Wake up the skin gently
- Start the day with a fresh, rested face
How to do it: Use gentle, slow, repetitive movements, always from the center of the face outward, then down the neck from top to bottom. The pressure should be light, almost featherlike, so as not to block the lymphatic vessels. The goal is to guide the lymph toward the lymph nodes located in the neck. You can also use a cryo tool to further awaken your face.
IN THE EVENING: CHOOSE MUSCULAR MASSAGE
At the end of the day, our facial muscles are contracted from stress, concentration, and repeated expressions. These muscular tensions encourage the appearance of expression lines and folds. Evening is therefore the perfect time for a deeper, more targeted muscular massage.
Muscular massage helps to:
- Release the tension built up during the day
- Relax facial muscles (forehead, jaw, eye contour)
- Prevent the formation of expression lines
- Promote deeper penetration of nighttime skincare
- Support the natural nighttime regeneration process
How to do it: Use movements that are firmer and slower than with drainage. Work muscle by muscle with firm but controlled pressure, gentle kneading, and deep smoothing motions. Focus especially on tension areas such as the jaw, forehead, and temples.
- Gua Shas
FOR APPLYING VITAMIN C
IN THE MORNING FOR MAXIMUM PROTECTION
Vitamin C is one of the most powerful actives in cosmetics, and when you apply it is crucial to getting all its benefits.
AN ANTIOXIDANT SHIELD AGAINST AGGRESSORS
Vitamin C is a major antioxidant that helps protect skin cells from environmental damage caused by free radicals. These unstable molecules are produced in response to:
- Exposure to UV rays
- Air pollution
- Cigarette smoke
- Daily oxidative stress
- Fine particles and environmental toxins
By applying your vitamin C serum in the morning, you create a true protective shield that you wear throughout the day. It acts as a first line of defense to neutralize free radicals before they damage skin cells.
A PERFECT SYNERGY WITH SUNSCREEN
Vitamin C enhances the action of your sunscreen. Together, these two actives provide optimal defense against photoaging and UV damage.
That is why the ideal morning routine is to apply:
- Your vitamin C serum
- Your moisturizer (if you have dry skin)
- Your sunscreen as the final step
MULTIPLE BENEFITS
Beyond its antioxidant protection, vitamin C applied in the morning:
- Brightens the complexion and reduces pigmentation spots
- Stimulates collagen production
- Evens out the skin tone
- Provides immediate radiance
- Prepares the skin to face the aggressions of the day
FOR APPLYING RETINOL
AT NIGHT ONLY
Retinol is one of the most powerful and most studied anti-aging actives in dermatology. However, it must absolutely be used in the evening for two fundamental reasons.
A PRECIOUS ALLY OF NIGHTTIME REGENERATION
Nighttime is when your skin works most actively to repair and renew itself. The peak of cell regeneration takes place between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. Retinol fits perfectly into this natural process by:
- Stimulating collagen production, the essential protein that maintains skin firmness and elasticity
- Accelerating cell turnover, helping eliminate dead cells and reveal fresher, brighter skin
- Smoothing wrinkles and fine lines by restructuring the deeper layers of the skin
- Improving skin texture and evening out the complexion
- Reducing blemishes and hyperpigmentation marks
By applying your retinol in the evening, you support and amplify the skin’s natural repair process that takes place during sleep, thereby maximizing its effectiveness.
PHOTOSENSITIZATION THAT SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED
Retinoids (vitamin A and its derivatives such as retinol) make the skin significantly more sensitive to UV rays. By increasing cell turnover, retinol temporarily thins the stratum corneum (the superficial protective layer of the skin), making it more vulnerable to sun damage.
That is why:
- Retinol should never be applied in the morning
- It is essential to apply SPF 30 minimum sunscreen the next morning
- Sun exposure without protection after using retinol can cause redness, irritation, or even burns
USAGE TIPS
Apply your retinol to perfectly clean, dry skin
Start with gradual use (2 to 3 times a week) to allow your skin to adjust
Wait a few minutes for the retinol to absorb before applying your night cream
Avoid the eye contour and lip area if your product is not specifically formulated for those zones
Do not mix retinol with exfoliating acids (AHA/BHA) on the same evening
Be patient: visible results generally appear after 8 to 12 weeks of regular use
FOR APPLYING YOUR EYE CONTOUR TREATMENT
MORNING AND EVENING, FOR CONTINUOUS PROTECTION AND REPAIR.
The eye contour is the most fragile and thinnest area of the face. With skin up to 10 times thinner than on the rest of the face, this delicate area is particularly vulnerable and requires special attention.
WHY IS THIS AREA SO SENSITIVE?
The eye contour has unique characteristics that explain its fragility:
- Extremely thin skin with very few sebaceous glands, making it prone to dehydration
- Very little fatty tissue to support the skin structure
- Constant movement: we blink around 10,000 times a day
- Repeated expressions (smiling, squinting) that create folds
- Fragile microcirculation that encourages dark circles and puffiness
This is the area where the first signs of aging appear: crow’s feet, fine lines, puffiness, dark circles, and skin sagging. Hence the importance of caring for it from a young age, ideally starting at 25.
AN ESSENTIAL MORNING AND EVENING ROUTINE
In the morning:
- Decongests and depuffs bags caused by fluid accumulation overnight
- Hydrates and prepares this delicate area before makeup
- Protects against external aggressors during the day (UV, pollution, blue light)
- Brightens the eyes and softens dark circles
- Creates a smooth base for makeup
In the evening:
- Deeply nourishes this area that naturally lacks lipids
- Promotes cell regeneration during sleep
- Repairs the day’s damage
- Prevents the appearance of new wrinkles
- Improves firmness and elasticity
HOW TO APPLY IT CORRECTLY
The moment: Apply your eye contour treatment after cleansing your face and applying toner, but before your serum and moisturizer. Since this area is the thinnest, it should receive the active ingredients first for optimal penetration.
The amount: A small amount is enough, about the size of a grain of rice or a small pea for both eyes. Too much product could migrate into the eye and cause puffiness.
The technique:
Take the product with your ring finger (the gentlest finger, which applies the least pressure)
Gently tap the product in small dots around the eye socket
Start from the inner corner under the eye and move up toward the temple
Never pull the skin, simply tap it in
Avoid applying too close to the lash line (stay on the orbital bone)
Do not forget the eyelid if your product allows it
