A nighttime routine has to do two things: take the day off, and put moisture back. Most routines fail because they have more steps than that, not fewer.
The two steps that matter
Cleanse with something that does not leave skin feeling stripped. If your face feels tight and squeaky afterwards, the cleanser is too strong for skin that is already drier than it used to be.
Then, on skin that is still slightly damp, apply your cream. Damp skin gives a humectant water to hold, and the cream spreads further, so you use less of it. That is the whole routine.
A routine you can do when you are tired is the only one that works.
Where retinol fits
If your cream contains retinol, night is the only time to use it, and two non-consecutive nights a week is the place to start. Keep it away from the eye area, where skin is thinner and irritation shows first. On the nights in between, cleanse and use a plain moisturiser — the gaps are part of the schedule, not a lapse in it.
There is more on the first eight weeks in How to begin using retinol after 55.
What to leave out
Two additions mature skin rarely needs at night. A second active is the first: an acid exfoliant on the same night as retinol is how a comfortable routine becomes an uncomfortable one. A toner is the second, if it contains alcohol — anything that leaves skin feeling tighter is working against the step that follows it.
Sunscreen is the exception that belongs at the other end of the day. It does nothing overnight, but it is the other half of using retinol at all.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional about your own skin, and do not use retinol during pregnancy or nursing without their guidance.
