Diamonds & Pebbles: My Nighttime Routine.

before: read on to watch the process of how i get my face ready for bed

I talk a lot about the kinds of products I use on my face. Usually when I’m reviewing a product, I’ll only show you how I use it by itself, and I know it can be tricky seeing how it fits in my routine. I know there’s nothing quite like seeing it in action. So today, I’m taking you step-by-step through my night time routine, to show you HOW exactly I use what I do and WHY.

I start with my Fresh Seaberry Skin Nutrition Cleansing Oil and massage it into my face in circular motions using my palm. I read somewhere that you shouldn’t use your palms to massage things into your face as most of the product gets absorbed by the palm, but fingers don’t seem to have the same kind of power as the palm. I do my face in sections, so I start with my cheeks then move to my forehead, nose and chin. I know it’s getting rid of all my makeup when I can see silky brown streaks all over my face. I then move on to my lashes which take a considerable amount of time given a) the amount of time it takes me to put it on and b) given how much mascara I actually wear. I use my fingertips to gently push the mascara in a downward motion off my lashes. I go in order of index finger ending with my thumbs. As well as pushing the mascara down my lashes, I also lift my lashes and push mascara in an upward motion, all the while keeping my eyes shut. This is the best way to get rid of every last bit of mascara.

this is just the tip of the iceberg

Next, I run my hands under the tap to wet them then massage my face again. This emulsifies the oil and gets it to start deep cleansing the skin and removing dirt.

oil is rinsed off and i'm ready for the double cleanse...

I then rinse my face several times with warm water until my face is no longer slick with oil. The one thing about this oil is that it leaves my face feeling really moisturised and nourished after I’ve rinsed it off, which sometimes makes me want to not do the next step… even though I still do it every time because, double cleansing.

While my face is still wet, I reach for my Dudu Osun black soap and rub it between my wet hands. I then massage this into my face, making sure to get every area the oil touched. I concentrate on my cheeks, jaw, forehead and nose, and let myself get carried away in the luxurious and relaxing motions.

Once I’ve snapped back to life and realised that I’ve already spent fifteen minutes in the bathroom, I rinse my face thoroughly with warm water.

Bet you thought we were finished.

Wrong… well, kind of.

I mask three times a week, and it so happens that this routine took place on such a night. If it’s a night that I’m masking, I will dab my face kind of dry then reach for my face mask. This time it’s Fresh’s Sugar Face Polish (the one that came recently). I put a bit in my palm (again, I know that it’s not the best) and then using circular motions again, I massage it over my face, concentrating on problem areas like my forehead or wherever else I feel some issue arising. When I’m done, I hop in the shower for ten minutes and let the mask set.

i've learned that a little goes a long way... and that i ALWAYS get this in my hair

really love using this fresh sugar polish. my face always feels like it's getting an in-depth power clean

Shower done, I rinse my face with warm water that almost always turns scorching (please someone tell me why this always happens to me when I’m rinsing off a mask).

I then let my face air dry until just before the last drops have evaporated. Then moisturise my face. Right now I’m using my Nivea Cherry Blossom & Jojoba Oil Lotion. I’m not using any night creams or night masks, but if I was, I’d apply them after moisturising my face.