The evening ritual, step by step

An evening ritual does not need to be long. Ours is four steps, and on a tired night it is three. What makes it a ritual is not the number of products but the pace: doing each step properly rather than doing many steps badly at half past midnight.

One: take the day off

Start with an oil or balm on dry skin and work it in slowly for a full minute, particularly around the nose and along the jaw. This is the step that removes sunscreen, and sunscreen is the thing most routines fail to fully remove. Rinse with lukewarm water, never hot.

Two: a second, gentler cleanse

A water-based cleanser now, briefly. Thirty seconds is plenty. Skin should feel clean and comfortable afterwards, never squeaky and never tight. Tightness is not a sign that it worked. It is usually a sign that you went too far.

Pat the face with a clean towel rather than rubbing it. Leave it very slightly damp for the next step.

Three: hydrate onto damp skin

Humectants work best when there is water present to hold. A lightweight hydrating layer, pressed in with the palms rather than rubbed, is the quiet workhorse of this whole routine. If you use an active, this is where it goes, on the nights you have decided to use it.

Not every night needs an active. Two or three evenings a week is a reasonable rhythm for most people, and skipping one is not a setback.

Four: seal it

A moisturiser or balm on top, slightly richer if you sleep in air-conditioning. This is the layer that keeps the water you just added from leaving overnight. In Kuala Lumpur it is often the difference between waking up comfortable and waking up tight.

On a truly exhausted night, do steps one and four and go to bed. A routine you can complete when you are tired is worth more than a routine you abandon twice a week.

If you are unsure how your own products should be ordered, bring them to a consultation, or a photo of them. We will put them in a sequence that fits your evenings, and tell you honestly if anything in the line-up is doing nothing for you.