Night Face Serum: why your evening routine can be richer

Your skin has a very different day from your night. In the morning you want something light, that sinks in quickly and sits well under makeup and sunscreen. At night none of that matters. There is no makeup to wear over it and nowhere to be, so you can use something richer and give it the whole night to settle in.

That is the thinking behind the Night Face Serum. It is the richer of my two face oils, made for the last step of your evening routine, and it is for night time use only.

What it is and who it is for

The Night Face Serum is a 30ml oil serum with a soft, woody floral scent from sandalwood and lavender. It contains no water, only plant oils and oil soluble ingredients.

It is for you if:

• your skin feels dry or tight, especially in the evening or in colder months
• you want a richer step at night than you would wear during the day
• you are curious about bakuchiol and want to try it in a simple oil blend
• uneven skin tone or dark marks are a concern, and you want a gentle evening step alongside daily sunscreen
• you already use the Golden Face Oil in the morning and want an evening partner for it

What is inside, and why I chose it

Macadamia oil. One of the two main oils. It is rich and cushioning, and leaves skin feeling soft and comfortable overnight.

Jojoba oil. The other main oil. Technically a liquid plant wax, very similar to the oil your own skin makes, so it feels comfortable on the skin.

Rosehip oil. A favourite in face oils, which leaves skin feeling soft and looking fresh.

Squalane. A light, silky oil that balances the richer oils, so the serum spreads easily and does not feel heavy.

Argan oil. A well known plant oil that leaves skin feeling soft and smooth.

Kiwi seed, plum kernel and sea buckthorn oils. Smaller amounts of three more plant oils that round out the blend. Plum kernel oil also gives the serum a lovely silky slip.

Bakuchiol. A plant ingredient from the seeds of the babchi plant. It has become popular in skincare as an alternative for people who would like something gentler than retinol. I have included it because people often ask me about it, and I wanted to offer it in a simple, plant oil based serum.

Coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E. Both are antioxidants. In this serum they also help protect the delicate plant oils from going off.

Rosehip CO2 extract. A concentrated extract of rosehip, adding to the rosehip oil in the blend.

Sandalwood and lavender. A very small amount of each, for a soft, calming evening scent. Lavender naturally contains linalool, which is listed on the label.

A word on bakuchiol

I want to be careful here, because bakuchiol is often talked about with big promises.

What I can tell you is what it is: a plant derived ingredient that many people choose instead of retinol because they find it gentler. What I will not do is promise you results that this serum has not been tested for. Studies on bakuchiol have been carried out on other products, at other strengths. My aim with the Night Face Serum is a comfortable, rich evening oil that contains it, made with care and described honestly.

If uneven skin tone is your concern

Pigmentation, dark marks and uneven skin tone are some of the most common reasons people look for a night serum, and it is often why people ask me about this one.

Here is my honest view as a formulator. The single most important step for uneven skin tone is a broad spectrum sunscreen every day, all year round, because sun exposure is one of the biggest reasons dark marks appear and linger. Alongside that, a gentle evening routine helps. The Night Face Serum brings together rosehip, bakuchiol and antioxidants in a comfortable oil, which makes it a lovely evening step if this is your concern.

If your pigmentation is new, changing or worrying you, please see a doctor or dermatologist.

Why night time only?

The Night Face Serum is designed to be used at night only, never in the morning. Richer oils need time. During the day they can feel too heavy under makeup, and they can leave skin looking shinier than you might like. At night, the serum has hours to settle into the skin while you sleep, and you wake up with skin that feels soft and comfortable.

In the morning, use the Golden Face Oil instead and always finish with sunscreen.

How to use it

Use it in the evening only, as the last step before bed.

1. Cleanse with the Cleansing Face Balm and the Cleansing Face Bar.
2. Put a few drops on your fingertips and warm them between your palms.
3. Press the serum gently onto your face and neck, then smooth it upwards.
4. If you use a night cream, apply it once the serum has settled in.

Patch test before first use, as with any new skincare.

My tip: apply it about twenty minutes before you go to bed, not as your head touches the pillow. That gives the serum time to settle into your skin rather than onto your pillowcase. And press, do not rub. Pressing the oil into the skin with your palms uses less product and is gentler on your face than rubbing.

What it is free from, and why

The Night Face Serum contains no added water, no silicones and no mineral oil.

Silicones and mineral oil are not harmful, and many serums use them for a silky feel. I wanted the richness and slip in this serum to come from plant oils, with squalane and plum kernel oil keeping it from feeling heavy.

Looking after your serum

Store it somewhere cool and dark, with the lid tightly closed. Plant oils are delicate, and light and warmth make them go off sooner.

Try it

If your skin feels dry or tight by the evening, the Night Face Serum is a simple way to end your day. Keep it for night time, and use the Golden Face Oil in the morning for a short, gentle routine built on plant oils.

You will find the full ingredients list on the Night Face Serum product page. If you have any questions about using it, send me a message.

Eliz, organic skincare formulator and founder of ECBEAUTYLAB