Dr Satish Bhatia, a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetologist at Indian Cancer Society in Mumbai, emphasises that the simplest and most effective skincare routine involves washing your face at night with a gentle cleanser, followed by either retinol or bakuchiol-based night cream. Let this rest for a few minutes, before applying a moisturiser on top to maximise the effects of your night cream

Dr Renuka Nalawade Rajale adds that consistency is key if you want to see your skincare routine yield results. Following a mild cleanser, add a treatment step depending on your skin needs — for instance, a hydrating serum containing hyaluronic acid to treat dryness, a retinol-based product in the case of anti-aging or acne. Then, lock it with a hydrating lotion that aids in the natural nightly reparation of the skin. Individuals with specific concerns can add an eye cream or targeted treatment

However, in either case, the trick is not to layer too much. An effective bedtime ritual is not supposed to make your skin feel pulled, flushed and bewildered. Instead, it should feel refreshed, relaxed and well looked after, she says

Dr Bhatia warns that While exfoliation is wonderful for your skin, and frankly we all love that ultra-smooth feel we get after a gentle scrub, over-exfoliating your skin can cause uncontrolled microtraumas. This, in turn, may lead to clogged pores and secondary infection or even abscesses

Additionally, when using retinol products, a good sunblock during the day is essential. Retinol is also photosensitive; this means, if you leave your retinal products in the sunlight or use them in your morning routine, they might be less effective, Dr Bhatia adds

Overdoing night-time skincare routines can do more harm than good. Patients tend to layer too many active ingredients on their face under the assumption that more is better, but this may cause irritation, sensitivity, redness or breakouts. A lot of on-the-job repair goes on in the skin when we are sleeping and calls of putting too many products on the skin or applying the tools not suited to the skin type will get in the way of this process. Also, the tendency to regularly change routines according to the fashion trends may negatively affect the skin barrier in the long term. A considered, bare bones regimen that actually addresses the needs of your skin, will do a lot more than keeping up with new trends, Dr Rajale concludes