Summer may leave us with warm memories, but it can also leave our skin a little worse for wear. 🌞 After months of sun exposure, you may notice more discoloration, sun spots, and uneven tone, especially on the face, décolletage, and the backs of your hands.

As someone who specializes in helping women over 50 look and feel their best, I want to share a nighttime skincare routine designed to repair and restore your post-summer skin. This routine focuses on brightening, evening out skin tone, and protecting your skin barrier.

🎥 Watch on YouTube

Be sure to subscribe to my channel, Michelle Fox Beauty.

Why Focus on Nighttime Repair?

During the day, your skincare is all about protection (hello, sunscreen! 🧴). But at night, your skin enters repair mode. This is the perfect time to apply targeted treatments that:

• Diminish discoloration and sun spots

• Improve skin texture

• Hydrate and plump fine lines

• Boost cell turnover for fresher-looking skin

  (If you read my previous blog on Morning Skincare Layering, you'll love pairing it with this nighttime plan!)

  

*For this week's demonstration, I am using my personal skincare regimen, Mary Kay Timewise Repair Volu-Firm Set. If you do not currently have a Mary Kay consultant, I welcome you to browse and 🛒 shop HERE.

My End of Summer Nighttime Routine

with Product Recommendations

Step 1: Cleanse Gently but Thoroughly 🧽

Remove impurities, sunscreen, and makeup so your treatments can be fully absorbed.

• TimeWise Repair® Volu-Firm Foaming Cleanser

• CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser

• Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel

💦 For an even deeper clean, consider adding Micellar Water as a prep step before cleansing! This is known as a "Double Cleanse".

💫 The cleansing device that I use in the video demonstration is called The Urchin from Maysama.

👉 Optional: Follow with a toner or freshener if your skin feels like it needs it.

Step 2: Targeted Treatments ✨

This is where the magic happens—but also where you need to be careful.

⚠️ Certain actives shouldn't be used together, so it’s best to alternate nights.

• Night A (Resurfacing): Glycolic Peel

  Smooths texture, fades discoloration, and boosts radiance.

  • Mary Kay TimeWise Repair Revealing Radiance Glycolic Peel

  • The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner

  • Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum

💫 Tip: Be sure to read the instructions! Most at-home glycolic peels have specific time limits for the product to stay on your face in order to prevent discomfort.

➡️ Not ready for a glycolic peel? You can substitute a microdermabrasion treatment or an exfoliating scrub. 🧖🏽‍♀️

• Night B (Brightening): Vitamin C

  Vitamin C serum to target sun spots, brighten dull skin, and provide antioxidant protection

  • Mary Kay Clinical Solutions C + Resveratrol Line-Reducer

  • L’Oréal Revitalift Derm Intensives12% Pure Vitamin C + E + Sallicylic Acid Serum

  • SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic for Visible Signs of Aging

    ✅ Helpful Hint: I like to combine my vitamin C drops with hyaluronic acid. I get the benefits of both serums and I'm able to distribute the products more evenly.

• Night C (Repairing): Niacinamide

  Niacinamide to strengthen skin’s barrier and help fade discoloration gently.

• Mary Kay Clinical Solutions Ferulic + Niacinamide Brightener

• The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

• Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

⚠️ Don’t use boosters on glycolic nights—save them for your “booster nights.”

Double check that your boosters do not have overlapping ingredients*.

For example, one has vitamin C plus Ferulic Acid and the second one has Niacinamide plus Ferulic Acid. You would be getting too much Ferulic Acid.

Your options would be to use Vitamin C plus Ferulic Acid in the morning and Niacinamide plus Ferulic Acid at night or to use them on alternate nights.

*That's why I like to stick with one skincare brand for my entire routine!

Would you like a printable pdf version of this chart? Be sure to sign up for my VIP mailing list! I'm including a copy of the chart in this week's newsletter!

Sign up HERE

Step 3: Eye Cream 👀

Eye cream should be applied morning and evening before your moisturizer. Apply in the orbital area, not too close to your eyes, with a delicate patting motion.

• TimeWise Repair® Volu-Firm Eye Renewal Cream

• Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream

• Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Crème

👁️ If your eyes water, you may be using too much product or getting to close to your eyes.

Step 4: Lock It In with Moisturizer 🧴

Hydration keeps skin plump and helps repair your barrier overnight. This is an essential step in your nighttime routine!

• TimeWise Repair® Volu-Firm Night Treatment with Retinol

• CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream

• Lancôme Rénergie Lift Multi-Action Night Cream & Anto-Aging Moisturizer

➡️ If night creams are too heavy for your skin type, a lightweight age-fighting moisturizer will do!

Step 5: Don’t Forget the Backs of Your Hands & Décolletage

The same routine you apply to your face should extend to your neck, chest, and hands. These areas are often the first to show sun damage, but they’re usually forgotten in nighttime routines.

🚨 Check out my previous blog on the red light therapy device I use for even more amazing results on my decolletage!

From Chin to Chest: How Red Light Therapy Can Rejuvenate Your Neck and Décolletage

✋🏼 Have you tried the Mary Kay Satin Hands Pampering Set? It's a great way to rejuvenate your hands (and 🦶🏼).

Wrap Up: Your Path to Post-Summer Glow 🌙

By building a targeted nighttime regimen, you can help reverse the visible effects of summer on your skin, leaving you brighter, smoother, and more confident.

✨ Want more pro tips like this sent directly to your inbox? Join my mailing list so you never miss a post.
✨ Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel, Michelle Fox Beauty, for tutorials and demos.
✨ Shop the products I mentioned in this post directly on my Mary Kay website or ShopMy Shelf.

And if you’re ready for an extra boost, grab my free resource: Age-Reversing Beauty Hacks.