A good evening self care routine doesn’t need to take hours. In 30 minutes you can cleanse away the day, lie on an acupressure mat with a cooling eye masque, then finish with a night serum and a rich moisturiser. Many people find that pairing skincare with acupressure helps them unwind and turns the end of the day into a ritual they look forward to.
Key takeaways
- Cleanse first, then do your acupressure session, then apply your night serum and moisturiser.
- An eye masque works neatly during your 15 minutes on the mat.
- Keep the lights low and your phone out of the room to get the most from the ritual.
- Retinal-based serums are for evening use, with SPF the following morning.
- Consistency matters more than perfection: a shorter version on busy nights still counts.
What makes a good evening self care routine?
The best routines are simple enough to repeat every night, and pleasant enough that you want to. A few principles help:
- Same time, same order. Repetition turns a routine into a cue that the day is over.
- One thing for your skin, one thing for your mind. Here, that’s cleansing and night skincare, plus a short acupressure session.
- Screens away. Your phone can wait until morning.
- Kindness, not pressure. If you only have ten minutes, cleanse and moisturise. That’s still self-care.
If you want to understand the reasoning behind each skincare step, our guide to the evening skincare routine order explains what goes on when, and why.
What does the 30-minute wind-down look like?
| Time | Step | What you’ll need |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 3 minutes | Set the scene | Low lights, phone in another room |
| 3 to 8 minutes | Cleanse | Cleansing balm, warm water, soft cloth |
| 8 to 10 minutes | Apply eye masque | Gel eye masques |
| 10 to 25 minutes | Acupressure and breathing | Mat and pillow |
| 25 to 30 minutes | Serum, moisturiser, bed | Night serum, rich cream |
How do you do each step?
1. Set the scene (3 minutes)
Dim the lights, put your phone on silent somewhere else and lay your mat out on the bed or a carpeted floor, with the pillow at the top. Having everything ready means you won’t break the calm halfway through.
2. Cleanse away the day (5 minutes)
Massage a scoop of Bio-Therapeutic Cleanse Balm over dry skin for a minute or two. Its blend of plant oils, squalane and vitamin E melts away make-up, sunscreen and the day’s grime, and the slow massage is a lovely way to start slowing down. Add a splash of warm water to emulsify, then remove with a soft, damp cloth. If you wear heavy make-up or have oily skin, follow with a gel cleanser.
3. Apply your eye masque (2 minutes)
Pat your skin dry and place a Hyaluronic Repair Eye Masque under each eye. These copper-infused gel sheets with peptides and hyaluronic acid feel cool on the skin and help tired eyes look refreshed. Because you’ll be lying still for the next 15 minutes, they stay put perfectly.
4. Lie on your acupressure mat (15 minutes)
Sit on the lower edge of your Bed of Nails Acupressure Mat & Pillow Set, then lower your back down slowly and rest your neck on the pillow. Breathe in through your nose for four counts and out through your mouth for six. The first minute or two feels prickly; after that, many people notice warmth spreading across their back and a heavier, more settled feeling.
New to mats? Start with 5 to 10 minutes over a thin T-shirt and build up. Our guide to using an acupressure mat to wind down before sleep has more tips on timing.
5. Night serum and moisturiser (5 minutes)
Roll onto your side and sit up slowly. Remove the eye masques and gently pat any remaining gel into the skin. Then apply a small amount of Resilience Serum, an evening serum with stabilised retinal, bakuchiol, peptides and antioxidants that helps skin look smoother and more even over time. Let it settle for a minute, then seal everything in with Platinum Peptide Cream, a rich moisturiser with serum-strength peptides and barrier lipids that leaves skin feeling soft and comfortable overnight.
Should you do acupressure before or after skincare?
We suggest cleansing first and applying your serum and moisturiser after your mat session. There are two reasons. First, a freshly cleansed face feels lovely while you lie still with an eye masque on. Second, applying your night serum and cream at the end means they’re not rubbing off on the pillow, and you go straight to bed with skin that feels freshly cared for.
Keep the mat clear of your face itself; the acupressure is for your back, neck and shoulders.
How should you use a retinal serum in an evening routine?
Retinal is a form of vitamin A, part of the retinoid family. Because retinoids can make skin more sensitive to the sun, they belong in your evening routine, and daily SPF the next morning is a must. If you are new to retinoids, start with two or three evenings a week and build up as your skin gets used to it. On the other nights, simply skip straight to your moisturiser.
If you are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding, check with your GP or pharmacist before using retinoid skincare. Our guide to retinal vs retinol explains the differences and how to start.
Can you make the routine shorter on busy nights?
Yes. On nights when 30 minutes isn’t realistic, try this ten-minute version:
- Cleanse with your balm (3 minutes).
- Lie on the mat with your eye masques on, or lean back on the acupressure pillow on the sofa (5 minutes).
- Moisturise and go to bed (2 minutes).
Want to go the other way? Once a week, turn the evening into a longer pamper session with our 45-minute professional home facial, or add a breathing practice with our 15-minute acupressure mat meditation.
Where can you find everything for this routine?
Every skincare product above is from Bio-Therapeutic, the US professional skincare brand we stock, and the mat and pillow are from Bed of Nails, the Swedish-designed acupressure brand. Free UK mainland delivery is available on orders over £80. If you’d like help adapting the routine to your skin, our team is happy to advise by email via our contact page.
Related reading
- Evening Skincare Routine: What to Use and in Which Order
- Using an Acupressure Mat for a Better Wind-Down Before Sleep
- The Professional Home Facial: A 45-Minute Step-by-Step Ritual
- Acupressure Mat Benefits: What to Honestly Expect
Frequently asked questions
How long should an evening self care routine take?
Anything from ten to thirty minutes works well. The most important thing is that it’s realistic enough to repeat most nights. A short routine you actually do is far more rewarding than a long one you skip. Keep a ten-minute version for busy evenings and save the full 30 minutes for nights when you can.
Can I use an eye masque every night?
Many people use gel eye masques several times a week, and some enjoy them nightly as part of their wind-down. They’re a quick way to help eyes look refreshed. Follow the instructions on the box, and if the skin around your eyes feels irritated, stop and give it a few days to settle.
Should I shower before or after using an acupressure mat?
Either works, but many people prefer to shower first, then use the mat once they’ve cooled down a little. Using the mat straight after a very hot shower can feel more intense and may leave you light-headed when you stand. Leave ten minutes or so in between, and always get up slowly.
What should I avoid before bed for a calmer evening?
Most people find it easier to wind down with less screen time late in the evening, lower lighting, a cool bedroom, and no caffeine after the afternoon. Heavy meals and intense exercise close to bedtime can also make it harder to relax. If poor sleep is persistent or affecting your day, speak to your GP.
