Simple Botanical Evening Skincare Routine

A simple botanical evening skincare routine follows five possible steps: cleanse, mist with hydrosol, apply serum, smooth on face cream and finish with facial oil. Only cleansing and a moisturising finish need to be constants. The other layers are optional.

The right routine is not the one with the most bottles. It is the one that feels comfortable, follows the product directions and is easy to repeat before bed.

The five-step evening order

1. Cleanse to remove the day’s makeup, sunscreen and surface residue.
2. Mist with a hydrosol if you enjoy a light water step.
3. Apply serum according to its formula and directions.
4. Moisturise with face cream.
5. Finish with a few drops of facial oil if you want a richer final layer.

Move from lighter products to richer ones, but let the label settle any uncertainty. The Herbary’s Rose Face Serum, for example, is oil-based but is specifically directed before Rose Face Cream.

Step 1: Cleanse without overcomplicating it

Use your usual evening cleanser according to its directions. Take enough time around the hairline, jaw and sides of the nose, then rinse or remove it as the label instructs.

Pat the skin gently rather than rubbing. If your cleanser leaves discomfort or visible irritation, stop and reassess the product instead of trying to cover the feeling with more layers.

Step 2: Add hydrosol if you enjoy a mist

Rose Hydrosol is an apothecary rose-water mist used after cleansing and before serum, cream or oil. Spritz lightly, avoid the eyes and allow it to settle.

This step is optional. A hydrosol can make the transition from cleansing to the rest of the ritual feel pleasant, but a simple routine still works without it.

Read what is rose hydrosol? for a closer look at the format.

Step 3: Choose one serum

The word “serum” covers more than one texture.

Seaweed and Lavender Face Serum is a lightweight formula with aloe, witch hazel, avocado oil, glycerin, three seaweed extracts and lavender essential oil among its listed ingredients. Apply it to clean skin, allow it to settle and follow with your preferred moisturiser or oil.

Rose Face Serum is an oil-based serum with rosehip oil and vitamin E. Use a few drops before Rose Face Cream or as directed in your evening routine.

You do not need both in the same routine. Choose the texture and ingredients you prefer, then keep the amount modest.

Step 4: Use face cream as the moisturising layer

Face cream gives the routine its creamy finish.

• Rose Face Cream has a soft, velvety texture with rosehip oil, rose water and rose essential oil.
• Frankincense Face Cream is the richer option, with frankincense, sea buckthorn and rosehip oil among its named botanicals.

Apply a small amount over the face and neck after serum. If cream is the final texture you want, stop here.

Compare the two in Rose Face Cream vs Frankincense Face Cream.

Step 5: Finish with facial oil

Rose Night Oil combines rosehip, apricot and almond oils with rose and lavender essential oils. Warm a few drops between clean fingertips, then press or massage them gently over the face and neck as the final step before bed.

More oil is not necessarily more useful. Begin with a few drops and adjust within the label directions until you find the finish you prefer.

Four routines, from shortest to richest

The two-step routine

1. Cleanse.
2. Apply face cream.

The lightweight routine

1. Cleanse.
2. Mist with Rose Hydrosol if wanted.
3. Apply Seaweed and Lavender Face Serum.
4. Add cream only if you want another layer.

The richer routine

1. Cleanse.
2. Apply your chosen serum.
3. Use Frankincense Face Cream.
4. Finish with a small amount of facial oil if wanted.

The full rose routine

1. Cleanse.
2. Mist with Rose Hydrosol if wanted.
3. Apply Rose Face Serum.
4. Smooth on Rose Face Cream.
5. Finish with Rose Night Oil.

The Rose Skincare Ritual brings the full-size serum, cream and night oil together. Rose Hydrosol is available separately.

Introduce products slowly

Adding several unfamiliar products at once makes it difficult to tell which one caused an unwanted reaction. Introduce one at a time, patch test before first use if your skin is sensitive and stop if irritation occurs.

Check every ingredient list for known sensitivities. Essential oils and botanical ingredients are still ingredients, so “natural” should not be treated as a guarantee that a formula will suit everyone.

Common questions

Does face oil go before or after night cream?

Use it after cream as the final evening step, unless the product directions say otherwise.

Do I need serum and cream at night?

No. Serum is an optional extra layer. A shorter cleanse-and-cream routine may be all you want.

Can I use Rose Night Oil without the other rose products?

Yes. Use it as directed as the final evening step, adjusting the number of drops to the finish you prefer.

How long should I wait between layers?

Allow each product to settle before applying the next. There is no need to wait for an arbitrary number of minutes unless a label gives one.

Build your evening routine

Browse Natural Face Care, or compare the roles of each format in face serum vs cream vs facial oil.