I Thought My Night Routine Was Helping… Until My Skin Said “Try Again”

Affordable skincare soft glow 
That’s the vibe . 

Hormonal break outs , dry patches and stubborn dark marks ? Been there .Here is how I simplified 

My night routine and finally started seeing real results - without spending the fortune.

When your face is doing the most… but your routine’s not working

Every time I thought I had my skincare routine on lock, my skin would humble me — especially at night.

Breakouts around my jaw? Check. Flaky dry patches by my nose? Yep. And don’t get me started on those never-ending dark marks that just wouldn’t fade.

Sound familiar?

I was layering all the right products (so I thought), but my skin was literally begging for a break. That’s when it clicked: my nighttime routine wasn’t helping — it was lowkey making things worse.

What I was doing wrong

Let’s be honest — no one teaches us this stuff. I was:

• Over-cleansing

• Using too many actives at once

• Skipping proper moisturising

• Mixing new products every week

• Going to bed with irritated skin

• Garnier Hydrating Rose Mist

• Avene Thermal Water Spray (mini)

• Epi-Max Plus

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel

• Cetaphil Moisturising Cream

• Less hormonal breakouts

• My skin barrier stopped acting out

• My face feels calm again

• Dark marks are finally fading (😭)

• What’s actually working for you right now?

• What skincare habit do you regret the most?

• Do you have a night routine that doesn’t stress you out?

My night time routine wasn’t helping …
Here is how I fixed it .

My barrier was shot. My breakouts were hormonal, but also inflamed AF. If this sounds like you too, you’re not alone. I shared more signs your barrier might be screaming in this post 👉 

How I Knew My Skin Barrier Was Totally Ruined

 What I do now (That’s actually helping)

This isn’t a fancy 10-step routine. It’s simple, gentle, and budget-friendly — and my skin is actually thriving.

1️⃣ Gentle, non-foaming cleanser

No more tight skin after washing. I keep it soft, minimal, and non-stripping.

My go-to right now: Clicks Skincare Collection Gentle Cleanser (under R80)

2️⃣ Toner or Mist — only when I need it

No pressure to always tone. I spritz lightly when my skin’s dry or stressed.

Budget faves:

3️⃣ Target treatment (in moderation)

Niacinamide one night, azelaic acid another. I don’t layer them all. And I take nights off when my skin feels tired.

This switch alone reduced my breakouts like crazy.

4️⃣ Moisturiser is not optional anymore

Moisturising saved me. No lie. I used to think it’d make me oily — but skipping it was the real problem.

Affordable faves:

I keep it light but hydrating, and I press it in gently.

5️⃣ Sleep, water, and clean pillowcases

Listen, these little things are underrated! Swapping pillowcases twice a week and getting solid sleep reduced the texture on my cheeks a lot.

I even built these into my R250 Budget Baddie Wellness Routine — you don’t need luxury, just consistency 

What changed after I simplified everything?

And no, I didn’t suddenly get rich or buy luxury brands. I just learned what my skin actually needs — and what it doesn’t.

You can read more about what really helped me fade my dark spots in this post here — it’s not fancy stuff. Just real results.

 Not sure what your skin even 

needs

 right now?

I get it. For the longest time, I didn’t know if I had dry, oily, or sensitive skin.

If that’s you too, I broke it all down in this guide to figuring out your skin type.

It helped me stop guessing and actually start treating my skin right.

Let’s talk!

If your skin’s been on a rollercoaster lately, I’d love to know:

Drop it in the comments 💬 or DM me on Threads — I’m always down to chat skincare, especially if you’re on a budget like me. 🫶🏽