If you struggle with stubborn acne scars, dark spots, or hyperpigmentation, exfoliating acids may be the key to finally improving their appearance. These treatments help refine uneven skin tone and texture for a visibly clearer complexion. But chemical exfoliants are powerful, and applying them haphazardly can do more harm than good.
If you're interested in trying exfoliating acids like our Laser Serum Triple Acid Concentrate, it's important to apply them correctly. This step-by-step nighttime skincare routine helps you prepare and protect your skin when using a new exfoliant, so you can achieve noticeable results without excessive irritation, inflammation, or disruption to the skin barrier.
Step 1: Cleanse Without Stripping the Skin
The first step in any P.M. skincare routine is cleansing. This step removes dirt, makeup, sunscreen, and excess oil that accumulate throughout the day, helping you apply exfoliating products more evenly.
If you wear heavy makeup or water-resistant SPF, it's often a good idea to start with an oil-based cleanser, then follow with a water-based one.
Step 2: Condition With Prep Pads
Next, condition your skin to prepare it for exfoliation and support optimal hydration balance. Our Prep Pads Daily Skin Conditioning System delivers 24-hour hydration through a moisture-binding complex.
One side of the pad uses non-abrasive silicone beads that glide across the skin, providing gentle mechanical stimulation. The other side applies ultra-smooth hydration to condition the skin.
Step 3: Apply Your Exfoliating Acid
Now you are ready to exfoliate with the Laser Serum. Apply two small pumps of serum to the skin, and gently smooth the formula evenly over your face and neck. This formula combines lactic, glycolic, and mandelic acids to penetrate multiple layers of skin, remove dead skin cells, and fade dark spots.
At first, use the Laser Serum once or twice a week. You can gradually increase use as your skin tolerates the active acids, eventually making it part of your regular nighttime skincare routine.
Step 4: Hydrate With a Peptide Moisturizer
It's always a good idea to follow up exfoliating acids with a hydrating, barrier-supporting moisturizer. Our Soft Landing Smoothing Peptide Moisturizer helps calm visible redness and irritation that can arise from exfoliants and other active treatments. It contains four classes of peptides that support collagen-related processes while strengthening the skin barrier.
Apply Soft Landing to clean, dry skin as the final step in your nighttime routine. This moisturizer will support overnight skin repair and renewal, leaving your skin remarkably smooth and resilient.
In the morning, don't forget to apply SPF after your moisturizer. Exfoliating acids can increase the skin's sensitivity to UV exposure, making daily sunscreen especially important.
Enhance Your Nighttime Skincare Routine With Lenox and Sixteenth
By following this step-by-step nighttime skincare routine, you'll apply the right products in the correct order to maximize results while reducing irritation. Shop our clinic-inspired skincare products from Lenox and Sixteenth today to transform your regimen with the highest-quality formulas. Then check out our recent post on the difference between glycolic vs. lactic acid, and how both can benefit your exfoliation routine.