On tired nights, doing your entire skincare routine can feel exhausting.

I work as a rehabilitation professional at a facility. I work five days a week and get home around 7:00 PM.

Once I finish the housework, all I want to do is sit down. To be honest, there are nights almost every day where I feel like skipping my skincare. There have even been days when I actually did skip it.

Even so, I am now able to keep up with my skincare routine even on tired nights. It is not because I am powering through it with sheer willpower. It is because I have already decided on a routine for tired days.

Conclusion: Decide on a routine for tired days when you are feeling energetic.

I divide my nighttime skincare into two types: “days with energy” and “tired days.”

The difference is that I combine the cleansing process into one step. I am not cutting corners; I am reducing steps for a reason.

On tired days, if I can complete these three steps, I consider it a success. By deciding this in advance, I do not have to think about “how much I should do” on a tired night.

What you can do tonight: Circle one step in your usual routine.

Tonight, write down your entire usual skincare routine on a piece of paper or in a note on your phone.

From that list, circle one thing that you want to keep doing even when you are tired.

If you have one circled item, you will have a set “do just this” plan for tired nights. That is the starting point for your minimal routine.

Who this article is for and who it is not for

For those who:

Not for those who:

What is written in the paid section

  • 5 steps to determine your own minimal routine

  • How to categorize by “keep, combine, or omit,” and my own examples

  • Tips for organizing your products so you don’t have to think on tired nights

  • What to do on days when you can’t even manage the minimal routine, or when you skip steps and worry about your skin

  • Two fillable sheets and a routine card you can stick in your bathroom

In the free section, I introduced the concept of “deciding on a routine for tired days in advance” and how to start writing it down tonight. From here on, I will explain how to categorize your steps in 5 steps, and provide you with fillable sheets and a routine card you can post in your bathroom.

From here, I will explain in 5 steps how to determine your own “minimal routine for tired days.” My routine is just one example. The goal is for you to be able to decide on a routine that suits your skin and your lifestyle.