By routine · Sub-chapter 02
Double cleanse, treatment, repair. The evening sequence — and why what happens while you sleep is the whole point.
196 how-to's · Updated 28 April 2026 · Avg. 4 min per piece · Edited by Nelly · Beauty & Style Director
Editor's note
PM is the routine that does the work. AM is the routine that protects what PM did. The repair window runs from roughly 10pm to 2am — the skin's cell turnover peaks, barrier repair accelerates. You don't need to be awake for it. You need to have set the stage before you went to sleep.
Other routines
What a PM routine actually does
A PM routine removes the day — pollution, SPF, oxidised sebum — and then delivers treatment actives to skin that's in repair mode. Cleanse thoroughly first, treat second.
Myth, meet fact
- Myth: You can use the same routine morning and night. Fact: AM and PM have opposite jobs. AM protects. PM treats.
- Myth: Double cleansing is only for heavy makeup wearers. Fact: SPF alone doesn't fully remove with a water-based cleanser.
- Myth: Night cream has to be heavy to work. Fact: Richness should match your skin's need, not a general rule.
The beginner's path
- The PM framework — why evenings carry the load (3 min)
- Double cleansing, explained (4 min)
- Treatment nights vs maintenance nights (5 min)
- PM moisturiser — heavier than AM, not always (4 min)
- The repair window — what it is and what supports it (3 min)
Everything we've published on PM routines
- Double cleansing — when to do it and how
- Treatment nights vs maintenance nights
- The repair window — sleep and skin turnover
- PM moisturiser — matching weight to skin type
- First cleanse: oil, balm, or micellar?
- How to layer actives at night without irritation