Setting some time aside for a nightly skincare ritual has to be one of my favourite indulgences. Sure, it can be tough to carve out the time for non-essential things when your schedule is ultra-tight, but those twenty minutes I invest in my ritual actually saves me a lot of time in the long run. My skin looks and feels better when I wake up, which means less makeup, less stress and a much happier morning. Win, win!

The routine doesn’t have to be complicated, either – you just need to plump for products that will do all of the hard work for you. Look for simple skincare that has more than one function, or is packed with powerhouse ingredients that get the job done. It’s time to streamline your skincare routine with ‘do less, get more’ products that will help you to reveal the best version of yourself come morning time.

You’re just five steps away from becoming an overnight sensation – with minimal effort, of course.

One-Step Cleansing

Everyone knows that double cleansing is the Holy Grail for skincare fans. Double-tapping the cleansing step makes sure that skin is completely clear and free of makeup and dirt – but when you’ve had a long day and all you want to do is crawl into bed, the process of ‘massage, rinse, repeat’ can feel like climbing a mountain. So, if you’re tired of falling asleep at the sink, opt for one of the seriously effective one-step options on the market that’ll provide a clear face in a minute flat.

My Choice: Decleor Aroma Cleanse Bi-Phase Caring Cleanser & Makeup Remover
My weapon of choice when it comes to speedy cleansing is normally micellar water; it’s hard to beat the instant freshness that it gives to skin. However, there’s a new pretender to the throne that I’ve been reaching for more and more lately: the Aroma Cleanse Bi-Phase Caring Cleanser from Decleor. Why? Because this one-step cleansing formula has an oily base, which makes removing waterproof makeup an absolute breeze. I tend to use a cotton pad to remove it rather than water as my skin is dry and sensitive, but normal, combination and oily types will want to remove it with water.

Go Multi-Purpose

Multi-purpose products are my everything. They’re the crème de la crème of a simple skincare routine by earning their keep when space is of the essence. They take a lot of the guesswork out of what to use, especially when you’ve used the last of your daily energy reserves to make dinner and do life admin. Tip: look for multi-purpose products can be used by the entire family to save even more time.

My Choice: Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre 
Embryolisse’s Lait-Creme Concentre is one of the most versatile products there is, offering moisturising care that feels fresh, non-sticky and satin-soft. I keep it in the bathroom to use predominantly as a sleeping pack (its blend of shea butter and beeswax is blissfully nourishing), but I’ve been known to use it as a makeup remover and as a daily moisturiser, too. It’s perfect for my baby boy’s nappy rash and when he has little patches of dry skin, and my husband often steals it to use as a shaving balm. I’ll never not keep one in the cabinet.

Supercharge Your Skin

Creating a minimalist routine doesn’t mean you need to compromise on potency; there are plenty of hero products that provide an all-in-one approach to looking after your skin and they’re at the cutting edge of skincare technology. Your simple skincare routine might pare back on the steps, but it doesn’t pare back on the results!

My Choice: Nuxe Nuxellence Detox Detoxifying and Youth Revealing Anti-Aging Care    
If you’re looking for powerful skincare, there’s only one product for it: Nuxellence Detox. A major innovation with 10 patents to its name, this treatment-moisturiser hybrid improves the quality of skin by repairing mitochondrial DNA and boosting energy to create a perkier complexion.  Massage onto skin after cleansing, and follow with a moisturiser if you’re prone to dryness. As an added bonus, Nuxellence Detox will boost the efficacy of everything that you use it with – if there’s a harder-working product in the skincare world, I’d like to meet it.

Make Time For A Mask

A masking session well spent brings a week of content. That’s how the saying goes, right? Although treatment masks may seem like an indulgence too far when you’ve got limited time on your hands, the right formula will make a massive difference to the clarity and smoothness of your skin – and, best of all, its effects that should last for a few days. Well worth the extra minute or two, I think.

My Choice: Vichy Glow Peel Mask
Some of the best ‘before-and-after’ skincare moments I’ve had are with formulas powered by alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). Usually derived from fruit acids, AHAs nibble away at the bonds between dead skin cells without the need for manual scrubbing, working to banish dullness and roughness in mere minutes. My favourite for the job is the Glow Peel Mask from Vichy; I smooth it on, and in the 10 minutes or so before rinsing it off I have enough time to wash my hair and brush my teeth (hey, I really commit to this multi-tasking thing).

The Body Transformer

Confession time – I very rarely moisturise my body. It’s a step that I don’t really enjoy (why does it always seem like such a chore?), but I do make a concession in the summer months when I need to be prepared to bare my limbs at the drop of a hat. And you should too. Forget notions of thin lotions that mostly work to make skin smell nice; there are some powerful moisturisers available that offer more than hydration, they’ll actually smooth your skin’s texture and improve its appearance with every use.

My Choice: Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion
My major body hang up is the texture of my skin; I’ve had little bumps on my legs and arms since I was a teenager, and my shins, elbows and knees are constantly rough and ashy. The SOS product that I turn to the most is Ameliorate’s Transforming Body Lotion, which provides a hard-to-beat balance of both moisturising and exfoliating ingredients (those magic AHAs again!) to leave skin feeling impeccably smooth. Slather it on before bedtime and wake up to skin that is more than ready for your finest summer dress.

Discover More

• 5 Ways to Prep Your Body For Summer

• The Ameliorate Products Our Beauty Team Love