This post is sponsored by Colleen Rothschild.

I know I’m not the only one who hates washing their face at night. Right? PLEASE tell me I’m not alone here.

Once I finally make it up to my bedroom — after a full day of ALL the things and then dishes, tuck-ins, and grabbing the clean laundry on the trudge up to our third floor — I just want to crawl under the covers into my soft and snuggly bed. I do NOT want to splash water on my face and get involved with masks and scrubs and time-intensive skincare treatments.

The enticement of luxurious, spa-quality skincare products DOES help with this skincare-routine-avoidance issue, for sure. The clean scents…the lush textures…the pretty bottles…these qualities definitely lure me into completing my nightly skincare routine MOST nights. Some nights, though? More often, likely, than I would like to admit? Wearing a full face of makeup and collapsing into my tranquil, cozy bed is just TOO big of a pull. 

On those nights, when the pull of my bed is at its strongest, instead of doing a full “skip,” I try my hardest to at least do the bare minimum. So, at the very least, I don’t end up with makeup stains on my fancy silk pillowcase and a completely broken-out face walking to school drop-off.

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Super-Simple Skincare: 4 Easy Alternatives To The Chore Of Face-Washing

Cleansing Balm | Micellar Water | Toner | Glycolic Acid Pads

Colleen Rothschild makes my absolute favorite products for these “cheat” nights, including its Radiant Cleansing Balm (we’ve all been raving about this for YEARS), the new-to-me Micellar Cleansing Water (removes all the “skin yuck” but also conditions and strengthens eyelashes), the Micro-Mineral Soothing Toner (calming for those angry-skin nights), and the Glycolic Acid-Peel Pads (packed with a spa-strength quality punch).

Although my goal is to complete a full nighttime skincare routine on the daily, I’m quite appreciative to have the following four products for high-quality, effective options for “cheat nights.” I’ll use just one (on REALLY lazy nights) or a combination of a few for a quick and easy alternative to the chore of traditional nightly face-washing. 

1. Radiant Cleansing Balm

Radiant Cleansing Balm | Muslin Cleansing Cloths

I’ve been raving about this cleansing balm for years…as have Shana and MANY of the other TME contributors. It’s my favorite Colleen Rothschild product, and I never travel without it. If I haven’t used it in a few days, I actually start craving the spa-like smell and luxurious texture.

The best part by far about this lovely balm? You don’t have to splash water all over your face — and inevitably get water all over your pajamas — to remove it. The balm feels like butter going on and is easily removed with a gentle swipe of the included luxurious muslin cloth, dissolving all traces of makeup and leaving your skin soft and glowy.

You take a small scoop, enjoy the smell and feel as you massage it gently all over your face, wet the muslin cloth with warm water, place the warm cloth over your face (just like the spa), and gently wipe off the balm. The whole experience is relaxing, enjoyable, and much MUCH more pleasant than a typical water-splashy face wash. I suggest buying some extra muslin cleansing cloths to have on hand as well. They’re lovely.

2. Micellar Cleansing Water

Micellar Cleansing Water | Super-Soft Facial Cotton

I love micellar water in general as a bare-minimum nightly product to quickly swipe off my makeup. Colleen Rothschild’s micellar water is a new product to me, though, and I’m quite impressed. Not only does the sleek, modern-looking bottle look SO much better on my bathroom counter and bedside table than the drugstore varieties, but the bottle also has a lovely one-touch, push-down dispenser, so you can easily use it one-handed with the perfect amount dispensed.

I’m also quite impressed with the micellar water itself. It easily takes off my makeup and mascara with a quick and gentle swipe, and I could feel it gently removing dirt, oil and all the other yuck of the day. So much so that it alone has definitely served as a one-and-done bare-minimum step before my head hits the pillow on the worst of “skip” nights.

You ready for the bonus? This micellar water not only has the regular good stuff that nourishes your skin (pumpkin-seed extracts, antioxidants, vitamin E), but the formula also conditions and uses peptides to boost the health of your eyelashes as well. Yes to all eyelash help…especially when it’s this quick and easy.

3. Micro-Mineral Soothing Toner

Micro-Mineral Soothing Toner | Super-Soft Facial Cotton

I love a good toner, and Colleen Rothschild’s Micro-Mineral Soothing Toner doesn’t disappoint. The milky smooth texture leaves my face feeling both clean and restored. The quality that truly stands out with this toner, though, is its ability to sooth my skin. I particularly like using it on nights when my skin is just not feeling happy…irritated or red or dry or any of the angry-skin things. The formula of the Micro-Mineral Soothing Toner instantly cools and calms whatever’s going on.

Made with crystals rich in natural minerals (rose quartz, rhodolite garnet and malachite extract) as part of its hydrating formula, this toner is a really nice skincare step that I’ve been known to use as an easier, less-messy option than a traditional face wash. I especially like the combination of a quick swipe of micellar water followed by a quick swipe of this toner.

4. Glycolic Acid Peel Pads

Glycolic Acid Peel Pads

Ahhhh…..the quick and easy skincare step that packs a HUGE punch! These hardworking glycolic-acid pads contain a spa-strength treatment that you can use to help dissolve skin-clogging dirt, debris and sebum (the oily stuff that comes out of your glands). Additionally, the 10% lactic-and-glycolic-acid blend targets fine lines and hyperpigmentation. AND it has hyaluronic acid to keep in all that good moisture. As I said…these little pads pack a major punch!

Bonus…these little spa-strength workhorses can be used daily. I keep them by my bedside table because they are BEYOND easy to use…even on those nights that I can’t even get myself to the bathroom sink for my skincare routine and do the whole darn thing from my bed.

Finish With 2 Final Quick Skincare Steps

So, once I’m motivated to do SOME type of skincare before collapsing into my bed, it’s usually pretty easy to throw in two more super-quick, super-easy steps FROM the comfort of my actual bed: a quick pump of a serum (my fave from Colleen Rothschild is the Mandelic Acid Serum that hits my problem areas) and a quick pump of face oil (my fave is the Face Oil No. 9).

And I’m done! Nighty-night!

Glycolic Acid Peel Pads | Mandelic Acid Serum | Face Oil No. 9

A big thank you to Colleen Rothschild for sponsoring this post. Your beauty and skincare products are an absolute pleasure to use. I often feel as if I’m indulging in my own personal at-home spa treatments when I use your full line of luxurious skincare products. And on those nights that I don’t feel like going through ALLLL the indulgent steps? You come through with some of my fave quick and easy skincare steps as well.

Well done, CR!

—Linzi

Photo credit: Redfield Photography

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