This week, on the lighter side of things, I thought it would be fun to get “unready” together. Every night, I run through the same simple routine to relax, starting with skincare.

In this post, I’ll walk you through my current product lineup, which is focused on renewing and protecting my barrier after a summer spent outside playing tons of tennis! I’m also working on reducing some sun-induced hyperpigmentation. I also included the other ways that I’m relaxing every night, beyond skincare.

Keep reading for my four-step “Get Unready with Me” routine.

Step 1: Change into my comfies, immediately.

The first step in my wind-down routine starts with getting comfortable! I cannot overstate the desire I have to get into elastic waist pants as soon as I walk into the door.

Usually, I’m in my pajamas by about 8 p.m. at the latest. Chances are, the hectic pace of the afternoon—what with all of the kid activity drop-offs/pickups, dinner, clean-up, etc.—has gotten to me, and I am ready to relax!

My favorite comfy jammies are these modal short sets from MeUndies. The fabric is insanely soft; they truly feel like butter on the skin. Something about this fabric really stays cool too.

I’m also (much to Andrew’s chagrin, lol) Queen of the Ugly Houserobe, so if I need a little extra warmth, I’m likely throwing on my Target quilted blanket robe. Unfortunately, it’s no longer for sale, but this one is almost an exact dupe. I am telling you—HEAVEN.

Now that I’m dressed to (not) impress, it’s time to get into skincare.

Step 2: Tackle my nightly routine for skincare.

I’m a double cleansing gal. There’s nothing better for getting off the day’s sunblock than a good balm or oil cleanse. Right now, I’m using this one from Augustinus Bader, followed by a second cleanse with this lightly foaming, gentle cleanser from Moonbow.

To make sure all traces of makeup and skincare are off and I’m getting into those pores for a deeper sweep, I then use a toner with a light acid blend. My current fave is sadly no longer in production, so right now, I’m working my way through these gentle peel pads by M-61. (This toner from Paula’s Choice featuring BHA gets rave reviews all the time, so when I work my way through the pads, I’ll likely purchase it as my next toner.)

I give the peel pad about a minute to get to work, then splash my face with water to deactivate the rest. (I wouldn’t do this with just toner, but I do with my peel pads because right now, I want to be extra gentle on my skin.) Next, I go in with this soothing rice essence (only $16!) for some plumping.

Then, to address aforementioned barrier issues, I’ve been using this miracle serum from Epicutis—one drop on my face and one for my neck/decolletage, and I massage it in.

Finally, I end with this rich cream from Aeonia Skincare, which is thick and luxurious and seals everything in nicely.

Click here to shop all of the products mentioned above. Or head to Substack to watch a video where I walk you through my exact routine!

Step 3: Take my supplements.

I’ve talked before about how I’m on bio-identical hormones from my doctor, but there are some over-the-counter supplements that I swear are magic for good, deep sleep.

These non-melatonin, magnesium-infused gummies from Mary Ruth’s Organics get to me (in the best way!) like no other. They’re good; I’m talking fully relaxed, asleep within 30 minutes, good. If you want to try to add magnesium into your routine and want to avoid melatonin, I highly recommend these!

Step 4: Read a good book!

Maybe the most important part of my nightly routine is how I’ve trained myself to fall asleep quickly, and it’s so simple: reading. Hear me out! Doing the same ritual every night right before you fall asleep is the best way to learn to fall asleep quickly. Do not underestimate the power of the Law of Association! I also use this trick all the time to fall back asleep quickly if I wake up in the middle of the night.

I read on the Kindle app on my iPad, which is set to Night Mode. I also set my settings to black background with white lettering. The darker overall look is less stimulating at night.