Bedtime Rituals That Make You Feel Expensive
As someone who works with women around the world to transform the way they think, speak and act to align and become the best version of themselves, I go over a lot of coverage related to the importance of the morning routine.
In a nutshell, get a solid morning routine down (it doesn’t have to be a thousand steps) that works for you and improves your mental, physical and spiritual being, you have set yourself positively for life.
But, as important as the morning routine is, the nighttime routine is even more crucial to the woman you become.
If, for any reason, you’ve been falling out of sync, low energy, or if your life isn’t lining up with your vision board, check in with your night time routine.
Night time is where we really set the tone for the next day. It’s where we decide whether we collapse out of pure exhaustion or cocoon into relaxation.
Granted, at the end of some days, the first is the only option available.
But in this blog, I’m going to share a few things I do to elevate my night time routine that make me feel a bit more expensive, and much closer to the woman I picture in her dream home.
Why Your Night Routine is the Real Glow-Up Ritual
It’s at this time of the day that we completely slow down.
Don’t worry, I won’t get into the brain science of it all because there’s enough of it on the other side (you can find it all here), but ultimately, the mood goes down as our melatonin goes up.
Unlike the morning, which usually includes the dreaded realisation it’s Monday, washing the important bits, frantically making an instant coffee, rushing for the train or cursing over the Uber guy not confirming your ride even though you can see an indication of 2,000 taxi icons in the surrounding area…your night time is completely yours.
No meetings or expectations (unless you have kids and a husband), no pressure to ‘be on’ again, unless you have kids and a husband, this is completely your moment.
The way you end your day matters, it:
Signals to your body whether it’s safe to rest
Sets the emotional tone for the morning after
Impacts your skin, sleep quality, hormones, and even how you feel about yourself
So, let’s get into the 7 essentials that have completely shifted my evenings from functional to fantasy.
1. A Real Skincare Ritual
Please enjoy your skincare routine. It seems like there’s so much going on, we’re missing out on the most beautiful parts of the day, such as taking care of our skin.
Instead of rushing through it, your skincare routine should be the ritual that forces you to slow down.
Create your own routine tailored to what your skin needs, but here are a few of the things I use in mine
What I love:
A gentle oil-based cleanser to melt off the day
Followed up by a water-based cleanser
A hydrating toner or mist to reset my skin
A treatment serum (vitamin C, retinol, or peptides, depending on the night)
Rich, velvety moisturiser + lip mask from Kitaka
Eye cream or gel if I’m feeling that extra
Make this a moment. Tie your hair up. Breathe. And allow this to be a moment where you say to yourself, “We made it through today.”
Want a full breakdown of my evening skincare setup? Download the Living in Luxury guide here.
2. The Rewarding Nightcap
I used to associate a nighttime routine with something like a lavender or chamomile tea, but what are we, 85 years old?
Boring! Dominique Devereaux would never, so neither would I.
My go-to choice of a bedtime beverage is an Espresso Martini, in a martini glass (if you’ve read my handbook, you know I’m touchy about glassware).
MOTH’s Drinks are top of my list since every time I take a sip, right after my head spins a little because that vol is no joke, I am immediately transported to a Manhattan Jazz club.
We all have different tastes, but taking our favourite drinks to bed can be the difference between a restless night and a good night’s sleep.
3. Something to Read
Now I won’t come on here acting holier than thou. I set aside my TikTok time too, because if we can’t check our social media at night, then when?
However, before I resort to the most addictive reach, I try to read something other than something from my explore page.
Intentional reading, I think it’s called.
So that usually means if not a self-help book, a blog that inspires me is usually my first point of call. It reminds me of my standards, or invites me to dream bigger right before an actual dream takes place.
What to look for:
Fun lifestyle blogs (like this one, obviously)
Exclusive spaces that inspire you (like this one, obviously)
Fashion or culture essays that stir your creativity
Journals or personal stories from women you admire
Reading at night is like having a deep conversation with someone fascinating without actually having to respond.
4. And All That Jazz
One time, just before going to bed, I tried to listen to one song from my workout playlist…never again! I ended up listening to the entire thing.
Imagine, 2 am on a Tuesday morning with gun fingers in the air and way too hyped up. The energy kept me up so long that by the time I drifted off, the birds were already singing.
I learned my lesson. Stick to Miles Davis and Ludvico Einaudi.
Whether I’m completely poker-faced because the clay mask is doing its job, or I’m downing the last dribble of my martini, a good, well-suited soundtrack makes me feel like I’m in a film where everything is a bit more elegant than it actually might be.
5. Matching Pyjamas, Always
It doesn’t matter if it’s H&M or Olivia Von Halle, I’m convinced there’s something psychological about matching pyjamas.
It gives the impression you can hold some part of your life together if not all of it.
Small win, check.
Look for:
Silky textures that glide over the skin
Cotton sets that feel clean and classic
Something with piping, a collar, or even a matching robe
Check the material comp, polyester is awful at night, especially around the lower region
When your outfit for bed is as thoughtful as your outfit for brunch, it does something to your self-perception. And yes, even if no one sees you.
6. Something That Makes Scents
For the past two years, I’ve been wearing a fragrance to bed, and trust me when I say, I’m never going back.
You never know who you might bump into in your dreams, and I want to smell good in the physical world and the dream world.
My signature scent all year round is a gourmand, but in particular, there’s no better time to smell like a cinnamon bun, a vanilla ice cream or any other luxurious dessert than right before bed.
What to look for:
Notes of vanilla, amber, Tonka bean, caramel, or soft woods
Something that lingers lightly on the skin and sheets
A signature scent you associate with a happy memory
Think: Penhaligon’s Constance, Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood, Kayali Vanilla 28, or even a sweet body oil that just smells yum.
This Is the New Standard
Your night routine isn’t a chore. It’s not another thing to get right.
It’s your signal to yourself that you are worthy of softness, beauty, and care even when no one’s watching.
Start where you are. Build one piece at a time. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. When you end the day with care, you begin the next with power.
Ready to redefine what self-care looks like?
Download my Living in Luxury Guide to discover the products, rituals, and mindset shifts that create a life that feels like home
