Build a Better PM Routine: The Order That Actually Matters
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Layering AHAs and copper peptides without turning your evening routine into overkill.
Evenings are when skin does most of its repair work, which makes the PM routine the higher-leverage half of the day — and the one worth getting the order right on.
Why evening is the resurface-and-repair window
Skin's natural repair processes ramp up overnight, uninterrupted by sunscreen, makeup, or UV exposure. That makes the evening the right time for the two more intensive steps in a Novera routine: resurfacing with the Superfruit Serum, then repairing with the GHK-Cu Copper Peptide Serum.
The order, step by step
Cleanse first. Then apply one to two drops of the Australian Superfruit Serum, massaging gently into clean skin — this is the resurfacing step, using Kakadu Plum, Finger Lime, and gentle Glycolic/Lactic AHA exfoliation to lift away dull surface cells. Let it absorb.
Follow with the GHK-Cu Copper Peptide Serum, applied the same way. The order here isn't arbitrary — clearing the dull top layer first means the repair serum is landing directly on newly uncovered skin instead of having to work its way through cells that are on their way out anyway. Finish with moisturiser to lock everything in.
How to avoid overdoing it
Layering two active serums is more product than skin needs every single night, especially at the start. If you're new to either formula, it's worth building tolerance gradually — a few nights a week rather than nightly — and watching how skin responds before increasing frequency. Redness, tightness, or excess flaking are signs to pull back, not push through.
It's also worth resisting the urge to add other strong actives — like a separate retinol or additional acid treatment — into the same evening routine as this pairing. Two well-formulated actives, used correctly, do more than four stacked haphazardly.
Why this pairing specifically
The two serums aren't just used on the same night by coincidence — they're formulated to work as a sequence. The Superfruit Serum's resurfacing step is designed to prep skin for maximum absorption of the repair serum that follows it. That's the same logic behind the Novera Duo bundle: one formula clears the way, the other does the repair work.
Common questions about layering AHA and peptide serums
Can I use an exfoliating acid and a peptide serum on the same night? Yes — that's exactly the sequence this routine is built around, provided you're exfoliating first and letting it absorb before applying the peptide serum on top.
How often should someone new to AHAs use an exfoliating serum? Two to three nights a week is a reasonable starting point for most people, building up gradually rather than jumping straight to nightly use.
What order should active skincare ingredients go on in? As a general rule: thinnest, most active formulas first (exfoliants), followed by repair-focused serums, then moisturiser to seal everything in. Heavier products always go last.
Shop the GHK-Cu Copper Peptide Serum →
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