Creating a Morning Skincare Routine

It is important to follow a skincare regimen based on your skin type and skin concerns. When figuring out the perfect regimen for you, it is important to use products at the right time throughout the day. During the day, your skin is in protect mode, so products used in the morning should help build your skin’s defense mechanisms like SPF, which protects skin from UV rays.

How to Create a Morning Skincare Routine

1. Cleanse – It is very important to use a cleanser in the morning to wash away product used the night before along with anything that has attached to your skin while you slept (oil, dirt, makeup, etc.).
2. Tone – After cleansing, tone with your skin type specific toner (Purifying Mist for oily, Balancing Mist for combination, Conditioning Mist for dry, Calming Flower Mist for sensitive). Toning is extremely beneficial following cleanser because it will remove any trace of cleanser remaining on the skin, help to calm or purify and prep the skin for the following product applications.
3. Antioxidant Boost – On clean, prepped skin apply the Vitamin C serum most appropriate for your skin type (Daily Power C for oily and combination, Daily Power C+ for dry). Vitamin C adds a layer of protection against free radical damage and photoaging (sun damage), so morning application is essential.
4. Hydration Boost – Always follow your Vitamin C application with a Hyaluronic Acid-based product (Daily Hydration for oily, combination and sensitive, Daily Hydration+ for dry). Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant that holds up to 1000 times its own weight in water and it assists with the penetration of Vitamin C. A Hyaluronic Acid application in the morning has a dual purpose: it will help rehydrate the skin and assist with Vitamin C delivery.
5. Eyecare – Eyecare is an essential step in both morning and nighttime routine. Be sure to use only your ring fingers when applying product and never tug on the gentle skin in the eye area.
6. Moisturize – If you have oily skin, use an oil free moisturizer. People with oily skin can often get by without a moisturizer as long as they use a hydrator. For most skin types, choose a moisturizer that is best suited for you and remember that less is more.
7. Protect – Using a sunscreen is hopefully something you already do every morning, but if you don’t, start now! The sun is the biggest cause of your skin’s signs of aging, so wearing an SPF of 30 or higher every day will drastically reduce the amount of fine lines and wrinkles that will inevitably develop as you age.

Optional Add-Ons for Your Morning Skincare Routine

1. Spot Treat – If one of your concerns is acne and breakouts, a step to be added into your morning routine may be to spot treat. I would recommend applying your spot treatment following Step 5 (Eyecare).
2. Exfoliate – To remove dead skin cell build-up and stimulate cell renewal, add an exfoliant into your skincare regimen 1 to 3 times per week. Exfoliate skin in the morning after Step 1 (Cleanse).

Seven skincare steps every morning may seem like a time-consuming activity, but personally, these steps take me just a few minutes. The key to starting a new skincare routine is consistency. Experts say that it takes doing something 20 times before it becomes a habit. I encourage you to stick to your morning skincare routine so you can see your best skin results in the long term. Next, learn how to create a nighttime skincare routine.