Your Morning Routine
Are you looking to elevate your morning skincare routine to achieve glowing, healthy skin? Follow these expert guidelines to start your day off right and give your skin the care it deserves.
Should My Morning and Night Routines Differ?
Yes, your morning and night skincare routines should differ. During the day, your skin is exposed to environmental factors like UV rays and pollution, so it requires different protection and nourishment compared to nighttime when it focuses on repair and rejuvenation.
Should I Put On Sunscreen in the Morning?
Absolutely! Sunscreen is a crucial step in your morning skincare routine, even on cloudy days. It protects your skin from harmful UV rays, preventing premature aging and reducing the risk of skin cancer.
How Fast Should I Apply My Skincare Routine?
It's best to apply your skincare products quickly, within a few minutes of cleansing your face. This helps lock in moisture and ensures maximum absorption of active ingredients.
Should I Use Face Oils in the Morning?
Face oils can be beneficial in the morning, especially for dry or mature skin types. However, if you have oily or acne-prone skin, you may want to use them sparingly or opt for a lighter oil to avoid a greasy feel.
Make Sure You’re Listening To Your Skin Type
Understanding your skin type is essential for creating an effective skincare routine. Whether you have dry, oily, combination, or sensitive skin, choose products that cater to your specific needs.
How Your Skin Functions in the Morning
- Skin cells have the highest water content during this time of the day.
- Natural antioxidant protection is increased.
- The skin’s natural barrier function improves to defend against environmental stressors.
- Improved skin barrier function means products are less likely to penetrate than they are at night.
- The amount of mitochondrial energy needed for cell health is at its lowest.
- The rate of cell growth and production is decreased.
- DNA protection is increased.
The Correct Morning Skincare Routine Order To Apply Products
Follow this step-by-step guide for the perfect morning skincare routine:
Step 1: Cleanse
Start by cleansing your face to remove any impurities and prepare your skin for the following products. Cleansing is a vital part of your morning routine. I recommend using an aha cleanser like Glow Cleanser for clients with ageing skin or hyperpigmentation, or a foaming cleanser to purify the skin like Purify Cleanser
Step 2: Hydro Mist
They offer instant hydration, remove chlorine and other minerals found in tap water from your skin, and balance your skin’s pH. They also have active ingredients that help calm the skin, control oil production, support your moisture barrier, and more!
Just make sure you’re using an alcohol-free mist, as they’re generally more gentle and hydrating than alcohol-based toners and mists. The latter are often drying and irritating, especially to sensitive skin types.
Step 3: Vitamin C Serum
Vitamin C serum helps brighten the skin, reduce hyperpigmentation, and protect against free radicals.
Using a well-formulated vitamin C serum in conjunction with your sunscreen is the most effective way to protect your skin cells from environmental damage caused by UV light, pollution, and debris. With time, it can also help brighten dullness and dark spots, so it’s a win-win!
All you need to do is apply 5 drops to your entire face and neck. Your skin should still be damp from your hydro mist, so spreadability should be easy. Once you’ve applied it, let the serum absorb for 60 seconds before applying moisturiser.
Step 4: Moisturiser
Hydrate and protect your skin with a moisturiser suitable for your skin type
Step 5: Eye Cream (Optional)
If you have specific concerns like dark circles or puffiness, consider using an eye cream to target these areas.
What Kind of Sunscreen Is Best, Physical or Chemical?
Both physical and chemical sunscreens are effective, but physical sunscreens (with ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) provide broad-spectrum protection and are less likely to cause irritation, making them ideal for sensitive skin.
Step 6: SPF
Next up? Sunscreen. This is by far the most important part of your morning routine.
Step 7: Blemish Spot Treatment (Optional)
For any blemishes or acne spots, apply a targeted treatment to help reduce inflammation and promote healing.
There is definitely confusion about the order in which to apply a blemish spot treatment in the morning. If you apply it before your sunscreen/moisturiser, even if you let it dry, your moisturiser will re-wet it and break it down. This makes it less effective. Here’s what to do instead…
- Wipe the blemish with a damp cotton swab to remove the skincare products that you just applied.
- Apply the spot treatment and let it dry.
- Lightly pat (don’t rub) a tiny amount of sunscreen back over the affected area.
- Proceed with concealer if you choose. Ideally, your concealer would have sun protection. A mineral-based one is the best.
Step 8: Makeup
Finish off your morning skincare routine with makeup, if desired. Choose products that are non-comedogenic to prevent clogged pores.
What’s Your Opinion on Layering Serums?
I recommend rotating serums (using different serums on different nights) vs. layering them. That’s because the skin can only absorb so much, so you might be wasting money if you’re layering multiple serums on top of each other. At a certain point, the serums won’t be able to be absorbed to deliver their full potential.
What About My Nighttime Skincare Routine Order?
If you’re wondering about the order you should be applying products during your nighttime skincare routine, I’ve also written a blog post about that.
There you have it. Performing your skincare routine is a great way to get your day started, but it’s important that you do it right to ensure you get the very best results!
