Do you have an everyday morning skincare routine?
If not, you know we’re gonna tell you to start. There are so many benefits of keeping a regular skincare routine and these ones go beyond just starting your day with a fresh face. With a good morning routine, you can not only better prepare your face for the day, but also better prepare your face for the future. Anti-aging starts now, everyone.
Benefits of an everyday morning skincare routine include:
♡ Decreased acne and dark spots (oh and check out this other acne solution, too)
♡ Reduced look of wrinkles and fine lines
♡ Improved health of facial skin
♡ Increased confidence in your skin, thus increased self-confidence
♡ Increased cell turnover
♡ Encouragement to stick to your routine and create other healthy routines
♡ A way to practice self-care
♡ Preps your skin for perfect makeup application
But, let’s get one thing straight: a morning skincare routine is completely different from a nighttime skincare routine. This is true both in terms of the products you use and the purpose.
Your morning skincare routine should prepare your face for the day, protect your skin from environmental factors, and prep your face for makeup. On the other hand, your nighttime routine should relieve your face of everything it encountered throughout the day. It should focus on healing, repairing, and rejuvenation.
Not sure where to start? Here at TSC, we’ve totally got you covered. Let’s go over a simple everyday morning skincare routine that can help keep your skin healthy and youthful. With this general outline, you can choose the products that best fit your skin and get right down to business…skincare business that is.
Everyday Morning Skincare Routine
♡ Step 1: HYDRATE.
First things first, literally as soon as you open your eyes, HYDRATE. We can not stress how important this is. Drinking water first thing in the morning has so many benefits for your skin as well as your overall health. These benefits include:
+ Getting those toxins out quicker
+ Kick starting your metabolism
+ Supporting glowy and radiant skin
+ Increasing skin elasticity
+ Preventing pimples and acne
+ Increasing and maintaining skin hydration
+ Improving your skin’s pH balance
+ Reducing dry and cracked skin
If you don’t want to slam water as soon as you wake up, try something similar. Other drinks that are great to drink on an empty stomach are lemon water, coconut water, our pink detox drink, or this morning spa water.
Another thing that can really help with your skin’s hydration is a humidifier. Oh, you don’t want a gross, white, lumbering, sterile one? Duh, Lauryn’s got you covered. She designed a pink, pretty, anti-mold humidifier with Canopy. Like, you want this on your bedside. Learn more here.
♡ Step 2: Wash with a mild cleanser. (Nothing too harsh).
Skincare enthusiasts are torn on this. Some wash their face in the AM and others don’t. Like, why wash off all the expensive skincare from the night before? But also, some people might think that’s gross. So you do you here, but if you do cleanse in the morning, keep it gentle.
When washing your face, remember to never EVER scrub too hard. Harsh scrubbing can end up doing more damage than good and lead to dry skin. Simply rub your fingers in small circles all over your face – gently. Remember to get those hard to reach areas around the lip and nose creases, too.
After cleansing, grab a baby washcloth to wipe away all leftover dirt, toxins, and impurities. This also exfoliates your face in a gentle way which is so nice. For more on why you absolutely need to be using baby washcloths on your skin, click here.
When it comes to cleansing the face, we have plenty of cleanser recommendations:
+ For sensitive skin: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser or this specific jojoba oil
+ For normal to oily skin: Elemis (also found in the TSC x Elemis kit, too)
+ Oily/acne prone skin: Epionce Lytic Gel Cleanser
And remember, your cleanser absolutely does not have to be expensive. This is a key tip we learned from GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE SUN. Which, by the way, if you haven’t read yet, you NEED to. It contains the BEST of the BEST skincare tips for bright, youthful, and healthy skin.
♡ Step 3: Apply toner.
Next on the list is to apply your toner. When you use a toner, it’s like giving your face a second mild cleaning. Toners are made to get rid of any lasting impurities after your initial cleansing and to tighten up your pores. A clean face and invisible pores to start the day – YES PLEASE.
Other benefits of using a toner include hydrating the skin and protecting the skin from outside factors. Toners are also great for soothing and refreshing tired skin. We love Holi(Water) Pearl and Rose Hyaluronic Toner, witch hazel, or Darphin’s.
♡ Step 4: Apply eye cream.
Like we mentioned earlier, anti-aging starts now. Like right now. This is why eye creams are so important. Not only do they reduce the look of bags we get from sleeping, but they also help reduce wrinkles and fine lines that just get worse as we age. The main point being, don’t skip the eye cream.
Not sure which eye cream to use? Check out this roundup of eye creams straight from The Skinny Confidential team. Each is a little different, so you’re sure to find the one that’s right for you.
Also, don’t be afraid to throw on some eye pads for a little extra kick. Eye pads are excellent for reducing inflammation, getting rid of bags, and firming up saggy skin. Oh, and if you’re hungover, eye pads are literally a life saver.
We love these cucumber eye pads, and these ones by Elemis. For a list of our favorite eye pads, click here.
♡ Step 6: Apply a hydrating facial oil or serum.
Depending on your skin type and preference, there are many facial oils and serums to choose from. However, no matter your skin tone, we recommend using a Citamin C serum, a green tea serum, or an antioxidant serum. Oh, and we can’t forget the hyaluronic acid either.
Benefits of using a serum in the morning include protecting your skin from environmental factors, light induced free radical production, UV rays, and sun damage.
Apply a few drops to all the main parts of the face (cheeks, forehead, chin, nose) and gently dab in. Serums we love include rosehip oil, Vintner’s Daughter Botanical Serum, GenOptics Aura Essence Serum, and BIOeffect EGF Serum – just to name a few!
Here are some of the most well-known (& loved) Vitamin C serums:
+ Skinceuticals Serum 10 (good for sensitive skin)
+ Dermalogica Biolumin-C Gel Moisturizer (good for sensitive skin)
+ Dr. Dennis Gross C + Collagen Serum
+ Honest Vitamin C Radiance Serum
♡ Step 6: Lock it all in with a nourishing moisturizer.
One of the most important steps on this list is to MOISTURIZE. If you want glowy, soft, and sexy skin, you absolutely can not skip this step. Moisturizing your skin, especially first thing in the morning, helps prevent dry and cracked looking skin and overly oily skin. Yes – moisturizing can help prevent both extremes.
Applying a moisturizer just makes your skin look so much healthier. Right?Plus, it also helps prevent sun damage, increases cell turnover, and can help prevent those pimples and zits.
Here are some moisturizer rec’s:
+ Sensitive skin: Cetaphil moisturizer
+ Dewy skin: Epicuren Colostrum Luminous Glow Cream
+ All skin types: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench
♡ Step 7: Massage your face.
While not completely necessary, we totally recommend massaging your face each and every morning with THE HOT MESS ICE ROLLER. Not only will it reduce any swelling and inflammation that may have built up throughout the night, but a little face massage is just an amazing way to start your day. It’s rejuvenating, calming, and the perfect way to get that blood flowing.
Not sure how to use an ice roller? We’ve got you. Check out this post for all the best tips and tricks to make the most out of your ice rolling experience. Oh, and if you don’t have an ice roller (yet!), just grab some ice or these milk ice cubes!
♡ Step 8: Apply sunscreen. (Most important).
The key to flawless, soft, and clear skin is sun protection. This is a fact. So while this is the last step in this morning routine, it’s one of the most important!.
When it comes to applying sunscreen, here are some key tips:
+ Use at least SPF 30.
+ Apply a thin layer, all over the face.
+ Be sure to get the eyelids, too! (Read more about this, here.)
+ Use sunscreen even if your other products contain SPF too. (Another fab tip we learned from GTFOOTS.)
Sunscreens we really love include:
+ Zo Skin Skin Health Daily SPF
+ Replenix SPF 50 Plus Antioxidant Moisturizing Facial Sunscreen
+ Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Face Sunscreen Lotion with SPF 60
+ And those listed here in our Team Skincare Guide.
Ready to take charge of your morning routine?
Okay guys, that’s the skinny on our favorite morning skincare routine. But, we wouldn’t be doing you guys justice if we forgot to mention these other skin care must-do’s. These are some things you don’t have to do every day, but should still incorporate at least a few times per week.
Skincare to incorporate throughout the week includes:
+ Exfoliation for the face & lips (DO NOT FORGET THE LIPS!)
Besides skincare products, there are other things you can do to make the most of each and every morning. Check out these five simple tips to help you start your day on the right foot and make your day that much better. And be sure to read up on these tips for energizing and elevating your mornings.
Until next time, wishing you guys the best of luck as you establish your morning routine.
xo, The Skinny Confidential team
+ stalk this post if you’re sick of hangovers (psst, the best wine).
++ if you’re a fan of productivity in the morning, check out this practice you have to start.
SHOP THE POST:
I am reading your post from the beginning, it was so interesting to read & I feel thankful to you for posting such a good blog, keep updated regularly.