Looking for a new way to start your day? In this week’s post, we’ll be giving you advice on how to craft your very own morning skin care routine!
Step 1 Skin Cleanser
Facial cleansers are a crucial first step in any morning routine. They can remove dirt, oil and debris that your skin may have collected overnight (which isn’t possible with just a splash of water). By cleansing your skin, you’re also priming it so that it can absorb future products.
When it comes to choosing the right cleanser for your skin, you’ll want to consider a formula’s consistency.
Other aspects to consider based on your skin type include:
- Dry Skin: Use creamy cleansers, because they tend to have more oils that help moisturize the skin.
- Oily or Acne-Prone Skin: Incorporate a gel or foaming wash because they can get deep into pores and remove any debris buildup
- Sensitive Skin: Use a creamy or suds-free cleanser. Foaming cleansers can be irritating since they have stronger surfactants, which are chemicals that help wash away oils.
Protecting the skin barrier is especially key during the cleansing step because it protects your skin from losing too much water, while also keeping the barrier strong to defend against allergens in the air.
Step 2 Toner
After cleansing, the next (optional) step is to add in a toner. Toners are liquids with high-water content that typically have humectants (to hydrate the skin) along with active ingredients like vitamin C (to brighten and protect the skin) and beta hydroxy acids, like salicylic acid, (to help exfoliate). They help complete the cleansing process and refresh you skin.
To apply, you can either pour some toner on a cotton pad and tap that into your face, or you can pat it directly onto your skin using your fingertips. After applying, you should not wash your face again like you would with a cleanser. Toners will absorb quickly and prep the skin for future products.
All of this is to say that we do not consider toner a necessity. If you want to use one and have “normal” skin, consider using a formula with antioxidant; if you have dry or sensitive skin, you may want to use a hydrating and gentle toner with ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid or lactic acid since these chemical exfoliants penetrate the skin and remove any debris buildup. Though, you shouldn’t use an exfoliating formula twice a day – it can dry out your skin and cause irritation.
Step 3 Serum
After cleaning, we recommend applying a serum. Serums are lightweight liquid that typically have high concentrations of specific ingredients to help your skin function in different ways (depending on the ingredient).
For example, you may find serums with high concentrations of hyaluronic acid for hydration, niacinamide for even tone and texture, vitamin C for protection/brightening or vitamin E for protection/moisture.
Certain ingredients, like vitamin C, are best in the morning, because of how they work with other ingredients to set you up for the day ahead. Vitamin C not only helps protect the skin from free radicals, but also helps your sunscreen perform better.
You’ll want to apply your serum by gently spreading it across you face in a patting motion. They typically have a lightweight texture that spreads easily and absorbs quickly.
Step 4 Eye Cream
Eye creams are specific moisturizers for the eye area that help brighten or smooth the fine lines. They typically have a lighter consistency than moisturizers, so you should apply them before a sunscreen.
The best way to apply an eye cream is to gently pat the product around the eye from the innermost to the outermost areas. When done right, it helps moisturize the thinnest and most delicate part of your skin.
Step 5 Moisturizer
Moisturizers help lock in all the products you previously applied and keep the skin barrier healthy by hydrating it. They come in different forms including lotions, creams, gels and ointments; daytime moisturizer are typically lighter in weight than evening ones.
If you have dry skin, you tend to lack sebum. That’s why a thicker cream may be your best potion since they are typically oil-based and can make up for any lack of natural oils. People with oily and acne prone skin may want to consider a gel moisturizer since it’s water-based and will draw moisture to your skin without adding more oil or having the oil sit on top of the face.
Moisturizers usually have one or a combination of the following groups, which you’ll often listed on bottles:
- Humectants: They hydrate the skin
- Emollients: They support the skin barrier
- Occlusive: They lock in moisture
Step 6 Sunscreen
Sunscreen should be the final step in your morning skin care routine to protect your skin against harmful UVA and UVB rays that can cause cancer. UVA rays can prematurely age your skin via wrinkles and dark spots, while UVB rays can cause sunburns.
Face sunscreens come in mineral or chemical form. Mineral sunscreens sit on the surface of the skin and reflect UV rays, while chemical sunscreens absorb and filter out UV light.
You’ll also want to make sure to pick a sunscreen with at least SPF 30. Apply a nickel-sized dollop to the face in the morning before putting on makeup.
Conclusion
When building a skin care routine, the general rule of thumb is to go from lightest to heaviest (in consistency), gradually layering on heavier products, like creams and lotions, as you go. This is because the skin absorbs lightweight products quickly, allowing you to layer on more products easily.
For many people, your morning routine will look similar to your nighttime routine. However, certain products, like sunscreen, are most beneficial in the morning because they set you up for your day by protecting you from environmental factors.
In the morning, use a cleanser, followed by a serum, moisturizer and sunscreen – in that order. When it comes to adding toners or eye creams to your morning routine, you can incorporate them if you choose, but they won’t really enhance the efficacy of a basic skin care routine in a major way.
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