Mornings are the busiest time for many of us, making managing everything you’ve planned challenging. So while you’re doing a workout, getting ready for work, maybe getting your kids ready for school, grabbing a bite, and having your morning coffee, it’s pretty common to skip one of the most important steps of the day, prepping your skin for the day.
No matter how busy your morning is, establishing your morning skincare routine is imperative because your skin goes through a lot, such as exposure to dirt, UV rays, bacteria, sweat, and countless other pollutants. Exposure to these can have numerous adverse effects on the skin, leading to several skin problems. Keep reading to learn why and how to maintain and follow a morning skincare routine to keep your skin healthy.
Why is a Morning Skincare Routine Important?
Are you wondering why you must follow a morning skincare routine after spending much time and effort in your nighttime skincare routine? Well, your night and morning skincare routines comprise of different skincare products and purposes.
Your bedtime skincare regimen targets your skin's specific needs, such as wrinkles, dryness, dehydration, and acne. Your morning skincare routine, on the contrary, is designed to prepare the skin to face the adverse effects of external elements and shield it against their harmful effects.
Missing out on your AM skincare routine can make the skin more prone to skin issues caused by environmental stressors, like acne breakouts, blackheads, discoloration, irritation, dullness, and premature signs of aging.¹
Reasons to Follow a Morning Skincare Routine
By now, you know the significance of the morning skincare routine in keeping your skin vibrant, plump, and healthy. Below are a few more reasons you should consider engaging in a morning skincare regimen:
- Draws Out Impurities: When you cleanse your skin in the morning, it aids in eliminating dead skin cells, sebum, and other impurities that pile up in the pores during the night. These impurities on the skin's outer surface can block your skincare products from absorbing into the skin, thus yielding their benefits. This reduces the effectiveness of your skincare products and can pave the way to blackheads, acne, uneven skin tone, and inflammation. So, cleansing your face in the morning can help you avoid these issues.
- Hydrate and Moisturize: Hydrating and moisturizing the skin is a vital step of any skincare routine, and your skin needs it the most during the day as it comes in contact with plenty of harsh and drying external agents.² You can monitor and hydrate your skin properly according to the weather. Sometimes, your skin can also become dehydrated and dry overnight, particularly during dry and cold months. Moisturizing your skin during your morning skincare routine can assist in replenishing the hydration level of the skin.
- Protects the Skin: One of the most notable benefits of adopting a morning skincare routine is protection against countless toxic agents found in the environment. One of the most important steps of a morning skincare routine is applying sunscreen to safeguard the skin against UV damage and free radicals. Skincare professionals advise using a sunscreen product that suits your skin type with an SPF of 30 or above.
- Better Makeup Application: If you struggle to apply smooth and flawless makeup in the morning, adopting proper morning skincare can help you eliminate this problem. Your morning skincare routine can also take your makeup up a notch. Makeup doesn’t work well on dry, dehydrated, and uneven skin. When your skin is thoroughly cleansed, moisturized, and nourished, you’ll get different outcomes when you apply your makeup products. A well-prepped complexion will be a smooth canvas for your makeup, helping it glide on and look better.
- Specialized Skincare Products: As mentioned before, a morning and night skincare regimen consists of different skincare products, so you’ll reap additional skin benefits from each. Once you choose the right skincare products suitable for your particular skin, you can use them to their optimal potential and obtain better results. Knowing which products you should use before bed and in the morning is essential. Use products with a thicker and deeply-moisturizing formula or skin-restoring products that require more time to do their job at night. Similarly, apply lightweight and fast-absorbing products in the morning.
Step-By-Step Guide to a Morning Skincare Routine
For many of us, doing a 10-step skincare routine in the morning can be challenging. Adopting a simple and effective routine and following it is preferable. Here are some practical and quick steps to follow as part of your morning skincare routine:
Cleanse Properly: Start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser to remove sweat, oil, skincare products, and other impurities that may have accumulated in your pores overnight. Use lukewarm water to avoid drying out or irritating your skin. Choose a water or gel-based cleanser for an oily complexion, an oil or cream-based formula for dry and sensitive skin, and a cream or foam-based product for normal or combination skin.
Apply a Toner: Applying a toner to the skin can help to balance your skin's pH and remove any remaining impurities left after cleansing the skin. This step is optional but can benefit those with oily or acne-prone and dry skin. Moreover, applying a toner will take less than a minute, so you won’t have to worry about getting behind on your to-do list.
Use a Serum: Facial serums are an excellent means of delivering high concentrations of skincare compounds deep into the skin instantly. Apply a serum to address specific skin concerns you may have, such as fine lines, dark spots, or dullness. Serums usually contain potent active ingredients that penetrate deeper into the skin than other products.
We love using Sundree’s RYSE+SHYNE hydrating facial serum. Great for all skin types, this lightweight serum is packed with beauty-boosting ingredients, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and niacinamide to help hydrate the skin while improving the skin’s texture. Apply a few drops to damp skin and watch it soak in beautifully to leave you with a lit-from-within glow.
Apply Eye cream: An eye cream is specially formulated to treat and prevent skin issues that appear on the delicate area around the eyes. Eye creams can aid in refreshing, tightening, depuffing, and brightening the skin around the eyes, depending on their contents. Add an eye cream to your morning skincare regimen if you’re aiming to hydrate the skin around your eyes, reduce puffiness, or minimize the appearance of dark circles.
Moisturize: Moisturizing the skin is a fundamental step of every skincare regimen, no matter your skin type or concerns. Generously slather a moisturizing gel, cream, or lotion to protect and hydrate your skin. Choose a formula that works for your skin type. Look for formulas with hydrating, nourishing, and protecting properties. Lightweight and non-comedogenic moisturizers are ideal for oily and acne-prone skin, while thick and rich formulas are suitable for providing lasting moisture to dry and dehydrated skin. You can also use a facial oil in addition to your regular moisturizing product for an added layer of moisture.
Use Sunscreen: The final and most crucial part of your morning skincare routine is protecting your skin with sunscreen.³ Select a broad-spectrum sunscreen (with at least SPF 30) to guard your skin against harmful UV rays and other toxins. This step is crucial to prevent premature aging, skin damage, inflammation, dehydration, and dryness. Remember to allow each product to absorb fully before applying the next one.
Final Thoughts
Although having a morning skincare routine may sound difficult and time-consuming, especially when you already have a lot lined up for the day, it helps to prepare and protect your skin for what’s heading your way during the day. A comprehensive skincare routine should encompass looking after your skin in the morning and night. However, your morning skincare routine does not have to be extravagant and extensive. Instead of having a complicated morning skincare routine, stick to the basics and set aside a few minutes each morning to look after your skin. This seemingly trivial step can save your skin from many problems in the long run.
Citations:
- Blair, Will. (2022). ‘How to Get Rid of Blackheads’, WebMD, Accessed May 11, 2023. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/how-get-rid-blackheads
- Watson, Stephanie. (2021). ‘Dos and Don’ts of Skin Hydration’, WebMD, Accessed May 11, 2023. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/skin-hydration
- S. Brooklyn. (2022). ‘Physical Vs. Chemical Sunscreen’, Sundree, Accessed May 12, 2023. Available at: https://sundree.com/blogs/news/physical-vs-chemical-sunscreen
