5 Minute Morning Skin Routine
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Part of my 2020 self-care commitment has been creating and maintaining a morning skincare routine. If you’ve been following me, you’ll know that I love to call these routines “rituals” because they really are special self-care practices for our bodies.
They’re the time to be present in your body and your skin. The time to be grounded before you start your day.
It’s easy to focus on your nighttime skincare routine (if you don’t have one yet, here’s the exact nighttime skincare routine I use for healthy, glowing skin) and forget about your morning routine. But your morning ritual is just as, if not more, important than your nighttime ritual.
Your evening skincare routine supports the regenerative process when you sleep, while your morning skincare routine is to protect and preserve your skin during the day.
I’ve got my morning routine down to a simple 5-minute ritual of just 6 steps. If it took longer than 5 minutes, I most likely wouldn’t stick with it because I’m just focused on trying to get out the door in the morning.
I spent a lot of time testing out different skincare products before I settled on the favorites I use in my routine. But I regularly change up the items I use depending on the season and where I am. Different products work best in different environments. So what works well in South America in the winter is totally different to what works well in Asia in the summer.
My 5-Minute Morning Skincare Ritual
Here’s my 5-minute morning skincare routine using the products I currently love:
Step 1: Cleanse
Washing your skin is essential for removing impurities. If you follow a nighttime skin routine, you won’t need to do a deep cleanse in the morning, you can get by with a simple cleanse.
I love using The Makeup Eraser to take off my makeup and cleanse my skin. Before you use it for the first time, make sure you throw your Makeup Eraser in the laundry for a machine wash so you know it’s 100% clean.
Each morning I wet the cloth with warm water and use the short fiber side to remove leftover makeup. I then use the other side with some Shiseido Clarifying Cleansing Foam to cleanse and exfoliate my skin.
Step 2: Tone
Toning is a step in my skincare routine that I’ve had to embrace with time and education. I always felt overwhelmed when I was younger and visited beauty counters because there were just so many different products.
I tried toner, but I wasn’t a fan because I didn’t really see the point. It wasn’t until I read about what toner actually does for the skin that I jumped on board.
If you’re unsure about whether you need toner in your life, let me convince you. Toner shrinks pores, restores your skin’s pH balance, adds a layer of protection and helps bind moisture to the skin.
My go-to toner these days is Caudalie Moisturizer Toner. I apply it to my skin with a cotton pad, gently patting it all over my face and neck. This step prepares the skin to receive the maximum effect of serum and moisturizer which come next.
Step 3: Serum
Serums are key when it comes to transforming your skin, as they’re super concentrated and a little truly goes a long way. After toning my skin, I apply a few pumps of Laneige Perfect Renew Regenerator Serum.
My skin has been on the drier side lately, so the Laneige Serum is a perfect match for me. If your skin is on the oily side, I recommend DRUNK ELEPHANT B-Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Serum.
Step 4: Eye Cream
The skin around the eyes is thinner and more fragile than the rest of your skin. This makes it prone to showing early signs of aging and damage. A light, gentle and hydrating cream designed for thinner skin is needed.
Note to my younger self: Start using eye cream in your mid 20s. Using my ring finger, I pat a little Drunk Elephant C-Tango Vitamin C Eye Cream under and around my eyes.
Step 5: Moisturize
It doesn’t matter whether you have dry or oily skin, we can all benefit from using moisturizer. Ever since stumbling upon Tatcha products in Bangkok, I’ve loved them.
I apply Tatcha The Water Cream all over my face and neckline. If there’s any excess lotion, I rub it into the tops of my hands.
Step 6: SPF
Just over 1 year ago I had my first diagnosis of skin cancer. Since then I have been going to my dermatologist for check-up appointments, but I’ve also been religious about the final step in my skin care routine: sunscreen.
I spray Supergoop Defense Refresh Setting Mist SPF 40 all over my face and neck. Consider me your older, wiser sister when I tell you not to skip this step. Protecting your beautiful skin from harmful UV rays is so important.
Since I am often out and about in the sun, I now keep the Supergoop Glow Stick in my purse. This product is my new obsession because it gives my skin the ultimate glow. The Glow Stick is super small and easy to tote around anywhere you go.
For extra protection and hydration, I apply The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask before putting on my makeup or just heading out the door.
The biggest skincare recommendation I can give you is to be consistent. Choose a routine that’s suitable for your lifestyle and schedule, stick with it and before long you’ll notice big changes. The longer you keep up your routine, the better your skin will be. Believe me, in a couple of decades when you look 20 years younger, you’ll be happy you took my advice!
Don’t forget about adapting your skincare products to the seasons. It’s likely you’ll want to switch things up depending on the temperature, humidity, etc. This gives you a great opportunity to try different skincare products and find new items to fall in love with.
What About You?
What does your morning skincare routine look like? What are your favorite skincare products? I’m always on the lookout to try new things, so leave them in the comments so I can check them out. It will be interesting to see if you’re all using an amazing skincare product that I haven’t even heard of. Don’t keep me in the dark. Tell me about it!
