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.

Having a nighttime skincare routine is really important. Your skin absorbs more nutrients at night when you’re not wearing makeup and there are no environmental stressors to get in the way. Although there isn’t a cookie cutter approach to skincare routines, there is a basic bedrock that benefits everyone, no matter your age or skin type.

Perhaps it was the skin cancer diagnosis I got last year or maybe it’s because I’m in my 40s, but recently I’ve started taking my skincare routine way more seriously than ever before.