My philosophy to skincare is all about taking a preventative approach rather than a reactive one and our morning regime is where we do exactly that, prevent! Our skin works tirelessly to protect us from sun exposure, pollution, free radicals and other environmental factors, which means each step and ingredient in our morning routine is taking measures to ensure our skin is protected and nourished for the day ahead.
Starting a great skincare routine early will allow our skin to be the best version of itself and you’ll continue to reap the benefits for years to come. Below are the staples to building an effective morning skincare routine.
Step 1: Cleanse
Your skin still produces oil and can be exposed to bacteria while you sleep (for example, via your pillowcase), so while splashing water on your face first thing might wake you up, this alone won’t yield results. Start your routine with a gentle cleanser, either an oil or cream formulation to remove any impurities and sebum build-up from the night before and prep the skin for the products ahead.
Step 2: Essence or toner (optional)
This step is optional however a great addition to deliver an extra dose of hydration, nourishment or exfoliation to the skin. Choose an essence or toner suited to your skin concerns and skin type — for example, a hydrating essence can add a boost to dry skin especially in winter.
Step 3. Serums
Serums are supercharged formulations designed to target specific concerns. Our morning serums should focus on antioxidants and hydration, and shouldn’t include anything with an exfoliating property as these shouldn’t be worn out in sunlight. Save your stronger corrective actives such as retinol or BHAs for the evening. In the morning I love using a Vitamin C serum due to its ability to neutralise and protect the skin against free radical damage from UVA/UVB rays and pollution, which is perfect for environmental protection during the day.
Step 4: Eye care
Eye care is an important step for both morning and night to help nourish the delicate eye area helping to prevent fine lines and wrinkles. Specific eye products are essential as they are formulated specifically for the delicate skin which surrounds the eye.
Step 5: Moisturiser
Using a moisturiser every morning is important to help strengthen your skin’s barrier function and lock in hydration. Depending on your skin type, look for different consistency product — for example, if you have oily or combination skin an oil-free gel cream will hydrate the skin without overwhelming it. More balanced or dry skin types can reach for something a little richer, however, a day time moisturiser is usually lighter weight than a night cream. I like to switch out different moisturisers depending on the season. In summer, I prefer gels and lotions, while in winter my skin craves a slightly denser cream.
Step 6: Sunscreen
The final step and non-negotiable step is SPF. Application is essential everyday no matter the weather to protect the skin from sun exposure and its associated effects, such as hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF30 every single morning and reapply as needed.
