Here’s How to Layer Your Morning Skin Care Products

Members of the skincare community may boast about having a comprehensive, multi-step routine, but that's not reality for everyone.

Especially in the wee hours of the morning when you're preparing breakfast for a hungry toddler, juggling a 9-to-5 work schedule, or trying to fit in other morning rituals like exercise and to-do lists.

However, a morning skin care routine can be just as beneficial as one before bed. This is the time to condition your skin after a night's sleep—especially important if you're too tired to wash your face before bed—and set your

complexion up for success in the face of a day full of germs, screen time, stress, and more. UV rays.

Follow these guidelines to learn how to perform your morning skin care routine. Although we've laid out a complete routine, there are some optional steps you can add or remove based on your specific skin type and concerns.

How to use morning skin care products. Here’s How to Layer Your Morning Skin Care Routine.

Step 1: Cleaner. It's time to start from scratch, literally. Wash your face with a cleanser for 30-60 seconds, using circular motions to remove dirt and oil from problem areas such as your chin, nose, and forehead.

Soap-free cleansers with skin-loving ingredients, like our Antioxidant Cleanser, are beneficial for all skin types. If you're prone to acne or oiliness, choose a product like Keep the Peace, which contains 1.5% salicylic acid.

If you have a dry skin type or have been following a bedtime skin care routine, you may not need to deep cleanse your skin.

However, it's still important to wash away any impurities that may have sneaked in overnight (pillowcases can contain bacteria and dead skin cells). So give them a quick brush with micellar water or a little water. Or go to step

2 and cleanse with toner.

Step 2: Toner (optional): If you've ever washed your face and still noticed residue when you pat it dry with a towel, you already know the benefits of toner.

A good toner not only removes remaining impurities, but also sets the stage for the rest of your skin care by rebalancing your skin's pH (which is lost by rinsing with water) and providing it with skin-loving nutrients. As

mentioned above, a toner (like Baby Cheeks) can be used in place of cleansing in the morning, even for dry skin types.

This is also a good time to exfoliate dead skin cells before applying your serum, which will penetrate more effectively when pores are clear. Use a daily brightening toner to do this while evening out your skin tone.

Step 3: Serum or Treatment. Now that your skin is fully primed and ready, you can apply targeted serums and treatments specifically tailored to your skin care needs. Dehydrated or dry skin?

Try Moisture Maker Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Do you have dark spots? Use tranexamic acid or vitamin C to lighten dullness and strengthen the barrier. Are you prone to acne? A clarifying serum containing niacinamide can help balance.

Step 4: Eye Gel (optional): While we recommend using thicker eye creams and creams at night, those with dark circles and eye bags can use a cooling gel to invigorate tired eyes.

Gently pat our brightening eye gel, starting at the inner corner of the eye and working upward toward the brow bone to flush away any trapped liquid that causes dark circles and bags.

Step 5: Moisturizer: For all oily and acne-prone skin types: Don’t skip this step! Moisturizer helps seal in all the goodness while locking in the moisture you need for the rest of the day.

During the day, opt for something lighter like dew point. The cooling jelly-like texture is instantly absorbed into the skin, leaving you non-greasy all day long. Dry skin types may prefer a creamy product like Skin Soak.

Step 6: Sun protection: If you put something on in the morning, make sure it's sunscreen. Protecting your skin from the sun is important year-round to prevent cancer, burns, and damage like dark spots and premature fine lines.

Choose a mineral broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen that also protects against free radicals caused by blue light and pollution. If you're out and about during the day, don't forget to take the tube with you so you can use it every

two hours as recommended by the FDA. Step 7: Glowing Fireflies (Optional) As a bonus step, use mood lighting to add a little filter-free glow to your daily routine. Choose from Sheer Golden and Sheer Bronzed (or mix the two)