What's your current morning skincare routine?
Clindamycin topical solution (prescription), Biologique Recherche PIGM 400, Good Molecules hylauronic serum, Dermadoctor Kakadu C (just finishing this up, will likely switch to Eminence Rosehip C + E next), Tatcha Dewy Skin Cream (just finishing this). I use a separate sunscreen (like La Roche Posay or Neutrogena) when I actually expect to the leave the house, but I have so many moisturizers without SPF that I’m trying to work through those and just adding in SPF when needed (and that includes just driving to and from somewhere!).
— Christine
I vary products with the seasons. I layer on a product, like PTR Neuroliquid, a hyuralonic serum, glycerine and rose water, (DIY infused rose hip petals) or even aloe. Next a moisturizer. This could be DE Protini, though this summer I am using a large jar of Eminence Organic Rose and Rose Hip moisturizer as less greasy than what I pile on in colder weather. I use more eye creams in winter as well. As an early risers, I tend to apply sunscreen a little later, applying Skin Renu Advanced Bruise Prevention formula first– it’s for thinning skin. Sunscreen goes on top of that. I use Badger, Burnout, or other non-nano mineral formulas, which I feel is important for health reasons. Also, I wrote a bestselling skin care book with a cosmetic dermatologist. And I learned from her that sun exposure occurs through home and office windows, car windshields etc. On very hot days, I keep the shades down.
My daily morning skin care routine is very simple. I wash my face using Clinique Mild Facial Soap and my Clarisonic Mia. Then I moisturize with CeraVe.
Skin products don’t excite me the way makeup does, so I don’t bother trying anything else because this routine works just fine for me. Boring answer…I know.
The Mild Facial Soap is a great cleanser, but I don’t think it’s worth more than 1/3 of it’s price. The rest of 2/3 is just the name brand.
I’m the exact opposite… although I love make-up, skin care and cosmetic formulation excites me more because it’s more… scientific!
Wash face with La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser, then apply The Ordinary
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10%, COSRX Advanced Snail 92 All In One Cream next, then COSRX Honey Ceramide Full Moisture Cream. I wear sunscreen every day unless I know I am not leaving the house, which is not often. I use Missha All Around Safe Block Essence Sun Milk EX or Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence. Even though the sunscreen I have says it is for dry skin, it seems to work just fine on my oily dehydrated skin as well. It doesn’t leave me looking any shiner than I would naturally.
I love La Roche-Posay products (especially SPF), but Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser was a dud for me… I know it’s supposed to be gentle, but it didn’t clean anything for me. I just felt like rubbing my face with a moisturizer, then washing it off. 😆
I hear many good reviews on COSRX and it makes me more and more curious to try the brand, might end up starting with a toner. I’m still amazed I haven’t tried them yet, since I can just add their products in my Amazon cart. 😀
It really isn’t the best at cleaning, it just is the best at not irritating my face ? I think it is more gentle than CeraVe Hydrating Face cleanser.
I use an oil cleanser to remove makeup and sunscreen. I like the Clinique Take the Day Off Balm but I found out it has polyethene in it so I don’t want to buy it again. I am testing out Boscia MakeUp BreakUp oil and it’s pretty gentle.
I love COSRX but you have to read the ingredients with their stuff too. Some of the items have essential oils in them.
I wash my face with the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, then follow up with Tatcha’s Essence and Water Cream. Sometimes I’ll dot on The Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid 2% solution as spot treatment if I have particularly nasty face goblins.
Sarah,
Watch out for the Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid 2%. I just had a massive reaction to this product due to the large amount of Witch Hazel in it. It burned my skin badly. Still recovering…☹️ The witch hazel is like the 2nd ingredient. This type of reaction is common for that product. Just FYI-
Origins United State Balancing Tonic, hyaluronic serum & lotion (some off-brand from Marshalls), Ordinary Caffeine Solution eye serum, and Caudalie VineActiv eye cream.
Wash my face with a green mud and tea tree soap.
Toner with a glycolic toner
Mousturize (Biossance squalene + probiotic gel moisturizer)
Sunscreen
Serums and other things I only apply at night.
I prefer my skincare routine to be very simple in the morning (and fast), but efficient. I do most of the fancy treatments at night. I don’t like to layer too many products in the morning, it’s too much for my skin and sometimes disturbs my make-up.
Step 1: Cleanser: usually something very basic, but mild (since I don’t have many things to clean from over night, but I do want to start with a clean face)
Currently I just started the Smartly Unscented Gentle Facial Cleanser, but I think it kind of irritates my eyes and I might end up using it as a body wash
Step 2: Toner: a light layer to re-balance my skin, preferably something slightly moisturizing and with some extra skincare ingredients, so I get extra bang without using extra serums and moisturizers
Currently I am using Paula’s Choice RESIST Weightless Advanced Repairing Toner, which is indeed weightless, but hydrating and soothing, with the nice addition of peptides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide
Step 3: Eye cream: while I do agree that using a specific eye cream is not a must (you can use a good moisturizer or serum), something in me always wants an eye cream; I actually use it not only for my under-eyes, but also on drier spots on my skin; it’s more like a spot-moisturization, I have combination skin and my oily areas don’t like a moisturizer in the morning
Currently I am using a mini of the Paula’s Choice RESIST Anti-Aging Eye Cream (I often receive them in gifts with purchase), which is great both at hydrating my under eye and not disturbing my make-up; no-creasing will never happen for me, but this cream certainly makes my under eye look better and less dry.
Step 3a: Serum/Treatments: extremely rarely
Once or twice a week I might use my Vitamin C treatment in the morning (currently I am using the The ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%), on the days I use retinol at night (I use retinol 1% and although I don’t mind using along with a toner containing vitamin C, using a vitamin C treatment – with higher concentration -, it’s too much for me). I extremely rarely do though, usually after a breakout phase when I have many dark spot to heal.
Step 4: SPF. SPF. SPF
Currently I am using Clinique Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen Oil-Free Face Cream, which is not bad, but a little too hydrating for my liking. I’ll finish it (maybe using it also on my body to finish it faster); but it’s not something I’d repurchase.
After cleansing, first thing is applying The Ordinary Caffeine Eye Serum w/ EGCG on the entire eye area patted in and then The Inkey Caffeine Eye Cream on the undereye area. I then go in on the rest of my face and neck with Mario Badescu Witch Hazel & Rosewater Toner on a cotton round immediately followed with FAB Resurfacing Liquid 10% AHA. Wait around 5-10 minutes, then apply Sunday Riley UFO oil to my nose and t-zone. After allowing that to soak in well, I apply either FAB Pure Mineral Sunscreen Moisturizer SPF 40 if I’ll be going out, or FAB Ultra Repair Cream if I’m staying inside, especially if I won’t be wearing makeup. If I’ll be doing makeup, my next step is one of several primers.
Wash face with NuSkin Nu Skin 180° Face Wash, then put on Volition Strawberry-C Serum and let that absorb. Then Paula’s Choice Calm Redness Relief Moisturizer for Normal to Dry Skin, and let that absorb. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen if going outdoors. Lip balm; let it sink in while doing my makeup.
Splash of cold water, Starlit Glow Highlighting Moisturizer by Peach & Lily and my
Missha All Around Safe Block Essence Sun SPF45/PA+++
Cosrx Low pH GoodMorning Gel Cleanser, Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner, Timeless Coenzyme Q10 Serum, The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG, Korres Pomegranate Balancing Cream-Gel Moisturizer, Supergoop Eye Cream with Oat Peptides Spf 37, Thank You Farmer Sun Project Light Sun Essence SPF 50+ PA+++ (almost done).
I’ll leave out the pert about the calcipotriene ointment in the ‘beard’ area, due to inverse psoriasis; not a good look, esp on the face. My older routine was heavy on bhas, but I had to change to anti-inflammatory, heavy on centella. Wash: Cosrx low pH GM cleanser. Cosrx AHA/BHA toner, Cosrx Centella toner, Cosrx Galactomyces toner: sometimes all over, sometimes only lower half of face; Cosrx Calming Liquid Mild (the heavy duty one has alcohol, yuck,) Innisfree Lava Seawater Skin, and
Purito Centella Green Level Calming Toner, which is more like an essence. AM eye cream is Purito Green Level. If skin gets clogged, I add back in a bha, Cosrx, no surprise. Anything heavier than an essence, I use only at night. My skin is weird, oily/dehydrated, and I do better with a metric ton of liquids. Some skincare person said dehydrated needs water, not oil, and the concept has held true for me.
My morning routine is pretty simple. I do most of my skin care at night. I start by washing my face using the MiBA Calcium Ion cleanser with the Boscia Konjac Sponge for hydrating. If I have completed treatments on my skin the night before I use the Nuxe Honey Cleanser as it is gentler on my skin. I also have the sponge for clarity but tend to use the hydrating one for morning. I follow that with Missha First Essence Toning Mist, Sunday Riley Good Genes, Klairs Vit C Lotion, Glow Recipe Watermelon moisturizer, Milk moisturizing Gel (around my eyes only), Algenist Collagen Lip Treatment (I am trying to use this up as I haven’t noticed any benefit from it and I have been using it since November.) and finally my sunscreen. Most days I use the Australian Gold Sunscreen in the natural, as opposed to the tinted which is very drying on my skin. It has SPF 50 and while it leaves a white cast, I am so pale that it doesn’t show. It does on my daughter however.
I have dry/combo mature skin and this is my “lightweight” Summer routine:
Cleanser: In the shower, I use Cosmedica’s Glycolic Facial Scrub.
Then I pat on Hado Labo’s Gokujun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion Moist all over my face and Skin Deva’s Dark Circle Eye Cream around my eyes. Then I layer L’Oreal’s UV Perfect Even Complexion spf 50 +++++ Long UVA over that (great product, contains Mexoryl, lightly tinted and line filling, works as a primer under my BB cream or foundation also.)
1. Tatcha Essence
2. Boscia Hydrating & Brightening Essence
2. Cosrx Snail 96 Mucin
4. Good Molecules Hyaluronic
5. Good Molecules Super Peptide Serum
6. Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum
7. Tatcha Ageless Moisturizer
me: 45, dry skin
I love learning what other people are doing for skin care. I’m not sure why it fascinates me so much, maybe I’m storing away ideas without realizing.
I’m on the downside of my 40’s with dry skin.
I don’t use cleanser in the mornings unless I need it. My dermatologist said it’s not really necessary for my skin type if I’ve throughly cleansed before bed.
I splash with water then tone with Mad Hippie Nutrient Mist. I hate the smell, it reminds me of allergy nose spray lol but when I don’t use it I see and feel an immediate difference in my skin. This is one of those products that make you completely lose interest in trying other things. I’m a diehard trier of all the things so that’s saying A LOT!
Next comes my Dr Jart Ceramidin Liquid… they reformulated it into a toner and the ingredients are terrible now… I’m on my last bottle of the good stuff and am semi panicking about a replacement. It’s so good at hydration + plumping up my not so fine lines. I feel personally attacked and injured by the reformulation.
Next comes my Mad Hippie eye cream. I use it in the a.m.
While that soaks in I pat on Mad Hippie Vit C serum followed by the Mad Hippie Day Cream.
Oh! And I use use Josie Maran SPF 47 daily moisturizer for sun protection & touch up when I’m outdoors with the coola spf spray or the it cosmetics spf 50 powder.
I can hardly answer this as things change daily! Generally, though, I’ll either wash my face with a foaming cleanser (Boscia or YTTP or sometimes Laneige), but often I’ll just wipe with a face cloth damped in warm water. Then facial oil (YTTP – I love this stuff – or the Boscia one I am trying to finish up) and Embryolisse moisturizer followed by Australian Gold Tinted Sunscreen. On my eyes, either Clarins Super Restorative eye cream or the one from Origins with SPF in it (green tube but I can’t recall the name).