This is a question I literally get 10 times a day so let's review a perfect morning skincare routine that will build and maintain beautiful, healthy skin. It is only four steps but you want to pick your products carefully, based on your skin needs and always go for quality over quantity for your skin.
How to Build a Morning Skincare Routine
Step 1: Splash face with water or wash face
- If you have normal to dry skin, do not wash your face, it's only going to dry you out more.
- If you have oily skin, wash your face.
- Pat dry before moving on to step two.
Step 2: Antioxidant treatment
Then, on your bare, dry skin, apply an antioxidant treatment like a vitamin C serum. Antioxidants including vitamin C (the most well studied,) vitamin E, ferulic acid, acetyl zingerone, coenzyme Q and many others are able to protect your skin from the aging free radicals produced by sun, pollution, even blue light. By having these ingredients on the top layer of your skin, they are able to collect free radicals before they penetrate the skin preventing their breakdown of collagen or formation of brown spots.
Dermatologist Tip: If you have sensitive skin, vitamin C can be irritating, so look for products with 10% or less and use the oil soluble form of vitamin C, tetrahexyl decyl ascorbate.
Best Antioxidant for Oily Skin: BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner 20% Vitamin C Brightening Serum
Best Antioxidant for Normal Skin: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
Best Antioxidant for Dry or Sensitive Skin: Doctor Rogers Day Preventive Treatment
Step 3: Moisturizer
- If you have oily skin it can be a very lightweight moisturizer and then you may need an eye cream.
- If you have dry skin it can be a heavy moisturize that can also double as your eye cream.
Dermatologist Tip: Zinc-based sunscreen can be drying for people with dry or sensitive skin. It is important to get a nice layer of moisture on the skin first, before applying sunscreen to prevent drying of the skin.
Best Moisturizer for Oily Skin: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Moisturizer
Best Moisturizer for Normal Skin: Augustinus Bader The Cream
Best Moisturizer for Dry or Sensitive Skin: Doctor Rogers Face Cream
Step 4: Sunscreen
Excellent broad spectrum sunscreen that should be worn year round. Yes, you heard me, year round. Protecting yourself from the sun decreases your risk of getting skin cancer and slows the signs of aging. Studies show that the sun’s UV radiation causes 90% of skin aging.
Dermatologist Tip: Spend the time and money finding sunscreen that you actually love so you will use it everyday!
Best Sunscreens for Oily Skin: EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 & Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Mineral SPF 40
Best Sunscreen for Normal Skin: ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica Daily Lightweight Mineral SPF 50+ Sunscreen
Best Sunscreen for Dry or Sensitive Skin: DermaQuest SheerZinc SPF 30 Tinted
Reapply Sunscreen During the Day
Follow the sunscreen step with makeup if you're wearing any.
Then, throughout the day, if you're outside or working by windows, reapply your sunscreen. It can be spray, powder, compact or cream… whatever agrees with you and that you will actually reapply.
Best Sunscreen Products for Reapplication: Colorescience Sunforgettable® Total ProtectionTM Sheer Matte Sunscreen Brush SPF 30 & Avène High Protection Tinted Compact SPF 50
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Next up, Dermatologist-Tested, Dermatologist-Approved: The Best Medical-Grade Skincare
