As much as I love makeup—I could literally spend all day applying it—it's really important to make sure you are not just using makeup to cover your skin. Makeup shouldn’t be a fast-fix for a bad skin day; it’s worth it to take the time for a thorough skincare routine. Taking care of your skin now will not only help your makeup apply more smoothly, but it will keep your skin looking elastic and rejuvenated as you get older.
Step 1: Cleansing
Even though you may not think your skin is "dirty" from the night before, you skin actually produces an excess amount of oil throughout the night so it is very important to make sure you clean your face in the morning. My favorite cleanser recently has been the Ole Henrikson Face The Truth Gel Cleanser because it is both super gentle on your skin and easy for fast-paced mornings. The gel lathers really easily and quickly—say goodbye to tedious scrubbing! The natural ingredients like seaweed and orange extract are amazing agents for balancing your skin's natural oil-producing properties. They also contain esteemed anti-aging elements!
Step 2: Exfoliating
Exfoliating is a great trick for oily or combination skin. I love to gently exfoliate my skin every other morning because it makes your skin super smooth while helping to control excess oil in your pores. I love using the Origins Ginzing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser because the granules are very gentle for an effective clean without drying out your skin. What’s even better? It doubles as a cleanser to make your morning routine that much easier. This product also contains ginseng and coffee beans to help energize and brighten your skin.
(However, I would not recommend exfoliating every morning because you want to make sure your skin has time to rebuild before you go and scrub it off again.)
Step 3: Facial Mist
Facial mist is one of my favorite elements in my skincare routine. I have to say I was a little skeptical at first because I didn't think I would see a difference , but now I can’t live without it. My favorite facial mist is the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater. It feels super refreshing in the morning, but it also serves as a wonderful-smelling pick-me-up in the middle of the day. If you have sensitive skin, do not fear! Mario Badescu’s masterpiece contains only natural ingredients for minimal irritation. However, this mist has a particularly potent rose scent; if you don’t like the scent of rose, this mist is not for you. Personally, I’m a diehard fan of this product. It’s a surprisingly affordable way to prime your skin, set your makeup, or just freshen up your look. Spritz away!
Step 4: Moisturizing
It’s a common misconception that moisturizer is not needed for people with oily or combination skin. However, oily skin is not hydrated. It simply produces an excess of oil. When your skin is hydrated, it means that it has enough water, not oil. So no matter what your skin type is, moisturizing is still an essential step. However, if you do have oily skin, you might want to look for a water-based moisturizer. You can tell that a moisturizer is water-based when its packaging advertises an oil-free or gel formula. My favorite is the Boscia Oil-Free Daily Hydration because it provides perfect hydration while feeling light on the skin. It is the perfect morning moisturizer because it absorbs quickly into the skin so other products layer on top really well.
Step 5: SPF
I strongly feel that the most important step in anyone's daily skincare routine is sunscreen. The sun is much more dangerous than you may realize. No matter the climate, it is incredibly easy to get sunburned. I have been loving the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Pure Mineral Sunscreen Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 40. I have been obsessed with this product because an SPF of 40 is the highest I have ever seen in a moisturizer. Don’t be fooled by this product’s thick consistency. It blends and absorbs into the skin incredibly quickly and it doesn't leave a greasy film. It is the perfect finishing touch in my morning skincare routine because it leaves me with protected skin—and a great canvas to apply makeup!
Stay youthful my loves