My Morning Skincare Routine

Earlier in the week, I posted my nighttime skincare routine, which is focused on correcting and treating fine lines, texture, and dark spots. Some of the products I use at night (such as retinol) break down and become less effective when exposed to sunlight, so they can only be used at night for best results.

The products I use in my morning skincare routine are all about creating a smooth canvas for makeup and protecting my skin from free radical damage. Free radicals from the sun and environmental pollution are a major cause of aging, so I like to use products that are rich in antioxidants (along with SPF) to prevent more damage to my skin.

Let's take a look!

Since I take my makeup off at night, I don't need to use a heavy-duty makeup removing cleanser in the morning.
Most days, I like to use Purity Made Simple from Philosophy. It's been my go-to cleanser for years and it removes any remaining eye makeup that I may have missed the night before.

Once or twice a week, I like to use a gentle exfoliating cleanser to brighten and refine my skin. I don't use this type of cleanser at night because they contain ingredients that can't be used near your eyes. I love Pixi's Glow Mud Cleanser ($18 at Target), especially during "that time of the month" when I sometimes get breakouts on my chin. It contains 5% glycolic acid and mud that deep cleans your pores, yet it doesn't leave my skin feeling stripped or tight, due to the aloe vera and avocado oil in the formula.
I've also recently discovered Skinfood's Rice Brightening Scrub Foam ($14 at Ulta). It creates a rich, foamy lather that's almost like shaving cream and it has micro-fine rice granules in it that gently exfoliate. It deep cleans my pores and makes my skin look brighter.
Since I can't use either of those cleansers near my eyes, I use Garnier's SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water ($8.99 at Ulta) to clean up any mascara residue that I missed the night before. I don't like to waste an entire cleansing wipe just for my eyes, so micellar water is a great solution...just a little bit on a cotton pad takes away everything gently and effortlessly.

There are two different toners that I like to use based on which cleanser I chose that day. If I used Philosophy Purity, I love Pixi's Glow Tonic ($15 at Target), which contains 5% glycolic acid to gently exfoliate. It makes my skin feel so smooth afterwards! 

If I'm using the Pixi Mud Cleanser or Skinfood Scrub Foam, I don't want to overdo it with the exfoliation so instead of using Glow Tonic, I love Skinfood's Miracle Food 10 Toner ($38 at Ulta). This isn't your typical water-like toner...it has a slightly thicker, milky texture and feels so soothing when I pat it on. It adds moisture, balances my skin, and also contains high levels of antioxidants from 10 different superfoods.

I know I have a ton of Skinfood products in this post, but they're one of my favorite brands when it comes to skincare...they're super high-quality and very affordable. I started getting into Korean skincare a few years ago, and used to have these scrubs shipped all the way from Korea (which was expensive). I am so happy that Ulta is now carrying them!
This is my third tub of the Black Sugar Mask ($10 at Ulta) and second of the Rice Mask ($10 at Ulta) I reviewed them in more detail here, but the Black Sugar one is holy grail for me when my skin is looking dull and I want it to be as smooth as porcelain. I use the Rice one when I want a light, fluffy scrub that makes my skin velvety soft.
Judging by the 5 star reviews on Ulta's website, I'd say these are becoming a lot of people's holy grail scrubs!

I like to layer serums because they typically contain the highest number of active ingredients and I've rarely found one that "does it all". In the morning, I use one that prevents and also corrects dark spots and one that contains a high level of antioxidants to protect my skin from free radical damage.

I'm on my second tube of Garnier's SkinActive Clearly Brighter Dark Spot Corrector ($16.99). It contains antioxidants like Vitamin C and E to prevent dark spots from forming and it also fades them over time. I love how effective it is and it's really affordable. My dark spots have faded significantly from using this daily and I saw some initial brightening and evening of my skin after only a week of use.
I've also recently started using Skinfood's Miracle Food 10 Solution Serum ($48). Just like the toner, this contains the extracts of ten different superfoods for a high level of antioxidant protection. This serum feels a little thicker than most...almost like a thin primer, making my skin really smooth and soft and and also making fine lines and pores less visible.

In the Korean skincare routine, there's a step in-between applying your serum and moisturizer...the "emulsion". An emulsion is more of a watery "light" moisturizer that can be applied underneath your face cream (if you have dry skin like me) or in place of your moisturizer if you have oily skin or don't need a lot of hydration. I usually skip this step in the summertime but as the weather gets drier, I've found it to be a lifesaver for my skin! Most moisturizers are made with water so they tend to evaporate during the day...an emulsion is one more layer that helps to seal in moisture and keep your skin hydrated.
I've been using Skinfood's Miracle Food 10 Solution Emulsion ($38) because it's so high in antioxidants and also contains niacinamide and peptides for anti-aging benefits. Layering all of the Miracle Food products during the day gives my skin a huge antioxidant boost and I've found that my skin stays so plump and hydrated all day. I would definitely recommend this line if you want to protect your skin from the environment and have normal to dry or mature skin!

Next, I've been using Colleen Rothschild Sheer Renewal Cream ($55- on sale for $41 this weekend with code HYDRATE25). This has been my go-to summer moisturizer because it absorbs quickly and has a matte finish so it creates the perfect canvas for makeup (I know some people who even use it as their primer!). It contains peptides to firm your skin and a multi-fruit complex to gently encourage cell turnover, so it's not just your basic, run of the mill moisturizer. If you have oily skin, you can likely use it year-round, but since it's lightweight I may have to switch to something heavier in October or November when we start running the heat a lot in the house.

Finally, I finish my routine with a dab of Kiehls Creamy Eye Treatment ($29). It's made with avocado oil and it's really hydrating but it sinks in quickly so it's not greasy at all. I know people with oily skin that really like this cream as well because it's not heavy.  It also doesn't migrate into my eyes like some eye creams do, so it's great for daytime.

Well that's it...my morning skincare routine! It seems like a lot of steps but only takes about 5 minutes or so.  If you missed my nighttime skincare routine post, you can check that out here.

What are your favorite skincare products to use in the daytime?


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