Routines create structure and promote mental, physical and emotional health. This can be something as simple as the ritual of making coffee, journaling or carving out 5 minutes to prepare your skin for the day ahead. During sleep, your skin's blood flow increases, and the organ rebuilds its collagen and repairs damage from UV exposure, reducing wrinkles and age spots. It is a great time for active and hydrating night creams to do some great restorative work. However, it's not unusual to wake up feeling that your skin is a little unbalanced, feeling either dry or oily. A curated morning skin ritual is the perfect way to set your skin up for success. Your morning routine is a way to get a fresh start, and it’s an important part of managing your skin’s health. However, this self care ritual is not just about the products you choose. A great morning skin care routine needs to be done in the right order. It might not seem like a big deal to switch the order of your serums or lotions, but it actually makes an enormous difference. Doing your morning skin care in the wrong order can leave your skin feeling unbalanced and unhappy. It can also make your products less effective. And when your products are ineffective, using them makes little sense. In case of the SPF-containing products, it can pose a danger.

What is the correct order to layer products in your morning skin care routine?

As a rule, it’s important to start with your thinnest products and work your way up to the thicker ones. This means starting lightweight products such as toners and building up to heavier products such as oils. You can see an example of how this work in the seven-step morning routine below.

Seven steps for perfecting morning skin care

Step 1: Cleanser

Cleansing is the perfect way to start your ritual. Not only are you cleansing away any leavings from the night, but it can help you feel a little more awake first thing in the morning. Wash away dry flakey skin, old sebum, sweat and residue from night time products. This is important because not only can residue clog your pores and in some cases lead to breakouts, dull complexion, congestion or irritation. It can also prevent your products from penetrating your skin. The cleanser you use is up to you. It’s best to find one that’s right for your skin type. For example, look for oil-fighters if your skin is acne prone, or gentle cleansers if your skin is sensitive. Try washing your face in circular motions with a soft, clean cloth and tepid water for the most effective cleanse.

Step 2: Toner

Often forgotten, toners are a fantastic way to prepare your face for the rest of your skincare routine. Skin’s little helpers, they come in many shapes. Similar to cleansers, there are toners available for all skin types and concerns. Depending on the ingredients they can have a deep cleansing effect, hydrate skin and even support the skin's microbiome, improving the strength and quality of your skin. So choose the right one for you and enjoy it as the second step of your morning ritual.

Step 3: Eye Cream

Eye creams help you take care of the sensitive skin around your eyes. This area has the thinnest skin on your face, and it’s often the first place stress and signs of aging show. A suitable eye cream can help combat puffy eyes, dark circles, and skin irritation. It can also help you prevent or reduce long-term damage. Using eye cream third in your morning skincare routine helps to ensure that this specialized product can penetrate the skin around your eyes.

Step 4: Serums

Serums are an important part of any morning skin care routine. They’re meant to be kept close to your skin because they’re packed with nutrients to help improve your skin health and address skin concerns. This means it’s important for them to be applied before you moisturize. Serums include products such as vitamin C, AHA, and retinoids.

Step 5: Moisturizer

Dry skin can quickly become dull and irritated. That’s why every morning skin care routine needs to include a layer of moisturizer. Adding moisturizer after serum helps you seal in the serum’s nutrients and allows the moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated all day long. You can choose a moisturizer that fits your skin best and add some extra self-care to this step. It is a great time to work a little facial yoga into your morning skin care routine. Using facial yoga massage techniques to work your moisturizer into your skin is a fantastic way to improve the blood flow to your face and to help your moisturizer penetrate even deeper.

Step 6: Facial Oil

A plant based facial oil can be a great addition to your skincare routine or an alternative to a moisturiser. Plant based oils are jam packed full of antioxidants, vitamins and ceramides which have anti-inflammatory properties, anti-aging properties and can support the skin's barrier. If you are reactive or suffer from dry skin, a plant based facial oil would be the perfect alternative or addition for you.

Step 7: Sunscreen

Sunscreen is one of the most important things you can do to take care of your skin health, both now and in the future. Sunscreen products your face from damaging UV rays. It helps fight against signs of aging caused by sun exposure. It should always be the last step in your morning skincare routine. Thai is because sunscreen would prevent other products from penetrating into your skin if it was applied earlier in your routine. It’s best to look for a lightweight sunscreen with an SPF of at least 25.

Takeaway

A morning skin routine is about more than the products you chose. It’s important to apply your products in the right order. Taking time to do the steps in your morning skin routine the right way will ensure you get the maximum results from your investment in skincare. As you develop your routine, remember that it’s always best to start by cleansing your face and then working from your lightest products to your heaviest ones. As a last step, sunscreen keeps your skin protected from harmful UV rays. Your perfect morning skincare routine will help you start your day off right and take care of your skin for years to come.