MY MORNING SKINCARE ROUTINE: SPRING 2020

It has been a few months since I shared my Nightly Skincare Routine.  Today, I am following up with my much more condensed morning skin care routine. After all, time is always of the essence in the morning. 

If you remember from my Nightly Skincare Routine post, I visited Sephora a while back and met with a knowledgeable Beauty Advisor for a consultation.  She walked me through my nightly and morning routine and guided me on what products I use and, more importantly, in what order to apply them.  She reminded me that when in doubt always apply formulas with thinner consistencies first, and then apply thicker treatments over them. 

Step 1: Cleanse

A great way to start off your day, just like at night, I double cleanse in the morning.  The first cleanser I use gently exfoliates my skin, cleaning off my nightly products, any dead skin cells, and my pores to leave my skin fresh.  I follow this with my gel cleanser, which guarantees I have a fresh face ready for the day’s makeup. 

One – Clinique Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser
Two – Liquid Facial Soap (I use the liquid facial soap for combination oily to oily skin)

Step 2: Toner

This is the last step in the cleansing process and is often skipped; however, it is a crucial step in balancing your skin’s pH levels, preps your skin for serums and moisturizers, and leaves your complexation looking fresh.

Three – Clarifying Lotion (I use the clarifying lotion for combination oily to oily skin)

Step 3: Hydration Jelly

I finish my Clinique 3-step morning care with the Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly which provides my skin with 24-hour hydration and protection from pollutants.  The really neat thing about this product is you can add an active cartridge which is targeted on your skin concern–for me it is the Active Cartridge Concentrate for Pores & Uneven Texture. 

Four – Clinique iD Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly with Active Cartridge Concentrate for Pores & Uneven Texture

Step 4: Serum

I view this as the fountain of youth step.  Serums visibly improve the major signs of aging in your skin, causing your skin to have a more uniform tone, refined texture, and diminished fine lines.  It’s important to pat serums into your skin rather than slather on top so they can penetrate and absorb. Repeat serums morning and night for maximum results. 

Five – Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum

Step 5: Moisturizer

Moisturizers are like giving your skin a drink of water, hydrating it to perfection. During the dry summer months I tend to use heaver moisturizer like moisture surge.

Six – Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator

Step 6: Specialty Creams

The last step in my morning skincare routine is perhaps the most important.  I apply my pep-start eye cream which hydrates, brightens, and perks up my eyes, so even when I’m running on only five hours of sleep, my eyes look wide-awake and refreshed.  I think it is worth repeating the helpful advice I learned from my Beauty Advisor, that the undereye area is the first to show signs of aging, in addition to being the most delicate part of your complexion.  She recommended applying eye cream carefully by gently tapping it with your fingers, so you do not pull the fragile skin.  I wrap up my morning skincare routine by applying a lip mask, sunscreen, and applying my makeup. 

Seven – Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream
Eight – Moisture Surge Lip Hydro-Plump Treatment
Nine – Clinique Pep-Start Daily UV Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 50

I have been sticking to this morning routine for the past ten months, and it is the perfect routine to not only prep my skin for the long day ahead but also to wake me up from my early morning wakeup call.  I usually apply my makeup about two hours after I do my morning skincare routine.  I know it isn’t ideal, but I commute to work and have to catch a 5:00 AM train, which is usually when I will apply my makeup.