Having great skin isn't all about luck or genetics. Like most other parts of the body, regular care can help keep your skin healthy and vibrant. Skin that isn't cared for can become dry and itchy, age prematurely, or even increase the risk of certain cancers.
Even if you spend most of the day indoors, dry air or even sun exposure through windows can cause damage to skin. By adding a couple easy steps to your morning routine, you can keep your skin looking and feeling great.
Step One: Washing
Washing regularly is the most important step in a skincare routine. Washing removes dirt, excess skin oils, sweat, and other impurities that coat the skin. These can all cause clogged pores, bad odors, greasy appearance, and other common skin problems.
Daily showers and washing your face twice a day with soap is a solid base for a daily skincare routine. Washing your face before bedtime is important, then again as the first part of your morning routine. There are countless wash products designed to help with specific skincare conditions depending on what your skin needs to look its best.
When choosing which wash product to use, visiting a dermatologist can help you narrow down what your skin needs to look and feel your best. Dry skin can benefit from products that include healthy oils that can be absorbed by the skin to promote a healthy moisture barrier.
Skin that produces too much of its own oil can be improved with cleansers designed to trap and wash away excess. Acne-prone skin can be improved with washes that include acidic washing ingredients that help clear clogged pores and break down stuck dead skin cells.
If your skin is sensitive to soap or other cleaners, micellar water can be used to wash without causing skin irritation. By consulting with a professional or using a trial and error process, you can select the best product for your own unique skin care routine.
Step Two: Exfoliating
Exfoliating is another important step in keeping your skin healthy. Exfoliants remove old dead skin cells that may remain stuck to the surface of your skin, which can clog pores or make skin appear dull if left untreated.
There are two main ways to exfoliate your skin, mechanical and chemical, each with its own advantages. Exfoliating is best done a few mornings a week for skin in regular condition, as overusing exfoliants can leave skin red or sensitive.
Mechanical exfoliation uses abrasive substances to physically scrape away dead skin cells. This is typically done using special skincare products formulated with small beads, sugar, sea salt, seeds, or other grainy textured ingredients that can get rid of dead skin cells while being scrubbed in.
There are also tools designed for exfoliation that can be used while washing, such as special brushes, loofahs, and specially designed sponges and washcloths that can add a level of abrasiveness to regular washing.
Chemical exfoliants are another popular option, especially for people suffering from acne. These products use acids and enzymes to help dead skin cells safely detach from healthy skin cells.
This can be a good option for people with skin too sensitive for mechanical exfoliation. Glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid are common active ingredients of chemical exfoliators.
Step Three: Moisturize
Moisturizing in the morning after washing and exfoliating can help restore the skin’s moisture barrier and keep it soft and healthy looking. Moisturizing products come in different strength levels to match what your skin needs, from mild daily lotions to strong moisturizers designed for very dry skin.
Depending on what your skin needs, products to moisturize your skin typically fall into two categories, moisturizers and hydrators (or a combination of the two). When trying out a new moisturizer, it can be good idea to test a small amount in one spot to make sure the ingredients don’t irritate your skin.
Moisturizers are typically oil-based. The oils are absorbed by the skin and slow the loss of water through the skin, keeping it softer and healthier. Some moisturizers use plant-based oils, such as argan oil, coconut oil, and shea butter, while others use products such as petroleum jelly or mineral oil.
Hydrators are also used to moisturize skin but by a different method than moisturizers. Hydrators use substances called humectants to pull water out of the air into your skin rather than blocking evaporation like a moisturizer.
Some common ingredients used in hydrators inclue aloe vera, propylene glycol, glycerin, and hylaluronic acid. Their efficiency may be reduced in very dry or arid climates and if this applies to you, it may be best to use a stronger hydrator than is standard.
Step Four: Sunscreen
Many people use sunscreen only when going to the beach, but if you spend a lot of time outdoors, adding sunscreen to your daily skincare routine can help keep your skin healthier. Sunscreen blocks UV radiation, which can burn or prematurely age exposed skin.
Regular use of sunscreen may also help mitigate skin cancer risk. Sunscreen comes in two main types of formulas, physical or chemical, so if you experience sensitivities to one, you may still benefit from the other.
Physical sunscreen products include finely ground reflective materials that bounce UV rays off the skin so that they can’t penetrate the skin and cause damage. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are common active ingredients in physical sunscreens.
This can be a good option for people with sensitive skin, as the particles are designed to sit on top of the skin rather than penetrate deeper into it. However, physical sunscreens can leave a visible film on the skin, which can stand out, especially on darker skin tones.
Some formulas include tints or toners to blend in with skin better, but it may require a little trial and error to find the formula that matches your natural skin color.
Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing rather than reflecting UV rays, preventing them from doing damage to the skin. They don’t leave a film on the surface of skin the way that physical sunscreens do and are absorbed into the skin rather than sitting on the surface.
You may not like the look and feel of sunscreen, but there are many great products that help to keep your skin looking clear and moisturized. Using sunscreen when it's bright outside will always provide a long-term benefit to your skin.
Find Out What Works for You
Here, we've tried to give you the best possible overview of what your morning skincare routine should look like. However, everyone is different, not only with their skin type but also with personal preference.
If you follow the steps above, then you can experiment with different products to see which ones are right for you. This can be a process, but eventually, you'll find a morning skincare routine that is perfect for you.
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/hydration-moisture
https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/chemical-exfoliation#comparison-chart
