MY MORNING SKIN ROUTINE

My morning routine is one of my favorite moments of the day. I normally wake up and do a meditation. Then I’ll start my skincare routine. If I sleep in or if I’m in a rush, it throws off my whole day and normally increases my anxiety. I really relish my time in the morning to care for myself by tending to my skin. I normally play some music or have a cup of tea or coffee while I do my routine.

I start by cleansing with Glossier’s Milky Jelly Cleanser. I normally massage the cleanser into my skin for 60 seconds or so. I rinse with lukewarm water. One of my estheticians recently told me that I was cleansing with water that was too hot, and it was bringing out redness in my acne scars. Using lukewarm water has really helped. Cleansing can be a step we skip over quickly since we’re just rinsing the product off…but it’s so important. Taking time to really massage your skin while cleansing will help get the junk out of your pores that you and I really don’t want there.

Next, I use Whamisa by Glow Recipe Green Tea Serum Toner. I drop 2-3 drops in my hands and pat it into my neck and face. It’s true to its name…a serum and toner. It’s really silky. A toner’s purpose is to prep the skin for the products to come. Our skin is naturally acidic and toners help balance the skin’s PH levels. Green tea has many great benefits for the skin, including a calming element. I like a toner that isn’t harsh…and love this product because it’s so calming for the skin all while getting the skin balanced and prepped for the products to come.

Up next is a hero for me. It smells incredible….so luxe and soothing. Blithe Vital Treatment Essence - 5 Energy Roots. A treatment essence has been used in Asia for years, but I had not previously used one or heard of it until this summer. A treatment essence is thicker than a toner but thinner than a serum. Like a toner, it helps to prep the skin for the serums to come, but also helps treat specific issues. For me, this essence is perfect for helping my skin “bounce”. Aka, give me all the plump, hydrated, bright vibes. It’s a little on the pricier side for me, but 2 drops is all I need.

Next, I move onto Vitamin C serum. I’ve used Vitamin C serums for years. I’m a big believer in Vitamin C for your skin. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and helps brighten the skin, and can also aid in reducing dark spots. I recently found Lumene’s Vitamin C at Target while shopping with a friend. I gave my friend a facial that evening and used this. Holy shit. So good. It smells like a citrus dream and has hyaluronic acid in it. It instantly brightens my skin.

Speaking of Hyaluronic Acid, next I used Leegeehaam’s Grow Hyal B5 Ampoule. Aka Hyaluronic Acid. One molecule of Hyaluronic Acid holds 1000 times its weight in water. I love to use Hyaluronic Acid before I use my moisturizer to really help lock in the moister. Hyaluronic Acid is naturally in our bodies. It’s in our connective tissue and 50% of the Hyaluronic Acid in our bodies is found in our skin. It essentially helps fill up the “cracks” in our skin. Basically, it’s super plumping and hydrating. Our natural production of Hyaluronic Acid decreases as we age. So using this in our skin care routine will really help with overall hydration, helping plump your skin. Fun fact - this is used in injections & fillers. I’m all for juicy, plump skin..and HA is a huge help in that.

I follow with Squalane Oil from The Ordinary. This Squalene oil is non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog your pores. I use just a drop or two and pat into my skin. If my skin is feeling like it needs more hydration, I follow up with a moisturizer. Today I used Glossier’s Priming Moisturizer Rich. Sometimes I’ll just use Weleda’s Skin Food on my cheekbones.

My final steps are Sunscreen and Lip Balm. For SPF, right now I’m using this SPF from The Ordinary. I love that it has antioxidants (which help protect your skin from pollution) in the formulation. My favorite lip product of all time is Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask. I actually use it morning and night. :) I like to put a tiny bit on at the end of my skincare routine before I do my makeup. My lips get really dry since living in LA, so this helps keep them plump and hydrated.