While the makeup industry dominated the beauty market in the 2010s, in a post-pandemic era, there has been a surge in the beauty world, a shift from the heavy contouring and intricate smokey eyes to a more natural approach, enhancing and illuminating the natural features of women’s complexion.
The “clean girl aesthetic.”, in stark contrast to the Kardashian look so coveted for nearly a decade, no longer counts with endless layers of foundation and concealer to hide whatever imperfection – in fact, it does the very opposite: it wages war on those imperfections by seeking to hide them no longer, but instead, to treat them. A healthy, glowy skin has become the new object of desire for women across the globe. The skincare industry heard the urge for innovation and compatibility to the modern lifestyle, responding with considerable technological evolution and providing a vast range of products for all budgets and skin types.
Arises, for the modern woman, the question of how to even start a skincare routine, given how constantly bombarded we are with different information and paid content providers who may not even have tried the skincare product they swear to have changed their lives.
Here we help you build a complete morning routine for glowing skin for all ages and skin types.
- Cleaning
Approximate duration: 2 minutes
To begin your routine, you must first see your facewash as your closest companion in your skincare journey. Every night while you sleep, your skin not only accumulates sweat and dead skin cells but also produces sebum, which is blackheads’ favourite feast – the sebum clogs the pores, then the clogged pores become blackheads -. To prevent and treat them, the first step is to clean your skin every day in the morning.
Besides removing the nighttime buildup, using a good cleanser is also important for balancing your skin’s pH, which translates as a strong skin barrier to protect against bacteria and irritant agents. The other benefits of washing your face and using a refreshing cleanser include stimulating blood flow and preparing the skin to absorb the next steps of your skincare routine.
It is important to choose your face wash according to your skin type and needs.
Author’s tip: In order to effectively cleanse your skin and absorb the benefits of your cleanser, I recommend gently, circularly rubbing the product on your face for approximately 30 seconds. If you are doing it in the shower, use it on your neck as well, so it may benefit from the anti-aging properties of your facewash.
- Toner
Using a quality toner in your morning skincare routine is a vital step for the ultimate glowing look. The toner acts as a second cleaning agent, removing whatever impurity the cleanser didn’t. It also ads a layer of moisture which helps giving a fresher look to the skin. Additionally, its use helps serums and moisturizers penetrate deeper and work more effectively.
The best strategy to carry out to choose your daily toner is identifying elements, ingredients and brands that work well for your skin. Each skin has different demands, and identifying yours will be vital for this step.
Author’s Tip: Toners with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin C tend to be great options for a hydrated, healthy and glowy look.
- Serum
Serums are your most powerful weapon for a radiant, bright and glowing skin. For your morning routine, it’s important to choose a serum that targets exactly your skin needs at this time of the day, when we are most exposed to agents such as pollution and UV rays. Antioxidants and hidrating agents are the most suitable for such purpose.
Serums with vitamin C and niacinamide are particularly interesting for those who wish to attain a radiant glowing skin: They not only act as shields for free radicals, which are responsible for premature aging, uneven skin tone and dulness, but also help fade dark spots and even out pigmantations, which provides thes skin a fresh, healthy glow.
Author’s Tip: Pair a Vitamin C toner with a Hyaluronic Acid serum. Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C complement each other beautifully when it comes to providing you the perfect glowing skin. This happens because when both elements are used together, they enhance each other’s action. While the hyaluronic acid locks in hydration and plumps the skin, this stronger barrier helps preserve vitamin C’s antioxidant effects longer.
- Moistuirising
Moistuirising after serum is a crucial step of your morning skincare routine. The moistuiriser will help lock in all the benefits of your serum, preventing its ingredients and moisture from evaporating. It further strengthens the skin barrier, protecting it from external agents and dryness. It’s important to know that while serums provide an initial boost, moisturizers retain that hydration by forming a barrier that slows water loss. Without a moisturizer, hyaluronic acid can even pull water out of the skin in dry environments.
Moistuirising also helps sunscreen to glide on smoothly, ensuring even coverage and better sun protection. It also creates a smoother glowy canvas for makeup, preventing flaking or patchiness.
- Sunscreen
Perhaps one of the most important morning skincare step, the often overlooked sunscreen might very well be the difference between a dull and a glowy skin. The consistent use of sunscreen not only prevent a series of health conditions, such as skin cancer, but also help maintain collagen and keep skin firm and youthful. Considering that up to 90% of visible skin aging (wrinkles, fine lines, sagging, dark spots) is caused by UV radiation, consistently using sunscreen is advisable for all ages and skin types.
- Ice Roller
Ice rollers are a powerful, accessible tool to increase skin glow and enhance its appearance. Ranging from $5 to $150, ice rollers are easy to include in modern women’s routine and a must-have if you are looking for extra glowing skin.
But why would you want to roll ice on your face at first thing in the morning? The answer lies in the several benefits of the practice: It reduces morning puffiness and under-eye bags; soothes inflammation and redness, which is particularly interesting to those with acne-prone or sensitive skin; stimulates blood flow, leading to a natural glow and more even skin tone; tightens pores, giving your skin a temporarily firmer look and minimising the appearance of pores. This means it’s a valuable tool for both mature women looking for a firmer complexion and wrinkle reduction and for young women with acne issues.
Author’s tip: As the ice rollers enhance product absorption, they are best used after the serum step, as it helps seal the products and soothe the skin. Remember to always clean it before and after use!