I’m so excited to be sharing today’s post with you to talk about a refreshing morning skincare routine for spring! For the first time in my life, I feel confident and happy with my skin! Until now, I can’t think of a time in my adult life when I’ve felt 100% comfortable, leaving the house make-up free.
Last year my skin was a complete disaster! My skin suffered from severe acne, redness, texture issues, and dryness. I don’t even want to think about all the products I bought or things I tried to clear my skin. Nothing seemed to work. Looking back, I was making the problem much worse by irritating my skin with so many products.
In the fall, I decided to take inventory of everything I was putting on my skin and end-up starting from scratch when it came to everything I put on my skin. I dove deep into researching beauty products and ingredients. It is shocking to know what some brands put in their products.
Since refreshing my skincare routine, paying attention to what I’m putting on my skin, and being intentional about the areas I want to target and results I want, my skin has completely transformed. Last week, I was at Nordstrom wearing only blush, and one of the cosmetic girls complimented me on my “glowing” complexion. Best compliment ever!
With spring just beginning, this is the perfect opportunity to refresh your skincare routine. I wanted to share my morning routine and what products have been working well. I think you’ll be surprised at how simple my morning routine is.
A Refreshing Morning Skincare Routine For Spring
1 // Cleanser
3 // Moisturizer
4 // SPF
1. Cleanser // This is the one area of my skincare routine that I like to switch up routinely. Because cleanser isn’t on the skin for too long, I like to try out different brands. As long as they are formulated to get my make-up off and gently clean my skin, I’m willing to try new ones every few months. The one cleanser that I always keep on hand is this one from Philosophy. It leaves my skin feeling refreshed and hydrated. Two of my other favorites are this one from FRESH and this one from Tatcha. But like I said, I’m not loyal to one in particular.
I don’t double cleanse because I’m trying to keep my skincare as simple as possible. I know many of you do double cleanse, so I wanted to share a tip – your first cleanser should be oil-based or micellar water, and your second cleanser can be a gel or foam for a deeper clean.
(2.) Toner or Essense
I’m a huge advocate of using either essence or toner. Technically, I guess you could use both, but in the spirit of keeping things simple and allowing my skin to get all the benefits of each product, it’s not necessary. If you’re interested, I’m happy to do an in-depth post on the difference between essence and toner.
Here’s the cliff note version – toner is the final step of your cleansing routine, and essence is the first step of your treatment routine. Toner is used to restore your skin’s ideal pH balance and remove any leftover impurities and dead skin. Using a toner also helps diminish the appearance of pores. Essence formulas work to target fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and boosts your skin’s receptiveness to moisture.
2. Essence // I swear by SK-II Essence. I wholeheartedly stand behind the claims that this is ‘miracle water.’ After six months of daily use, all my previous scars from acne and my smile-line are practically non-existent. I’ve never been someone who feels comfortable leaving the house without make-up, but lately, I spend more days make-up free because of how confident I feel in my skin. I totally credit this face transformation to Essence. Let’s address the obvious – the price of this product is outrageous, but the results are worth every penny. It would be ideal to buy this during the Spring Sephora sale.
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2. Toner // When my acne was really flaring up last year, I decided to use toner to balance my skin’s pH level after using some intense cleansers. Toner made a drastic difference in helping the texture of my bumpy skin. If you have acne or very oily skin, toner is a great addition to your skincare. Apply toner immediately after cleansing. I love this one from Klairs! If you have sensitive skin, I know you’ll also love it!
4. Moisturizer // I mention this moisturizer in almost every beauty post I write. I’ve been using it for 2 years and I love everything about it! I use this as a daily moisturizer, morning eye cream, and as a weekly mask. Lovely tip -leave it in the refrigerator overnight for an extra cooling effect.
5. SPF // I’m all about skin protection! We all know the risks of sun damage to your skin. The week-long tan isn’t worth the lifetime of damaged cells, wrinkles, spots, and risk of cancer. SPF is something you should never skip. This one from Supergoop! is amazing. It also protects from blue light (light from computers and phones). This formula is excellent because it serves as a make-up primer as well. Apply this after your moisturizer.
a little something extra
Vitamin C // Last fall, I began incorporating vitamin C into my morning routine to act as a treatment for anti-aging. After a month of consistent use, my complexion was noticeably brighter. Adding Vitamin C also works to protect your skin from environmental stressors throughout the day, making sure your other products work their magic without interruption. Think of it as insurance for your other products.
The only reason I haven’t been using it lately is that I ran out of product. I’m waiting on the Sephora sale before I repurchase this serum. If I start to notice my skin becoming a dull or losing elasticity, I’ll move this to a regular in my routine; for now, it’s more of a luxury step.
Two final notes about Vitamin C serums – they’re going to smell like hot dogs. Why? I’ve done a lot of research and haven’t found a reasonable answer. Don’t let the hot dog smell scare you, I promise it doesn’t linger on your face. The 10-second smell is a small price to pay for the serum’s collagen-boosting magic. Lastly, after you open your Vitamin C, be sure to store it in the refrigerator to prevent it from oxidizing.
I hope you enjoyed this post and it helped give you ideas on how to create a simple and refreshing morning skincare routine for spring.