Start the Day with a No-Fail Morning Skincare Routine for Your Skin Type

Pop quiz! True or false: There is a right way to layer skincare products. The answer is definitely “true,” and here’s why. Your skincare products actually work better when they’re applied in a certain order. It all starts with your routine skincare habits. These habits look a little different for everyone and depend on your skin type. The skincare products in your morning face routine should also be customized based on your skin type. (More on this below.)

So, why even have a daily morning skincare routine? You need to wash away dirt, debris, and dead skin to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy. That, and your face actually attracts oil, dust, and even bacteria that your cozy pillow case collects.

Plus, this routine can actually be a mood booster. A mindful skincare routine means paying a little extra attention to the products you use, how the products smell, and the way the products feel on your skin. According to Frontiers in Psychology, mindfulness activities directly affect your mental health and well-being.

What better way to start the day than prepping your natural beauty for all that’s ahead? When things in your life feel uncertain, a simple routine that you control can help relieve stress and give you something to look forward to every morning. We’re all about those feel-good vibes. So, here’s how to kick-start your morning with an easy morning face routine for your skin type.

Morning Skincare for Normal Skin

What “normal” really means is that your skin is well-balanced — not too oily, not too dry. Your T-zone (forehead, chin, nose) is usually the area that might get oily. Normal skin can generally get away with using most skincare products.

Step 1: Wash your face with the cleanser of your choice. A cleanser with vitamin C does wonders for waking up the skin and senses (hint, hint, nudge, nudge). Pat dry with a towel.

Optional Step 2: Apply a small amount of face toner on a cotton ball or pad. Swipe it over your face to remove impurities and to act as a primer for the rest of your skincare products. Don’t rinse.

Step 3: Massage a quarter-size amount of hydrating moisturizer all over face. You can do it in an upward circular motion.

Optional Step 4: If you have a pimple popping up, treat it with an acne spot treatment containing salicylic acid.

Final Step: SPF! Protect your gorgeous well-balanced skin with a lightweight sunscreen of at least SPF 30.

Morning Skincare for Oily Skin

Oily skin means you have excess oil on your T-zone and elsewhere on the face. It might look shiny and feel kind of greasy. Having a consistent routine and choosing the right products for oily skin can make that shine go bye.

Step 1: Cleanse skin and remove excess oil with a foaming cleanser. Pat dry with a towel.

Step 2: Apply a small amount of face toner on a cotton ball or pad. Swipe it over your face to remove impurities and control oil. Don’t rinse.

Step 3: Oily skin is often lacking hydration so you need to replenish it. Massage a quarter-size amount of hydrating moisturizer all over face in an upward circular motion.

Bonus Tip: Keep a pack of super portable oil absorbing sheets (aka blotting papers) in your bag or at your desk. You can use them to dab away extra oil throughout the day.

Morning Skincare for Dry Skin

If your skin feels tight, it’s probably lacking hydration. Dry skin might peel, feel rough to the touch and flake. Gentle skincare is key for taking good care of dry skin.

Step 1: Quench thirsty skin with a gel face wash. They’re usually water-based and can help maintain moisture throughout the day. Pat dry with a towel.

Step 2: Massage a quarter-size amount of hydrating moisturizer all over face. You can do it in an upward circular motion.

Step 3: Protect your skin from the elements with an oil-free sunscreen. It should have a minimum of SPF 30.

Morning Skincare for Combination Skin

Caring for combination skin might seem tricky, but it doesn’t have to be. Combo skin is usually when you have an oily T-zone paired with normal-to-dry areas on the cheeks. A good morning face routine and skincare combo is all you need.

Step 1: Wash your face with a vitamin C and ginseng cleanser or a foaming cleanser that offers you a much-needed burst of morning freshness. Pat dry with a towel.

Step 2: Apply a small amount of face toner on a cotton ball or pad. Swipe it over your face to get rid of excess oil and impurities. Don’t rinse.

Step 3: Replenish hydration, especially on those dry areas. Massage a quarter-size amount of hydrating moisturizer all over face in an upward circular motion.

Step 4: Top it all off with a gentle, oil-free facial sunscreen. It should be at least SPF 30.

Morning Skincare for Acne-Prone Skin

Acne-prone skin means it’s more likely to break out. Think whiteheads, blackheads, and bumpy red patches. The right kind of acne treatment paired with a regular skincare regimen can get you that much closer to clearer skin.

Step 1: Wash your face using an acne cleanser formulated with benzoyl peroxide. Leave it on for 30 seconds up to a couple of minutes for maximum impact. Rinse. Pat dry with a towel.

Step 2: Remove excess oil and dirt with an oil-free toner. Just put a few drops on a cotton ball or pad and swipe all over skin. Pay close attention to the T-zone.

Step 3: Blemish-prone skin still needs hydration. Apply a small amount of oil-free moisturizer to treat and prevent new pimples from forming.

Step 4: Target blemishes by applying a thin layer of your choice acne treatment. A benzoyl peroxide spot treatment will kill bacteria. A salicylic acid spot treatment will help reduce redness and size. Use sparingly to prevent your skin from over-drying.

Step 5: When you use active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and/or salicylic acid, you need to wear sunscreen to protect skin from harmful UV light. Look for one that won’t clog pores (non-comedogenic) and is made specifically for acne-prone skin.

Now that you have your morning skincare routine dialed in — which is 100% easier than picking out an outfit — we want to know: What’s your self-care skincare moment? Show us with the tag #ClearMoments.