My morning skincare routine explained

After purchasing and watching makeupzone's skin makeup course, I realized with all the explanations she gives in every video that we, specially in the beauty community, tend to mention all the products we use but without giving a proper explanation as to why we are using them.

My morning skincare routine explained

Before buying a product I always take a couple of days to think about it; if it fits in my skincare routine, how it will work with other products, how it will affect my skin etc., I just don't slap anything I come across on my skin. After thinking about it for a while I thought this post could not only bring light into why I use the products I use, and in the order I do it, but maybe give ideas to some of you, either to incorporate new things onto your routine or even to change how you look at products.

It has been long since I last used a foam or gel cleanser during the morning, I don't see a point in using a higher aggressive cleanser when all you've done is sleep. I do think that you should clean your face before applying the proper skincare, just not the same cleanser that you use after a whole day out and wearing makeup. The first thing I do when I wake up is clean my face with just water, to take off excess of sleeping pack (if there is) and just because I like splashing water on my face. Then I dry off my face with my face towel (read about it here) and I apply the only cleansing water I've ever liked in my life: The Saem Healing Tree Cleansing water. It varies between this Green Tea one and the Tea Tree one, the latter being my favorite. I just apply it all over my face with a cotton pad, and it leaves my face fresh and clean, without drying it.

I have oily skin so I need to keep sebum product and
breakouts controlled, that's why I use the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid every single day as my second step. I don't believe in over exfoliation if you're using the correct products, and it's been almost a year of me using a form of BHA every day, and my skin has never looked better. Actives have to be applied before anything else so they can actually penetrate onto the skin without anything opposing to it. I apply it with my fingertips to not waste any product on cotton pads, and I leave it on for 20 minutes before applying any other product- I like to be sure that the skin has absorbed all the BHA it can before moving on with my routine.

Even if I don't believe in over exfoliation, and BHA has never dry out my skin, I like to prevent all of that and apply a hydrating toner afterwards. This one is the Hada Labo Goku-jyun Light Lotion, one of the multiple versions of the infamous toner. I have the one recommended for oily skins, hence the word "light", and it's an amazing toner that both hydrates and prepares the skin for the next steps. Even sometimes, when I'm running really short on time, I skip the following step by applying another layer of this lotion. I have to say that after using this and the Hatomugi Skin Conditioner, I might gravitate towards Japanese toners more, these two have been just amazing. 

I don't have a lot of time to do my skincare routines on the mornings, specially with the 20 minutes that I use just for the BHA, so the steps have to short but good. I love this Laneige Fresh Calming Serum because it's a great moisturizing serum without being too rich, so I can apply two pumps of this wait just a minute or two while I'm applying my eye cream, pat a little, and my skin is ready to apply the last moisturizer. 

I'm not picky with eye creams as long as they absorb
rather fast because I do eye makeup every day, so that's really the only requisite I search when shopping for day-time eye creams. This Naruko Marjoram a fulfills that greatly, plus it actually reduces the "grayness" of under eye circles- don't get me wrong, it's a total gimmick because of the eye cream color, but it really comes in handy when doing my makeup. I apply eye cream on the under eye area but also on the upper lids and on the outside, where crown's feet would be otherwise, so I really need fast-absorbing and lightweight eye cream. 

The last step in my skin care routine (not taking into account sunscreen) is a good moisturizer. I like applying lotions or creams, because even if I have oily skin, a serum or ampoule isn't going to fully moisturize and lock the moisture. I prefer for this gel-type creams or lightweighted lotions because they absorb faster (remember I do my makeup every single morning) and are far better for oily skin than thick creams. The one I'm using right now it the su:m37 Water-Full Rebalancing Gel Lotion and I love it because even if it's a gel, when applying it on the skin it feels powdery, and it gets absorbed really fast while providing incredible moisture. 

This is an optional step that I don't always do, but I make sure it's my actual last step before applying makeup. If I have active acne the last thing I want to do is further infect the area, so I use the byWishtrend 1% TECA Barrier Cream to form a protective film and separate it from the actual makeup, and also get the benefits of the cream to heal the breakout faster. In the past I used to create this "protective film" with the La Roche Posay Effaclar-Duo, but I feel like the byWishtrend cream has a lot more beneficial properties for the skin.

My morning skincare routine explained

No matter the products I'm using, my overall routine always looks like this (cleanser-active-toner-moisturizers). I never introduce any drastic change into it, or more than a new product at a time, giving my skin time to adjust. I think the best way to find a routine that works for you is not to rely on products, but rather on formulas- not necessarily ingredient lists, but a skincare routine formula that works for your skin.