Let’s start with this: We believe in simplicity. You don’t need 20 products to achieve beautiful results and keep you glowing. That said, your mindset differs from morning to evening and so do the needs of your skin. The start of the day is all about energizing, preparing and protecting while the end of the day is made for unwinding, relaxing and recovery.
So what are the building blocks of each routine? Let’s break them down step-by-step.
In the morning
1. Cleansing
Since most people cleanse both morning and night, your morning cleanse is less about removing debris. Instead it’s meant to clear away any impurities and prepare your skin for the day ahead. You can use your fingertips, a soft wash cloth or a mild cleansing brush. Just choose a gentle, skin balancing formula that creates the perfect canvas for hydration. Still waking up? We recommend washing with warm water and rinsing with cool water. This is great for your skin but it also adds a little morning “zing” to kickstart your day. We love our Gentle Exfoliating SKIN Cleanser both morning and night for its gentle yet invigorating exfoliation capabilities. Then pat dry.
2. Applying serum
Think of serum as a protective base layer for your skin. It’s essentially a shield from the outside elements that simultaneously attracts moisture and defends the skin’s precious barrier. This is especially important during drier months. Our SKIN Intensive Hydrating Serum is packed with hyaluronic acid and antioxidants to visibly improve firmness and elasticity while replenishing lost elastin for long term benefits. To make sure you’re getting the most out of each product, we recommend letting them “set” for 30-60 seconds between layers to maximize absorption.
3. Moisturizing
This is the single most important step throughout the day. You want a nice, healthy dose of moisture at the start of the day to keep your skin healthy, comfy, smooth and radiant. Whether you go out fresh-faced or fully glammed, you never want to skip this crucial step. Our Rejuvenating SKIN Facial Moisturizer works on a deeper level — instantly moisturizing while hydrating from within as it helps your body replenish lost elastin to visibly reduce fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots. It also protects against blue light, oxidation and damage caused by free radicals.
4. Adding SPF
Anytime you’re going outside (the car counts!) you need a good quality broad-spectrum sunscreen. You can layer it on after your moisturizer or even put it on after your makeup. There are several options for powder or even setting spray formulas. The best cure is prevention and SPF is the ticket to timelessly beautiful, even skin at any age.
5. Nourishing hair, lashes & brows
As the final step in your morning routine, give your hair the boost it needs for optimal health and fullness. Before adding any eye makeup or skin tints, swipe on our LASH Follicle Fortifying Serum and BROW Shape Altering Serum and let them work their magic all day long. Whether your hair is damp or dry, work in our HAIR Vibrant Scalp Treatment and style as usual for thicker, fuller looking hair in 12 weeks or less.
In the evening
1. Removing makeup
Went bare today? You can skip this step. Otherwise it’s a good idea to start with a thorough double-cleanse, beginning with an oil-based makeup remover or cleansing balm before your usual cleanser. This tackles stubborn, long wearing and waterproof makeup and removes dirt and debris from the day.
2. Cleansing
Your evening cleanse should be lightly exfoliating to slough off any dead skin cells and keep your complexion bright. It’s okay to use the same formula morning and night. Ours does double-duty! For a more spa-like cleansing experience when you have a couple of extra minutes, we recommend starting your second cleanse with a warm towel or compress to open the pores and calm the mind. Apply for 2-3 minutes and enjoy the stillness.
3. Targeting issues
Before applying any products, you can start this step with a mini facial massage using a roller or gua sha. This is when your serums and active ingredients come in — working overtime during the body’s repair phase while you sleep. In general, it’s a good idea to layer products by consistency from thinnest to thickest. Start with your essence or serum before moving onto heavier formulas like gels and lotions. We mentioned pausing between layers but you may want to wait a bit longer when it comes to targeted treatments like retinoids or acids. Read instructions carefully to avoid irritation and get the most “bang” from each use.
4. Moisturizing
Seal in all the goodness and replenish moisture levels with a trusted moisturizer. We’re all about “slugging” too, which essentially calls for moisture-on-moisture. We like to end with our Rejuvenating SKIN Facial Moisturizer and then top it all off with a heavy duty layer of an ultra-thick night cream.
5. Nourishing hair, lashes & brows
The last thing you do before hitting the sheets should be pampering your hair follicles to help promote healthy growth. Apply your lash and brow serums before turning attention to your scalp. Massage in our HAIR Vibrant Scalp Treatment and prep for sleep with a gentle, restorative hairstyle using a silk scrunchie or bonnet to secure loose braids or a bun for added texture. Bonus points for satin pillowcases that help prevent skin pulling and hair breakage.
See? Your glow-getting dream routine doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. The most important element is consistency. Skin care is self-care so try to steal a few minutes for yourself at the beginning and end of each day. If you miss a day, give yourself grace. Life happens and there’s joy in spontaneity – just get back to your routine asap and look forward to gorgeous results.