How Your Morning Skincare Routine Prevents Aging

For anyone concerned about aging skin, it’s pretty typical that we focus on including all the best corrective measures at night to reduce our wrinkles, dark circles and age spots overnight while we sleep. However, your morning routine is all about prevention. With a majority of aging coming from daily exposure to sunlight, you’ll have a lot less to correct every night if you protect your skin during the day. Below is a simple morning guide to making the most out of preventative skincare that will start your day off right.

1. Start with a clean slate by washing your face with a gentle cleanser every morning. This helps to remove any excess oil, dirt, and makeup from the night before, as well as any dead skin cells your skin has sloughed off while you slept. As always, avoid using hot water so you don’t strip your skin of its natural oils and cause dryness. Instead, opt for lukewarm water.
2. Our next step is optional, and there’s no harm in skipping it if you don’t like using toners. But if you do, now’s the time to use a toner to help balance the pH of your skin and prepare it for the rest of your skincare routine. Look for toners that contain ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which help to hydrate and plump the skin.
3. Now it’s time for prevention! Follow up with a serum that targets your specific skincare concerns. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, look for a serum with ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help control excess oil and breakouts. If you have dry or sensitive skin, opt for a serum with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, lipids, ceramides, or aloe vera. But one ingredient we stress more than any other in the morning (besides your sunscreen) is vitamin C. Any antioxidant serum will benefit, but vitamin C is exceptionally good at holding in your skin’s moisture every day and helping correct pigmentation issues caused by the sun. It will be a much needed layer of protection to help fight any UV light that sneaks past your sunblock.
4. After your serum, it's time to moisturize. Look for a moisturizer that is formulated for your skin type (oily, dry, combination, etc.). For example, if you have normal to dry skin, you’ll do fine with a moisturizer like Daily Youth Crème. If you have extremely dry or sensitive skin, something like Intense Lipid Hydrating Crème will help correct the lack of moisture in your skin. And if you have oily skin that you’re worried about congesting, stick with a moisturizer like Filler In A Bottle, which will calm your skin with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to calm redness.
5. Now it’s time to apply sunscreen. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Be sure to apply it to all exposed areas of your skin, including your face, neck, ears, and hands. We recommend Purely Physical SPF 47 for a basic physical sunscreen that gets the job done. If you want something to blend with your makeup a little better, HA Physical Tint SPF 44 will give you a light, universal base. And if you need something extra light for acne-prone or sensitive skin, try a more sheer sunscreen like Ultra Sheer Sunscreen SPF 50.

Since sunscreen can wear off throughout the day, you should reapply it if you plan on being outdoors at all throughout the day. Try keeping a translucent powdered sunscreen like this one in your bag to keep your skin protected without messing up your makeup.

By following these simple skincare tips and using the right products, you can keep your skin looking healthy and radiant every morning. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment for more skincare product tips and suggestions at 561.805.9399 or info@supriyamd.com.