My Morning Skin Care Routine and What I Use (all skin types)

However, no matter how tired I am, I always make time for my morning skin care routine, because consistent skin care is important and not something to skip – ever!

A good skin care routine doesn’t have to be complicated either – you just need to know the basics to keep skin happy, healthy and protected.

Below is my morning skin care routine that works for all seasons – you just have to adjust your products to be more or less hydrating as your skin care needs change with the season. I lay out all the cleansers, toners, serums and more that I use and identify which ones are better for oily, dry, sensitive or blemished skin – so all skin types are welcome!

I’ll also be sure to point out which steps are optional or better suited to certain skin types and which steps – like wearing sunscreen when you go outside – are mandatory!

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1. Morning Cleanse (a must!)

Washing your face in the morning is an important step, as it removes any oil, sweat, drool or gunky bits that have built up on your skin overnight.

I love using a gentle cleanser in the morning, like CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser; it’s super gentle on skin and perfect for washing away all the nasty stuff without stripping every last bit of moisture. It’s also perfect for all skin types.

When I’m looking to cut through the oil in the summer months, a gentle foaming cleanser like the Cosrx Low pH Morning Cleanser, the Belif Aqua Bomb Jelly Cleanser or Vichy’s Purete Thermale are always on hand.

Drier skin types should use a cream or oil-based cleanser in the morning to soothe and moisturize skin a little bit more, especially in the cold winter months; I myself switch over to a cream cleanser in the winter months for more hydration, even with my combo/oily skin. The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser is a gentle cream cleanser that cleans without stripping skin and is one of my favourite gentle cleansers when my skin is irritated or needs some TLC.

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2. Exfoliating and Hydrating Toners (optional, but highly recommended)

Exfoliating/Acid Toners

I’ve been an exfoliating toner lover since I was a teen and never miss the chance to tone my skin after cleansing. Exfoliating toners are great for breaking down dead skin cells that can accumulate on the surface of the skin and clog pores or leave skin looking flaky and dull. They are applied right after washing your face and are not to be rinsed off.

Any skin type can use an exfoliating toner, you just need to find the right exfoliant for your skin type and only use it as much as your skin tolerates it (e.g. drier or more sensitive skin types will need a gentler toner that is used less often, while other skin types may be able to exfoliate daily or use stronger acid concentrations).

Tip: If you have dry skin, I would recommend using an exfoliating toner in your night time routine instead. The Paula’s Choice 1% BHA Sensitive Skin Exfoliant for its gentle, yet effective exfoliating formula.

My morning exfoliating toner is either the COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant or the COSRX Two In One Poreless Power Liquid – all of which great for normal, oily, or acne prone skin because of their beta-hydroxy acid content that deep cleans pores and kills blackheads dead.

They’re also super gentle and hydrating and won’t burn or tingle on the skin.

If you have dry or sensitive skin, consider using an exfoliating toner only once or twice a week and at night instead of in the morning to reduce the potential for irritation.

If your skin gets dry or flaky, exfoliate less often and/or opt for a more gentle exfoliant.

Other exfoliating toners that I enjoy are:

–The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution – great for all skin types, use as tolerated (reviewed here).

–Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner – great for brightening and de-clogging pores (reviewed here).

–Cosrx AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid – AHA exfoliating toner to remove whiteheads and dull skin (reviewed here).

Hydrating Toners

I follow my exfoliating toners with a good splash of a hydrating toner to add moisture, soothe and adjust my skin’s pH after exfoliating. If you don’t want to use an exfoliating toner, I would still recommend using a hydrating toner for the moisture they can provide, especially if you have dry or dehydrated skin.

If your skin is dry or drier than normal due to colder weather, you can apply multiple layers of your hydrating toner for some extra moisture (also known in Korean circles as the 7-Skins Method).

Soothing/hydrating toners that I have loved are:

–Klairs Supple Preparation Toner – great for normal/dry skin (reviewed here)

–I’m From Rice Toner – great for brightening dull skin (reviewed here).

–The Body Shop Vitamin E Hydrating Toner – very lightweight hydration.

3. Essences and Serums (both optional, but recommended)

Essences

I love using an essence to further hydrate my skin and prep it for everything that follows. While using an essence is an optional skin care step, they are a great way to layer your skin with extra moisture – especially in the winter – and get some extra glow.

Their lightweight formula also make essences great for oily skin types, as they provide hydration without being greasy or heavy on the skin.

Essences are usually a runny, watery liquid, lotion or lightweight gel that you pat onto the skin with your hands or with a cotton pad (I prefer applying it with my hands). Many essences also contain treating ingredients and antioxidants to keep skin clear, bright and healthy in a gentle, hydrating formula.

Some of the essences I’ve used and loved are:

–I’m From Fig Boosting Essence (gently hydrates, brightens and exfoliates, reviewed here)

–e.l.f. Cosmetics Hydrating Water Essence (hydrates and includes niacinamide to fight oil and minimize pore size, reviewed here)

–Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence (lightweight, soothing and hydrating – great for oily skin)

–Cosrx Snail Mucin Essence (great for acne/blemishes, reviewed here)

–Hadalabo Gokujun Hyaluronic Lotion Moist (super hydrating light weight gel, for dry/dehydrated skin or winter dryness)

–By Wishtrend Quad Acrtive Boosting Essence

Tip: If you are looking for some extra glow or have dry skin, slip on a hydrating sheet mask before applying your serum!

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Serums

Serums are also optional, but are highly recommended because they contain ingredients to target specific skin care concerns or promote overall skin health.

Serums are often runny liquids, lotions or lightweight gels that are applied before moisturizing. I usually apply any serums I use after I apply my essence and before applying my moisturizer and sunscreen.

In my morning skin care routine, I love to use either a hydrating serum to boost glow or a treatment serum that targets my large pores and skin texture (like The Ordinary Matrixyl for fine lines and wrinkles).

If you suffer from enlarged pores/acne or excess oil, The Ordinary Niacinamide Serum (reviewed here) or the Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster, would be great options

For dry skin types, a targeted hydrating serum like The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid serum or the cult favourite Vichy Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid serum would be great to add at this stage.

If you suffer from acneic/inflamed or sensitive skin that needs some extra soothing care, I loved the Purito Centella Green Level Buffet Serum (reviewed here).

Antioxidant serums are also a great way to protect the skin from free radical damage and promote collagen production. The Paula’s Choice Vitamin C15 Super Booster and the Kiehl’s Vitamin C Concentrate Serum (reviewed here) are two vitamin C serums in my rotation that I enjoyed.

I also like to add in a drop of The Ordinary Resveratrol + Ferulic Acid serum to boost the antioxidant punch.

3. Eye Cream (optional)

A lot of people don’t feel they need to use an eye cream in their morning skin care routine and it honestly depends on your skin care needs in that area. Eye creams are usually thinner and lighter in consistency and work to target issues like puffiness or dark under eyes.

Heavier moisturizers can clog pores around your eyes and cause milia (those little white bumps) to form under or on your eyes. You also don’t want moisturizer ending up in your eyes, especially if they aren’t opthamologist tested.

I enjoy the Indeed Labs Eysilix II eye cream or The Inkey List Caffeine Eye Cream – both are super lightweight, affordable and provide great hydration while reducing darkness and puffiness. A pricier option that really helps with my under-eye puffiness is the Dr. Brandt Needles No More eye cream.

For an all-around hydrating eye cream when things get drier, I use the Mizon Snail Repair eye cream – it comes in a tub and lasts forever!

4. Apply Moisturizer and Sunscreen (non-negotiable!)

Moisturize For Your Skin Type and the Season

No matter what your skin type, even oily, skin needs to be hydrated to stay healthy and happy. In summer, opt for lighter moisturizing lotions or gels that don’t have heavy emollients that can make skin too greasy in the heat.

Gel moisturizers are also great for oily skin types that need less moisture during the day. In colder, drier months, go with heavier moisturizers, like creams and balms, that pack a little more punch and protect skin from getting too parched.

My favourite moisturizers for the morning are:

–Garnier SkinActive Gel, Normal/Combo Skin – awesome for normal/oily skin looking for lightweight hydration

–Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light – great for normal/oily skin, reviewed here. Vichy has a “Rich” version for dry skin here.

–Klairs Fundamental Water Gel Cream – a lightweight lotion great for normal/dry skin types (reviewed here).

–Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb (oily/combo skin) and Belif The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb (dry skin) – reviewed both here).

–Dr. Belmeur Advanced Cica Hydro Cream – perfect for inflamed/sensitive or combination skin (reviewed here).

– Avon x The Face Shop Mango Seed Moisturizing Butter – very heavy and for dry skin (reviewed here).

-Paula’s Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Moisturizer – for normal to oily skin.

-Selfless By Hyram Niacinamide & Maracuja Daily Barrier Moisturizer – for normal to oily skin.

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Sunscreen

I NEVER leave the house without some sort of SPF on my face, rain or shine, summer or winter. Sunscreen is essential for protecting skin from the sun’s harmful rays, which we know will contribute to fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and loss of elasticity.

Always use a broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 50 for full protection.

My favourite sunscreens to date that aren’t heavy or greasy are:

–Klairs All Day Airy Sunscreen SPF50 – a fave of mine, has a soft matte finish and feels like nothing on the skin – best for normal/oily skin.

–Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF50 – incredibly lightweight, fast absorbing – perfect for normal/oily skin (reviewed here).

–La Roche-Posay Anthelios Ultra-Fluid Mineral Sunscreen – great for normal/dry skin (reviewed here).