Mastering Your Normal Skin Care Routine with Premium Products

Everyone knows mornings can be hurried and hectic, so we try to create ways to make the early hours go as smoothly as possible. One way is by having your normal skin care routine nailed down to readily put your best face forward for the day. But what if the clock is ticking and you’re not feeling so confident about using those potions sitting on your bathroom counter?

Whether you’re frustrated about using ineffective skincare products or just plain confused about what order they should go in, continue reading. To help you master your normal skin care routine, we’re discussing high-quality products that deliver beautifying results and which steps to layer them on. With the right tools and knowledge, you’ll be able to effortlessly take care of your skin even before the caffeine kicks in.

What Goes into a Normal Skin Care Routine?

We all have our go-to’s to help kickstart the AM, like a cup of joe, a yoga routine, or a puppy that needs to go potty, like, now. While your brain is waking up, your skin also needs some help to begin its day. Depending on your skin type, it can feel extra dry or extra oily in the morning and can use a reset from eye crust and pillow lines.

A normal skin care routine should cleanse, replenish, and protect your skin so it feels balanced and comfortable during a typical day. Your routine is also an opportunity to tackle bothersome skin dilemmas, like uneven tone or unwanted fine lines. With time and consistency, the right premium products will result in healthy, glowing skin.

Before getting to the order of things, figure out how your skin behaves throughout the day first. Knowing your skin type will help you decipher which kind of products to use and how often to apply them. Determining your type is super simple by noticing the following traits:

• Dry – Skin feels papery, flakes or cracks without frequent moisturizing.
• Normal – Skin looks and feels even stevens throughout the day. Jackpot.
• Oily – Skin gets shiny and feels heavy; pores appear enlarged.
• Combination – A fun mix of any of the above.
• Sensitive – Skin can be any of the mentioned types, but you need to be extra careful with products to prevent a reaction.

Remember that your skin can change throughout the years, so it’s good to regularly keep in touch with what’s happening above and around the neck. Once you’ve gathered this valuable information, it’s time to put your normal skin care routine to practice.

First Things First: Cleansing and Toning

Everyone knows the first step of a normal skin care routine. Washing your face lets you start fresh by removing grime, makeup, and excess oil. A replenishing formula, like Grown Alchemist’s Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser, is best at eliminating impurities without leaving that dry, tight feeling regular soap causes. It uses plant actions from luxurious floral oils, citrus oils, and extracts to leave all skin types feeling refreshed and ready to move to the next step.

Next up, toning is often seen as optional after cleansing, but it’s an excellent way to remove leftover residue and rebalance your skin’s pH. Instead of double cleansing, dry skin types will feel a soothing clean by including PCA Skin’s Hydrating Facial Toner in their normal skincare routine. This indulgent, antioxidant-rich formula prepares your skin for serums and moisturizers with just a few swipes of a cotton round. Antioxidants protect your skin from the aging effects of free radical damage, and who wouldn’t want that?

Combination and oily skin types can get a deep-down clean with Dr. Dennis Gross’ Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads. It uses a blend of 5 AHAs and BHAs, which are naturally derived acids that smooth rough spots, clear acne, even tone, and unclog pores. This daily, two-step process has one pad for deep treatment and another pad to neutralize their powerful actions. Now you’re set up for serum action!

Next: A Concentrated Serum

After your skin is cleansed and toned, it’s ready to absorb concentrated serums that target your problem areas. The simply formulated iS Clinical Active Serum is a multi-tasking marvel. It utilizes the power of several botanicals, like willow bark and sugarcane, to boost cell turnover for smoother, brighter skin.

You’ll clear breakouts, blemishes, and hyperpigmentation, then quickly notice improved fine lines and wrinkles. This refreshing, cooling anti-aging serum is balanced to adapt to all skin types, so everyone can add it to their normal skin care routine.

Finally: Moisturizer and Sunscreen

These last two steps are combined because sunscreen is an essential, non-negotiable part of preventative skin care. Smart sun behavior and wearing daily sunscreen are the best ways to prevent UV damage that ages the skin and potentially causes skin cancer. You can apply your favorite moisturizer first, then some SPF 30 sunscreen, or go for a 2-in-1 that’ll save a step and precious time.

Elta MD’s UV Daily SPF 40 Broad Spectrum Moisturizing Facial Sunscreen is a richly hydrating cream that draws and seals in moisture so your skin won’t dry out throughout the day. It quickly absorbs for a smooth, radiant finish that isn’t greasy or heavy, so if makeup is part of your normal skincare routine, you won’t be waiting around. This vegan formula is fragrance- and allergen-free, so even the most sensitive skin types can give this one a try.

For oily skin (yes, you need moisture, too), use IMAGE Skincare’s Prevention Plus Daily Matte SPF 30. Since you come with your own glow, this light, mattifying sunscreen will provide the ideal skin prep with or without makeup. It uses hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate and control oil production. And both sunscreens are formulated with premium, non-comedogenic ingredients that meet the AAD’s recommendations for the best broad-spectrum sun protection.

Let’s Summarize

If you’re ever lost in the shuffle, just remember to cleanse first, then apply products from lightest to heaviest. You’ll never find a thick, heavy toner or a watery sunscreen, so it’s a good rule of thumb. Products that fall outside your normal skin care routine, like a hydrating sheet mask, should always be used on cleansed skin.

Yup, it’s really that simple. So if you want more advice to simplify your life, check out our Beauty Resource Center. To quote everyone’s high school English teacher, “Knowledge is power,” and it’s the key to making the best beauty decisions in a snap.