Skincare Routine: Morning

My morning skincare routine doesn’t vary quite often but, just the same I rotate out products once I use them up unless I see a significant difference, which in that case I would repurchase certain items here & there.

First things first…

Pre-Cleanse: I have been getting into the habit of pre-cleansing; which essentially is just a prep-cleanse before my actual cleanser. I am not saying that you NEED to pre-cleanse but, it helps along in the process of being able to help the skin get rid of dirt & impurities. My pre-cleanse cleanser (for nighttime as well) is & has been a micellar solution. For the morning, my pre-cleanse is Vichy’s 3-in-1 Micellar Cleansing Solution. From what I have seen, majority of micellar cleansers are great for sensitive skin types & have become a staple in the beauty world when it comes to the best kind of makeup-removers. I use this one by Vichy by soaking a cotton pad & gently swiping it across the face, which lifts up all dirt & impurities (your face does get dirty while you sleep!), which reveals a soft, clean complexion. I also find this particular one the best eye-makeup remover (better than Bioderma even, gasp!). After the prep is done, I get down to where the real action begins with my skincare.

Cleanser: I like using milk cleansers in the morning & in general; milk cleansers never dry out my face (unlike gel & foam). I find them to be relatively gentle as well, while leaving my skin clean, soft, and hydrated most importantly. This cleanser will vary every once in a while, unless I absolutely LOVE the cleanser I am using, such is the case with the Clarins Gentle Cleansing Milk w/Alpine Herbs, for Normal or Dry Skin. I put a little bit in the palm of my hand and put a little water into it, and massage it over my face, eyes, and neck, than proceed to take it off with a dampen a muslin cloth (flannel or wash cloth). For me, this is very gentle on my sensitive eyes (it may not be for the extremely sensitive though) and very calming on my skin in general.  I have come to have a bit of a love affair with Clarins over the last few months (a wonderful one at that!).

Toner: Toner’s and I have this love/hate relationship, so I don’t usually use them every single day but if I do, I spray it on rather than wiping it all across my face (I will get into that with my nighttime routine). The one that I love to spirtz on is by The Body Shop from their Vitamin E line. This is a great shot of hydration in the morning, absolutely love it. It has a very light scent that’s calming as it is pleasant. This line will pop up again within my routines.

Eyecare: I like to use two different products for eyecare in the morning. Firstly is Clarins Eye Contour Gel, which refreshes and cools my sensitive, tired under-eye area in the morning; it awakens those babies up! I personally love using eye gels in the morning because I find them to be more beneficial but, thats just a point of preference rather than any kind of skincare rule. The only thing that I don’t like about this particular eye gel is the packaging. The little tube just seems to sometimes have a mind of its own and the product comes out without me having to lightly squeeze the tube…which in turn starts to waste the product…which in turn makes me sad. I have the same problem with another Clarins product because its in the same kind of tube, grr. 

Getting over that…

The second eyecare that I use is by Boots, the Beautiful Skin Rich Hydrating Eye Cream for my     eye contour & right under my brow bone; areas where dryness occurs. This is great in hydrating and moisturizing that area perfectly; no other extra benefits with this one, does what it saids on the tube & the price point is pretty spectacular as well.

Serum: For serum, I go back to the Body Shop’s Vitamin E line with their moisture serum. I always need that extra boost of moisture to combat the dryness that my combination skin has. This serum is so light and soothing when applied to the skin & you just need a little bit for all day hydration. 

Moisturizer: I switch off between two moisturizers, depending on the kind of day. For more of an everyday (school, work, errands, etc) I like to use the Clarins Multi-Active Day Early Wrinkle Correction Cream. Now, I don't necessarily  need to worry about wrinkles just yet, regardless, this is still a great day moisturizer suitable for all skin types. No oily residue, no neglect of moisture, just a perfect pot of everything in one. When I know I will be away from home all day, I switch it with the Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré. I also use this as a makeup primer, and the makeup stays in place ALL.DAY.LONG. Probably the best 2-in-1 because you get the hydration from the creme as well as your makeup looking fabulous all day long. LOVE this multi-tasker!!

Next post…Nighttime Skincare!

That post will be even longer so make sure you grab a cup of tea beforehand…


Where To Purchase Products Mentioned In This Post...

• Vichy's Pureté 3-in-1 Cleansing Solution , $17
• Clarins Gentle Cleansing Milk w/Alpine Herbs , $31
• The Body Shop Vitamin E Hydrating Toner , $13
• Clarins Eye Contour Gel , $36
• Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Rich Hydrating Eye Cream, $14.99 (currently on sale at Ulta!)
• The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Serum , $21
• Clarins Multi-Active Day Early Wrinkle Correction Cream , $59
• Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré , $16 (1oz) & $28 (2.54 oz)

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