It’s worth separating out the skincare products you use in the morning from those you use in the evening. Daytime products should contain no active ingredients that can cause irritation when exposed to UV rays, even if you think the sun is out – it’s not.
Morning care can be broken down into five steps:
1. Washing
Many people think that overnight, ‘their face doesn’t get dirty’. But sebum, the sebum of the skin, is secreted around the clock and tiny dust particles from the air always get on your skin. Since the job of your morning cleanser is to wash away these tiny particles, the gentlest of foams and gels will do. If they do not contain any harsh surfactants, make sure they are mild enough. Look for those with a coconut-based detergent base. The ingredients usually come second to water and start with the Latin letter ‘coco-‘.
2. Toning
Not everyone thinks this step is necessary, but it’s better not to skip it. Simply because if you apply a treatment to a dry face, there will be no moisture that the cream will seal in. So it’s enough if the lotion you use in the morning contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Apply as you are used to: with a cotton pad or simply with your hands.
3: An active treatment
This is usually a serum. As we mentioned above, it should contain no active ingredients that increase photosensitivity. What shall I look for in the composition? It all depends on your skin’s needs.
- Vitamin C in concentrations up to 5% – lightens, evens out tone and works as an antioxidant.
- Centella extract – soothes irritation and redness.
- Niacinamide – strengthens blood vessels.
- Vitamins E & F – strengthens skin barrier and protects from free radicals.
- Hyaluronic acid – moisturizers.
- This is not an exhaustive list, but the ones listed are the most common.
For the morning, it’s best not to choose oil-based serums, as they take a long time to absorb and makeup won’t lay on.
4. Moisturizing.
There’s a legend that you can’t use moisturizer in winter because “water freezes in the skin”. This is not true. The skin temperature, like the rest of the body, is 36 degrees Celsius. And even in the harshest of frosts it will never cool down to zero. So you need a moisturizer. Texture should be adjusted to your skin type. Fluids and gels for oily skin, classic cream for normal skin, heavy cream for dry skin.
5. Express care
Not essential, but essential if you want to look perky right away. In this category hydrogel patches can be included hydrogel patches for the under-eye area. If kept in the fridge, they’ll reduce puffiness in about 10 minutes. Tissue masks, even the simplest and cheapest, smooth out your skin by intensely moisturizing it (not permanently, of course, but enough for a day).
