Get Ready With Me: Our Editors Share Their Morning Skin Care Routines

If you’re not a ‘morning person,’ crossing off all you’re A.M. to-dos and getting out the door at a reasonable hour can be a struggle. As far as your beauty routine goes, the effort you put into caring for your skin in the morning sets the foundation for how it’ll look for the remainder of the day. That said, the routine itself doesn’t have to be as extensive as you may think. Just ask our editors, who all follow pretty simple morning skin care routines. Read on for their key steps from start to finish, plus the products they swear by when the sun comes up.

THE IMPORTANCE OF MORNING ROUTINES 

One of the biggest skin care misconceptions out there is that you don’t have to cleanse your skin in the morning if you cleansed it the night before. The truth is, your skin can come into contact with aggressors while you’re getting your shut-eye. And while you may have removed your makeup the night before, your skin may still be harboring impurities and dirt when you wake. For that reason, cleansing in the morning is an absolute must, followed by moisturizing and applying SPF. Those three steps are crucial, and luckily don’t take all that long to complete.

CHRISTINA HEISER

“I always wake up late, so I keep my skin care routine pretty simple in the morning. I start by using a micellar water; my current favorite is Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Cleanser & Makeup Remover. Next, I follow up with a vitamin C serum, like SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, which helps brighten the look of my skin and offer antioxidant protection. Lastly, I apply broad-spectrum sunscreen, which I use as my moisturizer. Since I have oily skin, I stick to a sunscreen that’s oil-free. Right now, I'm a big fan of La Roche Posay Anthelios Clear Skin SPF 60 Sunscreen, which I received compliments of the brand.” 

REBECCA NORRIS 

“When I wake up, the first thing I do is run a micellar-soaked cotton pad over my face to pick up any sweat, dirt or debris that may have made its way onto my skin overnight. From there, I mist my face with a cucumber facial spray to help awaken my complexion before applying a vitamin C day serum, an intensive hydration gel moisturizer, and broad-spectrum sunscreen. The result is an ultra-hydrated, protected complexion that’s ready to take on the day.”

JESSICA KHORSANDI

“Mornings are tough—for me, anyway. I’m the type of girl who hits snooze as many times as I can before getting out of bed. For that reason, I’m running late most mornings and thus follow a skin care routine that’s pretty streamlined.  After brushing my teeth, I reach for a gentle cleanser that won’t strip my skin dry. I have a few on rotation right now, but the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser has been my go-to ever since the brand provided me with a complimentary sample. Next, I use a mattifying moisturizer that keeps my skin hydrated without leaving behind an overwhelming sheen and apply broad-spectrum SPF onto all exposed areas from head-to-toe. A few sweeps of blush and coats of lip balm later, I’m out the door…but not without my sunscreen in my purse for touch-ups at least every two hours.” 

CLAIRE RODGERS 

“My skin care routine has drastically changed over the years since working in the beauty industry. Growing up, I struggled with acne and turned to all the wrong products that ultimately just dried out my skin and made it even more irritated. Now I’m much more diligent with the products I use on my skin. The first thing I do in the morning is take L’Oréal Paris’ Micellar Cleansing Water—which I received complimentary from the brand—and pour it onto a cotton pad to help wipe away dirt and impurities on my skin’s surface. If there’s one product out of my entire routine that I recommend to any one–regardless of skin type–it would be this micellar water. It cleanses and purifies the skin without the need to rinse. Plus, it leaves my feeling refreshed, which is exactly what it needs right after waking up. I follow up will a mild exfoliator, one I can actually use every day. Next, I apply a gel moisturizer that gives my skin a subtle glow, and follow up with a heavy-duty moisturizer that keeps my skin feeling hydrated all-day long. And before I apply makeup, I run La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios XL SPF 50 over my face and neck. I never leave my apartment without sunscreen.