AM skin care routines ?!?!?

[Shelbylong1]

Hey guys, I am really getting a rude awakening from my skin that it is time to create a daily skin regimen. I never, and I mean never EVER had acne or redness or any sort of skin irritation ever and two weeks before my 20th birthday I started noticing more breakouts and redness and clogged pores. I have a great night time routine now but I am wondering, what about the morning? I have researched and read so many things on you SHOULD cleanse your face in the AM or you SHOULDN'T. I am getting mixed signals. What I am asking is if you DO clean and cleanse your face in the morning, what do you useas a cleanser, and what do you use as a moisturizer? And if you DON'T, what is your routine and how is your skin feeling? Thanks y'all 😘

[ErinKF]

Okay, so I have been questing for the last 10 years to find THE PERFECT skincare routine. I have EXTREMELY sensitive skin (allergies), but it is also very oily and breaks out like CRAZY. I've consulted with medical professionals, skin care experts, friends, customer reviews, and academic journals to find what would work for me. After a decade of searching, here is what you should remember before you begin looking for a new routine:

1. Use a skincare product (cleanser, toner, moisturizer, etc.) for at least 6 weeks to determine if it will work for your skin. This is what is recommended to see real results. The only exception to this is if you feel burning, your skin starts peeling or swelling, and itching. Under these circumstances, stop the product immediately. Your skin WILL get worse (breakout) before it gets better. Give it time.

2. Big bucks doesn't always mean big results. I've spent everywhere from $10-$250 on skincare products, and the one that worked best was actually $15. The trick is to find what works for you. 

3. "Natural" does not automatically mean good. A lot of dermatologist products that people avoid because they're too "chemically" are actually not much different than the fancy "organic" ones. In reality, a lot of products are plant based, so just because it goes out of its way to say it's organic doesn't mean it's better for you. Dermatologists spend years working in labs to formulate safe products that deliver real results. Some of the fancy chemical names that people say are bad just because they can't be pronounced are just binding products. 

4. It is crucial to use a cleansing device. This can be anything from a $5 silicon scrubber with bristles, to a $200 Clarisonic electric cleansing brush. The electronic ones usually give better results because the cleansing is more thorough. Either way, you need something to scrub off dead skin/makeup/dirt beyond just using your hands. Nails keep lots of dirt and bacteria under them, so avoid scratching. 

5. If it says it gets rid of acne in only a few days, it's either lying or is too harsh on your skin. 

So what's my AM skin care routine? I rinse my face with warm water to open the pores, apply my cleanser to my scrubber, scrub around my face for 60 seconds, then rinse with cold water. After that, I throw on a moisturizing lotion with SPF no lower than 30. Whole thing takes about 5 minutes. 

[howconnie]

I switch cleanser every month so my skin doesn’t get use to it. Ola Henderson acne cleanser, Peter Roth anti aging, FAB are my standards. Ole is my favorite but I give my skin a break from it. I wash every morning then follow with witch hazel.

[greeneyedgirl107]

@Shelbylong1 I use FAB Pure Skin Face Cleanser in the morning.  I follow that with Paula's Choice BHA 9.  Then, I moisturizer with CeraVe PM.

When I get home from work, I use that as an opportunity to put on antioxidants.  I just started using FAB Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum, which I read is loaded with anti-oxidants.

At night is when I use retinoid/retinol products.

I really like having a three-time a day skincare routine instead of just AM and PM, but I know this isn't for everyone!

[Sharab27]

I use something like First Aid Beauty cleanser to get all the creams, etc. from the night before off. It’s really good because it leaves no residue on the skin. Then toner (I like). Then serum, then moisturizer then sunblock.

[darlyndar]

@Shelbylong1 I always cleanse my face in the morning. I use a very gentle, low pH cleanser. This allows me to gently rinse off any dead skin cells and product I used the night before. If you had extremely dry skin, I would say rinsing with water would be ok...but only every other day. I use 2 different cleansers for AM and they’re both Korean. SRB rice enzyme powder cleanser (this is a very gentle exfoliant and leaves my skin soft and bright) and CosRX Low pH Good Morning Cleanser (this does what it states). I get them both on OhLolly.com. I have found a great love for Korean products. There is nothing simple about the rest of my routine, but with a ton of research and trial and error, I know what works for my skin. I have never been this happy with my complexion in my life!

[mrsbaine]

There is a great thread here with a wealth of info on it that talks about just this: https://community.sephora.com/t5/Skincare-Aware/Daily-Skincare-what-are-you-using/m-p/2343211#M23506. Take a look; you may find a lot of useful info here. 

[bakeamuffin]

I have to wash my face mornin and night otherwise I see an increase in breakouts. 

In the AM I use the REN Daily AHA tonic, the hot cloth cleanser and the Vita Mineral Emollient rescue cream. I always make sure to use an SPF for going out, I love the Juice Beauty Stem Cellular CC cream brocade it gives my face a fresh look and protection from the sun.

In the evening I use the Sephora eye makeup remover, hot cloth cleanser, Sunday Riley Luna followed by Tidal. 

[ccelestexo]

I personally cleanse my skin morning and night. I feel like my face just feels gross in the mornings if I don't. I also notice blemishes.

I use Tatcha cleanser, the Ordinary Buffet, Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C, and Tatcha  Water Cream moisturizer for my a.m. routine.

For my P.M. routine I use Tatcha Oil to get my makeup off, Tactcha Cleanser, The Ordinary Buffet again, I switch out acids from the Ordinary (Lactic/ Granactive with Retinoid), Kiehl's Midnight Oil, and Tatcha's Water Cream moisturizer.

I've never had acne prone skin, just the very occasional small breakout (except for that time that I had a bad reaction to a product). I have combo skin and tend to have an oily t-zone with dry patches around my mouth. I do have occasional clogged pores/redness and now my skin looks great now. Foundation is no longer a requirement now!

Good luck and I hope you find what works best for you!

[quspork]

I'm oily/dehydrated and don't normally use cleanser in the morning. Sometimes if I used a sleeping mask or just feel like I need it, I might use a cleanser in the mornings, but about 90% of the time, I just rinse with water. Then I follow with a vitamin C serum, a toner, a hydrating serum, a light moisturizer, and sunscreen (then makeup). 

[Azu6913]

one question...  vitamin c serum goes before toner or after? 

[ellieb7]

I personally don’t, and I think it’s a good idea to try. It has really helped normalize my skin- it’s less oily in the T zone and less dry in the U zone.