A Morning Skincare Routine For Happy, Glowing Skin

WHAT IS A MORNING SKINCARE ROUTINE AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

A morning skincare routine is a set of steps in your skincare regimen that you consistently and properly apply each day. It’s important to prioritize a regular skincare routine because consistency is what allows your products to work the most effectively, helping you to meet your skincare goals and to have your healthiest and happiest-looking skin ever.

When it comes to consistency, this is the simplest and most effective way to see results. Let’s face it, building a skincare routine can be downright confusing. With so many different skincare companies and countless combinations of products on the market, it can be overwhelming and confusing before you even get started.

Many of the results we seek from our skincare products, like reducing the appearance of breakouts and blemishes, creating visible improvements to the overall look and feel of our skin and combatting some of the signs of visible aging like dryness, fine lines and wrinkles are not results we can expect to see overnight. Using our skincare products as properly directed and consistently, whether that’s daily or weekly, will give us the greatest chance of accomplishing what we hope to achieve, which is fresh, clear and glowing skin.

Some of the benefits of a consistent morning skincare routine include:

• You begin to see real results, which helps you to have realistic expectations for the amount of time it will take to see improvements in your skin’s condition
• A good skincare regimen will help improve the overall condition of your skin, which might mean you decide to wear less makeup, (a good thing for breathability of your skin) you grow your confidence and your skin begins to heal and repair
• Adopting a consistent morning skincare routine can help you to grow other healthy habits! Even if it feels cumbersome at first, you’re likely to grow into actually looking forward to your regimen each day, especially once you begin to see results
• There’s no sense in denying it: if you do something occasionally and randomly, you most likely won’t see the results you hope to

Read on to learn more about how to put a simple morning skincare routine order in place!

A MORNING SKINCARE ROUTINE ORDER IN 4 SIMPLE STEPS

If you’re looking to form a routine you can commit to each morning, you’re going to want to start with a basic, foundational routine that covers the most important aspects of skincare which is cleansing, hydrating, treating and protecting the skin. As you grow into your routine you may become interested in adding additional skincare products to target specific skincare concerns like aging or acne, but what we’re sharing here is a simple way to get started on your path to healthy-looking skin.

STEP 1: CHOOSE A GENTLE AND EFFECTIVE CLEANSER

Cleansing is such an important part of your routine each day because not only does it help remove impurities from the skin, it also helps to prep your skin for the additional products to follow. You may choose a facial cleanser based on your skin type or on your preferred format (gel, cream or oil) but whichever type you choose, you’ll want to ensure it’s gentle and formulated specifically for the delicate skin on your face.

TRY THIS PRODUCT: a cleanser we love here at Saje is part of our sensitive/reactive skin type line of products called Calm-O-Mile, and it’s a gentle and effective gel cleanser made with blue chamomile, squalane and aloe vera to ease irritation and reduce the appearance of redness in the skin.

STEP 2: CHOOSE A HYDRATING MOISTURIZER

No matter what skin type you identify as having, it’s imperative to use a good quality moisturizer to ensure your skin stays soft and supple. Some people think this step isn’t necessary if they’re not feeling particularly dry, if they identify as having oily skin or if they’re using other products in their routine like serums and face oils, but a good old fashioned facial moisturizer really is best when it comes to adding necessary hydration.

TRY THIS PRODUCT: our go-to facial hydrator for balanced, renewed skin is part our normal/combination skin type line of products called Glow On and is a moisturizer formulated with shea butter, camelina oil and oat extract to protect against environmental effects that can cause damage and dryness to the delicate skin on our face. We suggest using moisturizers as part of your morning and evening skincare routine each day.

STEP 3: CHOOSE A NOURISHING FACE OIL

Face oils are often considered treatment products that help to lock in moisture, reduce visible signs of aging and support the skin’s elasticity and firmness. Face oils can improve the look and feel of your skin by providing vitamins and nutrients that can help to improve the skin’s overall appearance, including evening the skin’s tone. We recommend using a face oil as the final step in your skincare routine, prior to SPF application in the morning time.

TRY THIS PRODUCT: a daytime face oil for glowing, healthy-looking and radiant skin we reach for regularly comes to use from our Glow On skincare line, and is a supportive, skin-protective blend of parsley seed oil, raspberry seed oil and squalane to help balance oil production, minimize environmental damage and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

STEP 4: CHOOSE A HIGH-QUALITY SPF PRODUCT

Arguably the most important step in any daytime skincare routine, applying a high-quality sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 at a minimum is an absolute requirement 365 days a year. Did you know that the Skin Cancer Foundation shares that up to 90% of visible changes to the skin are a direct result of sun damage you’ve been exposed to throughout your life? This means that it's imperative to apply sunscreen every day, throughout the day, as a part of maintaining the health and appearance of your skin.

Some of the most well-regarded tips for proper sun protection? Try to stay out of direct sunlight during the peak hours of the day (10am-2pm), apply sunscreen 15 minutes prior to exposure and at a minimum of every 2 hours afterwards and wear sunscreen every single day – even when it’s cloudy or raining.

A NIGHTTIME SKINCARE ROUTINE ORDER

In terms of your nighttime skincare routine, the order doesn’t differ greatly from the morning. While you don’t need to use sunscreen products at nighttime, you might choose to add other additional products to your routine to support your skincare goals, like exfoliants or serums. The golden rule when it comes to application of skincare products is to go from lightest/thinnest to heaviest/thickest, so keep this in mind as you build out a larger routine.

We’re sharing here a basic, foundational skincare routine for nighttime to help you wake up feeling glowy and refreshed:

STEP 1: CHOOSE A CLEANSER THAT CAN REMOVE BOTH MAKEUP AND SUNSCREEN PRODUCTS

One major difference when it comes to cleansing the skin at nighttime is that often you’re needing to remove both makeup and sunscreen. The way you cleanse your face is no different, but the products you choose might be.

Here at Saje, we’ve become big fans of what’s referred to as the double cleanse. What this means very simply is that you cleanse your face twice, typically using two different types of cleansers. The most common way a double cleanse is performed is to start with an oil cleanser or balm that helps to break down makeup and sunscreen on the skin, followed by a second cleanse with a gel or cream cleanser of your choice that will ensure you’re removing dirt, oil, grime and impurities thoroughly before moving onto the other products in your regimen.

TRY THIS PRODUCT: for step one in a double cleanse routine, we reach for Glow On oil cleanser. This waterless formula is made with skin enriching and supportive ingredients like jojoba, squalane, oat kernel extract and parsley seed to gently and effectively breakdown oils and other ingredients in makeup and sunscreen and can help prepare the skin for additional products. It can also be used on its own, as the primary cleanser in your routine either day or night.

TRY THIS PRODUCT: for step two in a double cleanse routine, we recommend True Dew cream cleanser from our dry/mature line for the way it restores moisture and luminosity while removing impurities. Our fan-favorite cleanser, blended with aloe vera, glycerin and rose flower oil can also be used as a stand-alone cleanser if preferred.

STEP 2: CHOOSE A HYDRATING MOISTURIZER

To help your skin feel soft, supple and supported while you sleep, add a high quality, plant-dense and nutritive moisturizer to your nightly routine. Water-based moisturizers help to pull moisture deeper into the inner layers of the skin for a look and feel that is fresh, plump and supple.

TRY THIS PRODUCT: the nighttime favorite moisturizer we’re crushing on comes to us from our collection for dry/mature skin types and is called True Dew. The richest of all our facial hydrators, this lush and floral blend has been formulated with skin hydrating superstar ingredients like hyaluronic acid, rosehip oil and helichrysum essential oil to strengthen skin’s elasticity and promote a youthful, hydrated appearance.

STEP 3: CHOOSE A NOURISHING FACE OIL

Though face oils are formulated for use either daytime or nighttime (or both!) according to your preference, many people do prefer to add a face oil as part of an evening skincare routine simply because the nature of face oil is a product that is richer, thicker and takes longer to absorb.

All of the face oils we offer at Saje are formulated without water and instead with 100% plant based carrier oils and nutrient-rich plant derivatives that are designed to support and benefit the skin by adding moisture, acting as a barrier to help retain moisture and helping the skin to feel renewed and restored.

TRY THIS PRODUCT: when nighttime hits, our skincare go-to is the rich, rejuvenating and oh-so-softening face oil included in our True Dew line of products. Formulated with the highest number of carrier oils, this blend contains antioxidant and vitamin-rich pomegranate seed oil, prickly pear seed oil, blueberry seed oil and sea buckthorn extract to plump the skin, strengthen its elasticity and promote radiance and suppleness.

3 OF THE BEST MORNING SKINCARE PRODUCTS EVERYONE SHOULD USE

Apart from actual skincare products like cleansers and moisturizers, there are a number of additional skincare accessories that can help you achieve your desired skincare goals. We’re sharing three of them below:

A REPLENISHING AND PURIFYING CLAY FACE MASK

Detox Mode is a clay face mask made from kaolin clay, a clay mineral that helps to reduce excess oil and provide gentle hydration, bamboo charcoal powder to draw out dirt and oil from clogged pores and frankincense essential oil to restore skin’s vitality. To use, apply a layer to clean, dry skin and leave for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and use 1-2 times per week as needed.

AN ALL-PURPOSE BODY BALM

Strong Balm is a lash and nail salve that works double duty to condition and strengthen the lashes and nails. Because it’s so gentle and versatile, this blend of calendula, beeswax and St. John’s wort can also be used as a lip balm or a gentle makeup remover.

A PLANT-DERIVED CLEANSING AND EXFOLIATING SPONGE

Konjac Sponge is a vegetable fire sponge enriched with yam extract to deliver a dose of proteins and amino acids to the skin each time you cleanse to help defend against the elements. The Konjac Sponge can be paired with any of our cleansers to gently exfoliate, soothe and comfort the skin daily.

OUR TOP 3 TIPS FOR YOUR DAYTIME SKINCARE ROUTINE

We know there is a lot of information out there about how to best support your skin as part of a daily regimen. To help simplify the experience for you, here are the top three tips we recommend to help your morning routine feel seamless each day:

1. Less is more. As mentioned, you can look to add specialty treatment products to your skincare routine as you learn more about what your skin needs and you decide on your goals, but in the interim, focus on the basics. Cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen are the true foundational products of any good quality routine.
2. Give it time. Not only does it require time to see the results of certain ingredients and the effects they can have on your skin, it actually requires time for each individual product to work each time you use it. For example, to make sure your face has been thoroughly cleansed, you should be massaging and emulsifying for at least 30-60 seconds. And for your face oil to be fully absorbed before applying sunscreen in the daytime? Wait at least five minutes.
3. Consistency is key. Much like anything in life, consistency plays a big part in the achievement of our goals. When you start adding too many products or your routine becomes cumbersome, you’re less likely to follow through on it each day. Start with a foundational selection of 3-4 key products and use them every morning and night. You’ll start to see results after one week, then one month and before you know it – you’re hooked.

— Cara Santa Maria