Before having kids, I could fall asleep with a full face from a night of dancing, then wake up and do the bare minimum morning skincare without a single concern about acne. Admittedly I was lucky… with normal to dry skin, I could swipe my face with a makeup remover wipe (half-assed) and quickly run whatever Target aisle facial cleanser I’d picked up over my skin — usually Neutrogena, hello to the 90s — and call it good. Spoiler Alert… this is not a skincare routine. Doh.
But, if I’ve learned anything, it’s that children change everything. I often joke that my husband’s Italian roots turn me into a sweaty, oil-producing monster during pregnancy (he is oily & blames his Italian genes) and we’ve all heard about the woes of pregnancy hormones and the havoc they can wreak on our skin. But what I didn’t expect, was for those hormonal changes to linger long after the babies had arrived. Add over a year of hormonal craziness, exhaustion, questionable nutrition in those months following baby, and then the perils of an ever-changing routine, and you might end up with full-fledged “mom-face.”
Now, I realize that I’m incredibly lucky because I got a good couple of decades of great skin, but I tell you, it is not fun being an adult who all of a sudden has to concern themselves with discoloration and pimples. And even though all my friends tell me that I’m still lucky because I don’t actually have significant acne, it’s something that I’ve become more self-conscious about in the last 8yrs.
That being said, I want to share how I adopted a real adult facial skincare routine to combat all the mom-face forces that work against us. Today I’m sharing my morning skincare routine, and next week I’ll share an updated night routine.
The Process
So, there are as many different types of morning skincare routines as there are women and their various situations. For me, the morning is about using super high-quality products because I want to do the bare minimum. I also think it’s incredibly important to implement a process-based approach. This allows for the flexibility to adjust the products to meet the needs of your skin on any given day/week. I also have small children. The preschooler wakes up with 1 million questions. If my morning skincare requires much thought, it doesn’t happen.
Think Seasonally
When it comes to food, people get it: try to shop local and eat food that is in season. It not only tastes better but its better agriculturally. We also get it for practical reasons when it comes to clothing. But, for whatever reason, many people insist on using the same skin care all year round. I’ll admit the shift for me came as an extension of the way I address my hair’s needs. As soon as I thought about how I have a process for checking in with my hair and shifting the products based on the season, it just made sense to do the same with my skincare. It has paid dividends.
My Current Morning Skincare Lineup (Spring/Summer 2018)
This lineup has been in rotation for about a month; some products are new, some I’ve been using for several months. All are stellar, and just what my skin needs as we transition into warmer days and more time outdoors. It’s important to note that I do not dry my face between any of these steps. In fact, after much research, I have been following many of the tenants of Korean beauty for years. A big part of that protocol is never letting your skin completely dry… oh, and “Pat, pat, pat… and pat some more.”
Cleanser
If you read my skincare spring cleaning post, you read all about this cleanser. The AER Aloe + Green Tea gel cleanser is an oil-free and soap-free formula that gently cleanses without being drying. It is rich in humectants, so you’re left feeling fresh and hydrated. In the morning the goal is just a fresh face, and this leaves my skin feeling hydrated. Massage it in, rinse it off. Simple. Code FELIX15 ges you 15% off.
Toner
This Siam Seas Yen Heal and Hydrate Toner has been on my sink since I discovered it as a part of my March Beauty Heroes Discovery. This antioxidant-rich toner is packed with 27 botanical extracts which help hydrate and quell inflammation. It also happens to smell amazing. I prefer to spritz two pumps into my hand and pat it all over my damp face.
Eye (+/-)
This little heavy hitter has unexpectedly been on repeat. Another green beauty subscription discovery (this time from Art of Organics), the Prickly Pear Seed Oil Undereye Rollerball by Kahina Giving Beauty has quickly become my favorite morning undereye treatment for two reasons. One, cold-pressed Prickly Pear Seed Oil is excellent at hydrating, restoring elasticity, and depuffing the undereye area. Two, this particular undereye formulation absorbs quickly, making it a must for shaving precious minutes off of a morning routine. Just roll it on and pat for a few seconds.
Serum
At this point, I hope that my love of green beauty subscriptions boxes is evident. And for a good reason, as mentioned before it’s the best way to discover new green beauty brands, and typically at a steep discount. This Ideal Brightening Corrective Serum came courtesy of my Boxwalla subscription, and I’ve been using it as my morning serum (full review) because it is designed to both brighten your skin’s complexion and to reduce the appearance of dark spots. Spring and Summer are where I feel I need the most help with combatting dark spots.
Moisturizer
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I’m a big fan of oils and pressed serums, but with Spring’s arrival and summer on the horizon, I was looking for something a little different. I haven’t written about this standout yet, but rest assured I will because it is a dream. Skin Dew by One Love Organics (a brand I’m quickly becoming obsessed with!) is perfectly creamy, lightweight, and most importantly absorbs and incorporates into your skin within moments. It also layers well which makes it a great addition to my morning routine now that I want to follow up with UV protection before running out the door. A pea size or two is all you need.
UV
I was not a daily UV protectant user until I moved to LA. I moved there, and my skin changed. All of a sudden my skin could no longer tolerate even the smallest outdoor stints without some protection. Over the last few years, I have tried a whole slew of SPF formulations, but the white cast was real. And if I found a formulation that didn’t have a terrible white cast it was super greasy. Not with the Hynt Beauty Sun Prep. I have a post going up soon where I gush all over this product, but the verdict is this: no white cast. No greasy film. It also acts as an excellent primer. This product truly checks all of the boxes.
A final thought
These skincare products are marvelous, but we all know that good skin begins in the kitchen. So I also stay diligent about my H2O consumption, sweating regularly, and eating and drinking my greens. Oh, and bone broth is like botox in a warm bowl. It’s super easy to make, and I promise you won’t regret it.
I hope you found this helpful. Tell me, do you have any morning routine heavy hitters I should try?
Note: This post was originally published 09/14/2016 and has been republished to reflect a shift to “Green” Nontoxic Beauty products.
Xo, Kimberly Fe'Lix
