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Most people think they’re pretty regimented when it comes to morning skincare – cleanse, moisturize, maybe slap on some sunscreen if they remember. But those seemingly innocent little habits may be making you age faster.
Your morning routine determines how your skin will hold up to everything thrown at it in the next 8-12 hours. UV rays, pollution, air conditioning, stress – your face has to go on a marathon for the next chunk of the day, and if it hasn’t been properly set up for success in the morning, it’s already behind the eight ball with no hope of catching up.
You’re Timing It All Wrong
It’s all about timing. More than you think. When you roll out of bed and immediately head to the bathroom mirror with products in hand, you’re not giving your skin time to wake up. Your skin is cold, and your blood hasn’t circulated to warm it up and activate it. As a result, products don’t absorb as easily, and you’ll be left with sticky fingers and layers of skincare that don’t mesh as well as you’d like.
Similarly, waiting too long is just as problematic. If you shower first, do your hair second, get dressed and then – oh yeah! – skincare – you’ve already failed. Your skin has been exposed to steam and heat and other irritants without any protective barrier for way too long.
The happy medium is about 10-15 minutes after waking up. Give your skin a chance to acclimate to sitting up and moving; but don’t let it linger so long that you have to rush through everything to catch up.
You’re Confusing Cleanser
Where people really like to play mind games with themselves is at night. Of course everyone wants to look fresh-faced before bed – wiping off makeup, sunscreen, sweat, grime, and dirt accumulated over 12 hours is a must. But come morning?
People have different opinions on how to handle a morning cleanse. Some go all in; they use the same harsh cleanser from the night before and strip their faces down of any natural oils their skin produced overnight for protection. Their faces panic and either become oily messes by overproducing or irritated and sensitive.
Some go the opposite direction and refuse to cleanse in the morning altogether. They justify that since they washed their faces last night, there was no need to do so again this morning – they’re fine. But overnight, the body regenerates dead cells, produces oil for lubrication and balance – and that’s just what happens in a sterile environment. On top of that, pillowcases collect dust mites and bacteria – washing your face in the morning is imperative because if not, you’re sealing all those irritants into your pores instead of releasing them into the wild.
You’re Misapplying Sunscreen
This is one of those unsuspecting methods of aging embedded in a morning routine that people know they should do but execute incorrectly every time.
People know they need sunscreen; but first off they don’t apply anywhere near enough; you need about a quarter teaspoon amount just for your face – and that’s more than most people think! So much so that it feels like too much at first until it fully absorbs.
They’re also guilty of applying sunscreen and immediately heading outside. Wrong! Sunscreen needs a set period of time for a protective film to form on skin before it’s effective; applying it and immediately going outside means you’re essentially unprotected for the first 15-20 minutes you’re outside.
For those who have dark spots or aging appearances or are especially sensitive to sun exposure should invest in high SPF sunscreen with superior formulations; this truly makes a difference over time.
The reapplication problem exists in the morning as well – most people reapply sunscreen at noon if they’re lucky; after lunch their sunscreen has broken down due to accumulation throughout the day, touching one’s face, sweating, air conditioning – is just not enough protection.
You’re Not Layering Correctly
When it comes to what order to apply products in the morning, people get way too confused when it’s actually straightforward. Water-based products apply first for absorption before oil-based products; thinner consistency before thicker consistency; active ingredients need direct contact with the skin for optimal effectiveness.
Yet people regularly apply moisturizer first then berate their beloved expensive serum for ineffective results after. They try layering makeup on top of sunscreen before it’s dry only for it to become chalky and ineffective.
It’s simple! Cleanser, toner/essence/water-based products first, serums (thinnest to thickest), moisturizer, sunscreen, makeup. Each step takes 1-2 minutes – give it that time.
You’re In A Rush
In the worst case scenario, people are running against time far more in the morning than at night; they’re trying to get out of the house so skincare becomes a fast-paced race against the clock. But absorption doesn’t care about time – and both you and your skin will pay for it later.
When you rush through application, you’re unevenly covering certain areas; you’re providing mediocre absorption; you’re literally missing pieces of your face altogether – in particular those areas where aging appears first (near the nose creases, hairline and jaw line).
What’s an extra three minutes in the morning? A lot! When can you save years by not aging faster? The simple math pays off.
You’re Not Listening To Your Skin
Finally, many people have consistent morning routines regardless of how their skin changes over time. Weather changes seasonally – what may have worked for summer skin last year won’t necessarily work for winter skin this year. There’s a big difference with hormonal fluctuations versus stable skin.
The products that worked for you when you were 20 are wrong for you now at 30 – but we’re all too quick to assume that whatever worked last year will work again next year.
If only people paid attention to their skin instead of relying on autopilot, they’d be much better off and less prone to accelerated aging.
The Solution Is Simple
Most of these problems come down to awareness and timing – less to do with different products all together. Wake up a few minutes earlier. Pay attention to how much product you’re using. Give everything a minute or two to absorb. Adapt your routine as needed based on whatever your skin wants at that moment.
This is your skin’s shield to protect it from whatever happens next – UV rays, pollution, stress, air conditioning, long work days – they’re all things that your skin should be prepared for as it sets out on its next journey; if not – and bad habits break down any shot at a fresh start – all hope is lost from the get-go.
What happens is a cumulative difference between good-at-morning-skincare versus bad-at-morning-skincare; skin ages beautifully versus atrociously by small differences each day one sets out with good intentions. A few minutes spared now ca
