What’s your morning skin care look like?

How many steps are in your morning skin care routine?

I keep seeing the 12+ step Korean skincare routine talked about and more recently Kim Kardashian’s 6 step routine.

Those sound like lengthy routines but they’re not any different from my routine which has multiple steps yet takes under 15 minutes from the moment I turn off the shower. Kim K’s 6 is not a lot at all. If you’re someone who washes your face, applies moisturizer and sunscreen, you’ve got 3 steps right there.

My process can be boiled down to: cleanse, steam, acid, tone, soothe, hydrate, moisturize, moisturize some more and protect. Sometimes it’s longer because I’ll add in: treat/medicine, other serums, extra oils and stuff. I use eye cream but I didn’t list it as its own step because I’ve used my hydrating step in place of an eye cream lately even though I should be using both. I did apply my eye cream this morning.

Some of my favorite products from my morning routine.

My steps

Cleanse: In the morning I cleanse for about 30 seconds or less in the shower. I don’t time it but it seems to take that long at most. I thoroughly rinse with cool water.

Steam: I run a washcloth under hot water and then hold it over my skin until it cools then I drench it and do it again. I usually steam between 1 and 3 times in a row. It takes no more than 30 seconds total.

Acid: I apply some type of acid (like glycolic) to my skin for a gentle exfoliation to help prevent blemishes as well as prep my skin to absorb more of the products I use in the rest of the steps. The acid I’m using has a nice low pH but I tone anyway.

Tone: By tone I simply mean balance my skin’s pH. I spritz my face with alcohol-free, pH adjusting toner and then gently wipe with a cotton round or pour toner on a cotton round and apply. Very quick and easy.

Hydrate: While my skin is damp from the toner I apply a vitamin C and hyaluronic acid essence to hydrate and it further hydrates by locking in the water from my toner.

Soothe: Sometimes I do this step before hydrating, sometimes immediately after, but what it is is I apply a calming anti-redness serum to my face. The one that I have been using since May is a light, lotion-like product and not a typical serum in texture.

Now is when I’d apply that eye cream.

Moisturize: I apply oil. I used to use a dropper to apply it in 4 sections then rub it in but now I pour it into my hands and then press it onto my skin.

Moisturize Some More: I let the oil absorb a little then I moisturize some more. I use a dime-size or less dab of creamy moisturizer and apply to my face in upward motions. 

Protect: I let my moisturizer sink in and then I apply my zinc based sunscreen.

I finish my routine with lip balm.

After my sunscreen feels fully absorbed and set I move on to doing my makeup if I’m gonna wear it.

Everything I used this morning in this routine retails at approximately $230 but through the magic of coupons, point redemption, and other deals and tricks I think I spent around $107. Not too shabby! 

A handful of my nighttime skin care routine products. Not featured: about 30 million products

My nighttime and weekend skincare routines are another story.

I am kinda obsessed with skincare and I would love to hear what you do, your favorite products (or ingredients you avoid), any products you’re dying to try and anything you wanna share.