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In my early 20s, I was way too concerned with partying and figuring out how much money my roommate and I needed for a night out on the town followed by pizza to worry about much else. I patted myself on the back if I remembered to simply wash my face before falling into bed at night! As I got older, though, and more enveloped in the fashion world, I started to realize just how important skincare really is and the difference between skincare in your 30s compared to your 20s.
Why does skincare matter? Well, because it’s your skin! Your skin is extremely delicate and is shedding skin cells throughout the day, so keeping it glowing and in good condition is only helping to keep you even more protected against mother nature’s elements. A routine you stick to day in and day out can help prevent acne flare-ups, treat wrinkles, and help in maintaining the good health of your skin.
For the longest time, the exact right way to “skincare layer” has been debated. Is it oil first, moisturizer second or vice versa? What exactly is a toner and do I need one? Is the double cleanse really necessary? Because I’ve spent a lot of time figuring out my own skincare essentials, I wanted to put together the ultimate, no-nonsense guide to skincare steps. I was pretty lost myself when trying to figure out where to start with skincare so, in this post, I’ll share the products I use for both my morning skincare routine and my evening skincare routine, and the exact order in which I apply them!
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Morning Skincare Routine
After scouring the internet for what order to do your morning skincare routine, I finally found it. The morning skincare routine for glowing skin is as follows:
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Serums
- Eye Cream
- Moisturizer
- Face Oil
- Spot Treatments*
- Sunscreen
Just 8 simple steps, right?! It seems like a lot, but once you get into the habit of it, it becomes something you look forward to. Now let’s go over the exact products I use to achieve all these steps.
CLEANSER
I have been using this forever and it is hands down my absolute favorite overall cleanser. Formulated with squalane, vitamin E, and avocado oil, it’s a gentle cleanser that can be used on all skin types and always leaves my face feeling like a bright blank canvas.
TONER
Toner is the next step in ensuring your face is completely cleansed and Biologique Recherche P50V is truly magic potion in a bottle. There’s a reason this is a cult favorite! It’s a gentle balancing exfoliator that works to exfoliate, hydrate, and balance the pH of your skin. Simply apply some to a cotton pad and gently pat it into your skin!
SERUM
I love my vitamin C-forward serum from Beautycounter. There are so many vitamin C serum benefits like brightening of the skin and reducing the appearance of dark spots on the skin. We need to use vitamin C on our skin to help blemishes, reduce hyperpigmentation, and for that goddess glow!
SERUM
I also use Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum, which I consider the holy grail of serums. If you were going to buy just ONE product from this post, THIS is the one to buy! I have a full Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum review coming very soon, so keep your eyes peeled!
EYE CREAM
In my opinion, Colleen Rothschild has the best retinol eye serum. Her Supreme Eye Serum really helps wake up the skin around my eyes, and even reduces puffiness from a night of good sleep!
MOISTURIZER
My favorite daily moisturizer is Elemis’ Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30. The ingredients make it a standout product: Padina Pavonica for hydration, Ginkgo Biloba for anti-aging, and Chlorella for firmness. I also count this as my SPF since it’s built into the product plus, the tinted moisturizer I use daily for my base makeup also has SPF in it! Use code AMY20 for a discount
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Evening Skincare Routine
Now let’s talk about how to layer evening skincare, because although it’s not super different, the few changes are worth noting:
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Serums
- Eye Cream
- Moisturizer
- Retinol
- Face Oil
- Spot Treatments
As you can see, your morning skincare layering order and evening skincare layering order are pretty similar except for the last part. You replace sunscreen with retinol and face oil comes last!
CLEANSE
While I use Kiehl’s Ultra Facial cleanser again at the end of the day, I actually double cleanse in the evening. With my makeup and the day’s elements, I like to double down on cleansing to ensure my face is as clean as can be for bedtime. So, before using my typical cleanser, I first use Elemis’s Cleansing Balm. Using a cleansing balm is super simple, too. You only need a small amount and you’ll gently work it into your skin with your fingertips. Once you feel you’ve applied it well, take a warm damp washcloth to gently remove the cleansing balm (use code AMY20 for a discount). Then you’re ready to double cleanse with Kiehl’s!
CLEANSE
I have been using this forever and it is hands down my absolute favorite overall cleanser. Formulated with squalane, vitamin E, and avocado oil, it’s a gentle cleanser that can be used on all skin types and always leaves my face feeling like a bright blank canvas.
TONER
I use the same Biologique Recherche P50 at night as I do in the morning. It’s at this point that I also apply Beautycounter’s Overnight Resurfacing Peel. It’s the best overnight resurfacing peel I’ve used. I swear it makes my skin feel even more vibrant when I wake up in the morning!
SERUM
Goodnight, dullness. Good morning, glow. This serum improves skin texture and boosts clarity without irritation or over-drying. The formula clears away dull surface cells and help soothe to reveal a brighter, healthier looking, renewed complexion. This clean beauty product is a must-have for your evening routine!
SERUM
Yes, you can use vitamin C in the morning AND night. I prefer to use this one in the evenings. This gentle face serum contains a total concentration of 5 percent vitamin C. A unique mixture of vitamin C in three skin-friendly forms at a concentration that’s easily absorbed, reduces the visible signs of uneven pigmentation, and visibly improves tone for brighter, more radiant skin. Vitamin C also supports the formation of collagen.
SERUM
As I mentioned earlier, if you’re only going to buy one product from this post, it should definitely be this one! It’s a cult-favorite for a reason! 22 botanicals and 60+ bioavailable nutrients work synergistically for healthy, radiant, youthful skin. Consider this the all-in-one treatment your routine needs.
EYE CREAM
I reapply Colleen Rothschild’s Supreme Eye Serum before bed. Her take on retinol eye cream is exceptional.
MOISTURIZER
Is la Mer Moisturizing Cream worth it? Yes, yes, 1000x yes. I know it’s insanely expensive, trust me. But it’s that way for a reason—it’s truly a miracle moisturizing cream in a jar. Even still, I know many see the la Mer cream price and laugh which is so fair. I just love it and treat it like a bottle of super magic potion. I only use it at night and, because it’s such a rich facial cream, a little goes such a long way.
FACE OIL
When to use face oil in your skincare routine is a question that’s been debated across the industry forever. You can easily get lost in a rabbithole of suggestions and reasons, so I’m going to stick to the order in which it was listed on the graphic I share with you guys: face oil goes on last, especially at night! I love my Squalane + Tea Tree Balancing Oil from Biossance. It’s the very last skincare product I apply before turning off my bathroom light and getting in bed.
SPOT TREATMENT
You may have heard of pimple patches. If not, allow me to share my absolute favorite with you guys. I tried these salicylic acid acne healing dots based on someone’s recommendation, and they truly work! I apply them to my pimples overnight and truly see the difference. They’re tiny little miracle workers!
And, of course once I’m in bed, I reach for the best lip sleeping mask ever by Laneige. This is wildly popular because it’s so effective. The Laneige lip sleeping mask has saved my lips and works to keep them hydrated overnight!
I hope this ultimate, no-nonsense skincare guide has helped clear up any questions you might’ve had about in what order to apply skincare products and maybe even inspired you to try a few new one that are FJ approved. Taking care of your skin is so important the older you get and has become my favorite morning and evening routine!
P.S. Answering popular beauty questions here & my favorite beauty products here!
Skincare Products
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