Current Morning Skincare Routine

Today I wanted to share my morning skincare routine! My routine has mostly stayed the same for the 1-2 years since I’m a creature of habit. My main concerns have been dryness, aging, and sensitivity since I’ve had really bad allergic reactions to some products in the past.

Other things I look for in a product:

• Affordability – if I’m planning to use this product every single day, it should not be something that will be expensive to rebuy
• Brand – I have a lot of brand loyalty when it comes to buying skincare, so it needs to be a company whose mission and aesthetics align with my values
• Ingredients – I am not extremely concerned with active ingredients for my daytime routine, but I like to keep the ingredients to a minimum to limit things my skin might react to

Wash face

The first thing I do every morning after brushing my teeth is to wash my face with water. I normally put on a face oil at night, so in the morning I just need to just wash it off with water and then I pat my skin dry with a towel. I don’t want to use a cleanser because I find that it’s unnecessary and dries out my skin.

Toner

Muji Sensitive Skin Moisturizing Toning Water

My next step is to immediately apply a toner. Toners, in general, are supposed to help balance the pH of your skin, and this one also has the added benefit of being moisturizing.

I have been using this Muji toner for years. This is a pretty no-frills toner, but it’s really moisturizing and gets absorbed quickly by my skin. For key ingredients, this toner has a small amount of portulaca oleracea extract (I assume small since it’s the last listed ingredient), which is known for its antioxidant properties and having beneficial minerals.

As for price, a giant bottle like the one that’s pictured is less than $20, will last me a few months, and Muji will often have 10-15% off sales on their skincare, making it even more affordable.

Eyes

The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG

After the toner, I’ll apply this caffeine solution from The Ordinary. Thanks to genetics, I was born with pretty awful eye bags that I used to get bullied for in grade school and as a result, I am really self-conscious about my eye bags :(.

So to help with the appearance, I use this to depuff my eye bags. It’s no miracle worker, but I have noticed it reducing the puffiness a little bit.

ACURE Radically Rejuvenating Eye Cream

One step I never skip is applying eye cream since the skin around my eyes gets pretty dry. It also doesn’t help that I rub them all the time because staring at a computer all day really dries my eyes out.

I am on my third bottle of this eye cream and I love how hydrating it is. I’ve tried other products from ACURE like their lotion and bath products, and I love the quality of their products. Their products are also vegan and cruelty-free. I’ve seen this at Target and Ulta, but sometimes I’ve been able to find this at TJ Maxx or Marshall’s at a more discounted price.

Key ingredients include edelweiss extract, which “provides antioxidants and skin-smoothing benefits“, as well as chlorella which is a type of algae and is rich in nutrients.

Face

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA

I’ve tried many different types of moisturizers ever since I’ve started my skincare journey. As far as I’m concerned, I feel like there’s no other moisturizer that can beat this one in terms of moisture, value, and price.

I have gone through several tubes of this moisturize from The Ordinary and it is still hands-down my favorite. It contains hyaluronic acid as well as various other ingredients to keep the skin hydrated. The large size is less than $10 and I only need a small amount to cover my face and neck.

Krave Beauty The Beet Shield

This brand was created by Liah Yoo, who started out as a skincare YouTuber before starting her own company. I am also a huge fan of the Krave Beauty face wash, but I’ll save that review for another post.

Unfortunately, due to the fact that it takes so long for new ingredients to be approved in the U.S., this product cannot legally be marketed as a sunscreen (this is also the reason why people prefer sunscreens from Europe or Asia over the U.S. since the technology and ingredients in those countries have become more advanced). However, this product is the exact same formula as the sunscreen being sold in Korea, meaning it is a sunscreen, but it just can’t be sold as one in the U.S. (here’s Liah’s video explaining the issue here).

That aside, I absolutely love this product. I have never used a “sunscreen” that feels so smooth and non-greasy. The texture is like I’m applying liquid velvet to my face. It doesn’t feel sticky nor does it feel like it’s just sitting on my face.

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That wraps up my morning skincare routine! A very quick, easy, and affordable five-step process to ensure that my skin is moisturized and protected from the sun each day. Have you tried any of these products? Is your routine shorter or longer than mine? Let me know in the comments!

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*This post is not sponsored, but it does contain affiliate links which may generate a small commission for me. For more information, view my disclosure policy.