Your morning facial routine is probably the most simple grooming routine that you will have, but it is also one of the most important. The most important thing about doing makeup successfully is to always begin with a clean, unblemished face. Begin every morning by washing your face with a gentle, moisturizing facial cleanser. There are different types of cleansers for oily, dry, and combination skin. Be sure to keep your skin type in mind when choosing a cleanser. If you're skin seems to always be shiny then you most likely have oily skin. If your skin always feels tight or is a little flaky then you probably have dry skin. If most of your skin is one type but you have areas of either dryness or shiny, oily skin then you have combination skin. Personally, I have predominantly dry skin with a few oily patches around my nose so I use a moisturizing cleanser for dry skin.
There are several brands of cleansers and facial products that come highly recommended. Some of the most well known brands include, Cetaphil, CeraVe, Aveeno, and O'Lay. My two favorites are Cetaphil and CeraVe followed by O'Lay. I highly recommend using the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser for all Skin Types. It is made for sensitive skin which I have and it has a lot of moisturizing capabilities which is always a plus.
I've never used cleansers made by CeraVe or O'Lay but I'm sure they would be excellent options in case Cetaphil doesn't quite do it for you. Also, all of the aforementioned brands can be found at Target, Publix, CVS, or Walgreens.
Once you have selected your cleanser of choice you will need to choose a quality facial moisturizer that has an SPF from at least 15 up to 30 included. I was never a big daily user of sunscreen until I moved to Florida four years ago and began getting sun damage just from normal sun exposure. After enduring two chemical peels though to have the damage removed I have become quite the advocate so unless you live at the North or South Pole and never plan on going outside, make sure your moisturizer has sunscreen.
My morning moisturizer of choice is O'Lay Complete All Day Moisture Lotion UV Defense with an SPF of 15. This moisturizer has won several awards and has been my go to for relief from dry skin for four years. My boyfriend has even been known to use it occasionally. It's light but effective and it will provide relief for tightness and dryness for most of the day. I swear by it.
My dermatologist has suggested CeraVe Day Time Facial Moisturizing Lotion, SPF 30 due to the higher SPF, but I have yet to try it. I have also been unable to find it at Target. I have used the CeraVe PM Moisturizing Lotion though, and I love it. No moisturizer goes on as smoothly as that one.
Once you have cleansed and moisturized you will be ready apply any other additives that you may desire. I have puffy bags under my eyes that are caused by genetics and although I cannot eliminate them completely I do have a couple of products that I use to reduce the puffiness. I apply Origins No Puffery cooling mask for puffy eyes once I have cleansed and moisturized. A tiny amount of the No Puffery goes an exceptionally long ways so the small bottle will last several months.
Once you have applied any additional products you will be ready to begin applying your makeup. Be sure to let the moisturizer and any products completely dry before beginning to apply makeup. Oh, and be sure to apply a little moisturizer to your eyelids - it will help your eyeshadow stay on longer. Consistency is the most important aspect of any beauty regiment. None of the products above will improve or maintain the quality of your skin if you use them sporadically, only if they are used daily. It's a bit of a commitment but it's also one of the best investments you will make as it is an investment in yourself. I hope the above was useful. I'll be following it up with a post on night time facial routines. Until then, I hope everyone had a good Christmas and a happy New Year's. Here's to 2012. Let's make it the best year we've had!
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