Morning Skincare Routine

When I was a teenager my mum used to bang on about how I should be looking after my skin and being a typical teenager I ignored her advice. Fast forward ten years and looking after my skin has become one of the most important parts of my day. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wash my face or slather it in moisturiser and SPF and I've never dared to go to bed in my make up. And I'm happy to say that my skin is looking the best it's ever looked and I like to think it's down to the routines I have both AM and PM that have helped my skin. So today I thought I'd share with you my morning skincare routine that not only leaves my skin looking good but also creates a great base for  make up.

The first thing I have to do when I finally drag myself out of bed is wash my face. I don't know about all of you but my face doesn't always feel the greatest when I wake up. And depending on how lazy I'm feeling that particular day depends on what I use on my face. The majority of the time I wash my face and for that I reach for the Garnier Organic Lemongrass Face Wash. It's gel texture is extremely lightweight and leaves the skin feeling squeaky clean but not stripped. My skin always feels ultra soft after I've used it and the tangy Lemongrass scent really helps to knock away the last bit of sleepiness I may have. But if I'm feeling lazy or I've woken up with a headache (which is quite often) I reach for my Clean And Clear Sensitive Cleansing Lotion instead. Now before you all come at me and tell me off for using a product ridden with alcohol, I'll say I've been using this for nearly fourteen years and it's never had any adverse reaction with my skin. I just pour it onto a cotton pad and swipe it over my face. The amount of crap it can pull off my skin still surprises me to this day and it leaves my skin feeling clean and refreshed even if I'm not feeling it myself.

After I've washed my face I always go in with a toner. It wasn't always a step I included in my routine but I've been doing it since the beginning of the year and I've really noticed a difference in my skin. My favourite morning toner is the REN Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA Tonic. This is packed with Lactic Acid, Azelaic Acid and Willow Bark that work to even out skintone, reduce the appearence of enlarged pores and reduce the feeling and appearence of texture on the skin. I love it's pump top that distributes the right amount onto the cotton pad. And it's works wonders on my skin. My skin looks glowy, feels softer and looks even and bright which creates the perfect base for make up.

Now it's time to start adding some moisture and to start that I spritz myself generously with the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic Spray. It's jam packed with ingredients such as Vitamin E, Shea Butter, Camomile and Calendula. It helps to reduce any redness I may have and soothes my skin if it's feeling a little sensitive. It also makes a great setting spray over top of make up if you don't want something heavy duty. I've lost count of the amount of these I've gone through but I seriously wouldn't be without.

During the Summer months I only reach for a lightweight serum but in the Autumn/Winter I add a moisturiser over top. As we're still in Summer, I'm only going to show you my serum today. My holy grail serum comes from Loreal in the form of their Hydra Genius Aloe Water. It's so lightweight and just quenches skin's thirst. It feels like you've just splashed your face with water but that feeling lasts all day. It's perfect for layering under moisturiser, SPF and make up and will keep skin looking and feeling hydrated all day long. It's available for different skin types as well so even if you've got oily skin, you'll be able to use this on your skin.

Then it's on to SPF and this is one of the most important steps in my routine. I spent my teenage years being a SPF dodging, sun worshipping little shit and I'm honestly surprised it doesn't show in my skin more. But for the last five years I've religiously applied SPF to my face daily, even if I'm just nipping down to the shops. The one I find works best with my skin comes from Hawaiian Tropic and was recommened to me by a friend. It's oil free which means it isn't going to weigh down skin or clog pores, it's lightweight so it can be layered under make up and it's suitable for all skin types so that even those with sensitive/reactive skin types can use this. And for an SPF it's surpisingly moisturising which means on days when I''m just popping down the shops, I can pop this on and forgoe moisturiser.

And finally there is eye cream. Now if you've been a reader of the blog for a while then you'll know I've been on a bit of an eye cream journey over the last few years but now I can safely say I have not one but two eye creams that I would never be without. One is only for evening use and will certainly be featured in my August Favourites but the one I reach for every morning without fail is the Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream. It's ultra hydrating, soothing, firming and reduces any puffiness I may have. And all that works to give me a brighter under eye area with less blue tones, especially in the corners where it's always darkest. A little goes a long way and ever since I've been using this every morning, both my foundation and concealer have been going on more evenly in that particular area.

My Morning Skincare Routine

If there's one thing in my everyday routine that I make sure I never miss it's my morning skincare routine. Until a couple of years ago I never really bothered with my skin but now I can't go a day without my routine. Before I tell you what products I use, I will say that while I have senstive skin and the products I use work for me, they may not work for everyone with sensitive skin.

Clean and Clear Cleansing Lotion 
This is one of my holy grail products that I've been using since I was fourteen. I've gone through countless bottles of this stuff because the results never change, I still get an amazing clean feeling like I did the very first time I used it. It looks ever so slightly intimitating in the bottle but is one of the best cleansing lotions out there. I tip a more than generous amount onto a cotton pad and sweep it over my face, making sure to avoid my eyes. Instantly my face feels refreshed and ready for the day. Even though I thoroughly cleanse my face every night I'm always surprised at how much grime shows up on the cotton pad. Once I've used this my face feels cleansed and more awake and ready for the next step of my routine.

Superdrug Vitamin E Refreshing Toning Mist 
First of all please excuse my lack of lid, my room is like a lid graveyard. Once it's off it's gone forever. This is one of my favourite products at the moment and I'm constantly reaching for a spritz of this. After I've cleansed my face I spritz a few pumps of this over my face and pat in any excess. Instantly my skin feels hydrated and softer, any moisture I've lost replaced. It has a light fragrance which makes it perfect for mornings but the scent doesnt linger on the skin. However I do advise that you keep your mouth closed when spraying this, it doesn't taste as good as it smells.

B Energised Eye Cream 
I love this eye cream so much. It's results are that good that I've even got my mum and best friend hooked on it. This product is my saviour on those mornings when I've had too late a night and need to give my eyes some TLC. I rub it between my fingers and pat it gently over and under my eye area. I'm sure if my eyes could sigh in relief they would. The gel like formula is brilliant at soothing and cooling the under eye area. It smoothes skin out creating a great base for my make up later. If you 're looking for a more in depth review, I have spoken about it here.

Clearly Youthful Hydrating Day Serum
When I first tried this product, I hated it. The overpowering smell made me less eager to slap it on my face. I persevered with it though and I'm so glad I did. The hydration it gives my skin is mind blowing and the smell doesn't even register with me now. Two to three pumps of this does my entire face and leaves my skin feeling so soft and moisturised. My skin has never looked or felt better since I started using it and even though it's packed with tons of Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids, doesn't make my skin break out.

Garnier Moisture Restore + Night Cream 
Yes I know this is a night cream and I'm using it at the completely wrong time of the day but I can not find a day cream that gives me better results. Unlike most creams, this is a gel formula so it glides across my skin softer than most creams do. This and my day serum make my skin so soft that I sometimes catch myself stroking my cheek (I know weird). I find that most day creams leave my skin feeling dry and uneven, making it harder to apply my make up. This one doesn't though, it leaves my skin feeling smooth and hydrated, what I consider the perfect base for make up. It doesn't leave skin feeling tacky so that I don't have to wait for it to dry when I'm in a rush.

So that's my morning routine. What's your morning routine? Have any of you tried these products? Do you have any recommendations?