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Do you ever get out of bed, eyes still half-closed, feeling all puffy and without energy? Do you go in front of the mirror, see yourself and ask: Where do I start? Should I even bother?
Your skin is lifeless - big circles under the eyes, the ever-present pores, a pimple or two (or more) and all kinds of other imperfections that morning light just looves to enhance. Yeah, everybody’s been there.
If that’s any consolation you are definitely not alone. It has happened to all of us, many times!
To be completely honest, it still happens every time I neglect myself - an acne outbreak is always right on schedule. If we want to look great, we must treat our skin the way it deserves. Stay with me here - what I want to say is, nobody is born glowing, and nobody wakes up glowing! The secret is in the little investments we do every day when we decide to take care of ourselves. It doesn’t have to be much - devote 20 minutes in the morning to do things right! It will be worth it because you will feel amazing in the long run, and how we feel is how we look. Don’t forget that!
I’d ask you to trust me on this, but hey, I’d rather you decide for yourself. Read on, try the routine for a week and thank me later, when those annoying pimples are gone for good.
Okay, it all starts even earlier than the morning - 8 hours earlier to be exact. The first thing you need to do for yourself and your skin is to get a good night’s sleep! I can’t stress this enough! It’s just really important. If you are getting fewer than 6 hours of sleep, it will show on your skin. A lot of people confirm that around two weeks after they improved their sleeping pattern they started noticing differences in their appearance. And, here is the evidence.
No more wrinkles
The skin repairs itself while we sleep. Part of the repairing process revolves around the production of collagen. You must have heard about collagen by now - the essential protein that acts as the glue holding your skin together. One of its most well-known benefits is the ability to “reverse skin aging”, or in other words, it stimulates elastin, making the skin youthful, healthy and wrinkle-free.
A study published in 2015 found that hydrolyzed collagen is, without doubt, an important weapon in the everyday fight against skin aging.
Make your skin glowAnother thing that happens while we sleep is increased blood flow to the skin. Sleep deprivation causes a decrease in the blood flow surrounding your skin, resulting in dry, dull and colorless skin. You can forget about having rosy cheeks.
Should we even mention dark circles? Chances are, you know this all too well. Give your skin a chance to show you how beautiful it can be - treat it to quality sleep on a regular basis.
You might be tired of hearing this, and I know you know about the rule of eight-ounce glasses or2 liters a day. But, as part of this routine, you will get into the habit of drinking a glass or two right after you wake up. This is a great way to flush out internal toxins before all the daily challenges, like pollution or sun damage kick in.
I can feel you are already shaking your head, thinking: It’s just not going to happen! But, here is why you should make this a part of your morning routine - and, yes it is important for those acne outbreaks!
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking about an hour of intense, soul-crushing, fat-burning exercise. No, no, what you should do is stretch. Head rotations, arm rotations, forward-folds to get that blood flow to the head or back-bends to open the chest and increase oxygen intake. Depending on how much time you have, everything between ten to thirty minutes is perfect.
You may have woken up when you left the bed, but your body needs just a little more stimulation.
Exercise helps the body de-stress which leads to fewer acne outbreaks. Additionally, physical activity increases blood circulation, which sends more oxygen to your skin cells and removes waste from them.
This step might be hard to hold on to, but it will change your life - and your skin!
We are going to imagine that you are heading toward your bathroom after a couple of minutes of morning exercise. This timeline is perfect because you get all the benefits from working out and none of the skin irritation that comes from sweat sticking to your skin too long. Take a shower, and wash away everything your body just threw out from your pores.
First, make sure you wash your hands well, and only after gently splash some warm water on the face. Finally, gently scrub your face with a clean washcloth.
Now your skin is ready for some cleansing. You might already have a favorite cleanser that works magic with your type of skin, and that’s great. But, in case you don’t, I would suggest picking one that contains either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. These two ingredients are part of most acne treatments, because of their amazing exfoliating properties. Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide fight inflammation and unclog pores. The result is clearer skin with fewer blemishes. Salicylic acid is great for blackheads too because it also shrinks pores.
Thoroughly cleanse your face using a cotton pad -including your jawline, neck, and the area in front of and behind the ears. Some people prefer using their fingertips, which is good only if you are absolutely sure that you cleaned your hands completely, otherwise you are adding more fuel to the fire. Be careful. Good hygiene is key.
After cleansing your face, you are ready for the toner. Apply toner to a cotton ball and gently smooth over the face - this will remove any cleanser residue and oil. The toner will help balance your skin and stop it from overproducing oils. Make sure you choose an alcohol-free formula because alcohol can be drying and irritating, especially for sensitive skin types. Look for ingredients that are soothing; if the product contains chamomile, hibiscus extract, and vitamin E, I would say it’s a good choice.
If you have dry skin, you can skip this step as it might make your skin drier. For those with oily skin, this step is really important.
This step is optional, but if you decide to use a serum then I would say do it after the toner and before moisturizing the skin. Some people prefer serums because they have a higher concentration of active ingredients than moisturizers or cleansers do. The serum can be just the thing your skin was missing - it might be the final step to a glowing, radiant appearance. Look at this as a personalized step that will allow you to achieve your skincare goals and not take up too much time because serums are light in texture and absorb very quickly.
For best results, use an antioxidant serum that contains vitamin C.
The method of application is important. Take just one drop and spread it over your entire face and neck. Since your skin should be damp from your toner, this should make for an easy application. Let the serum absorb for 60 seconds before applying moisturizer.
Almost done! Don’t skip this step, even if you think you don’t need it since you might have oily skin. Moisturizing is good for all skin types. What you should be careful about is choosing one that is labeled as oil-free and noncomedogenic. Additionally, make sure the moisturizer you have is recommended for oily skin. A good, oil-free moisturizer won't trigger breakouts, but will help ease dryness, flakiness, and peeling. Acne treatments can completely dry out your skin and you will want moisturizing to counteract that.
This is where you finish. Never leave the house unprotected from the sun. You might love summer, but those sunrays can seriously hurt your skin. Look for a product with an SPF of at least 15, depending on where you live and how exposed are you to the sun.
Congratulations, now you are ready to seize the day, energized and protected. I know changes can be hard, but this morning skincare routine can be your most powerful weapon against acne and bring you several steps closer to the impeccable skin you’ve always wanted. And, if you are anything like me, you know it’s worth the effort! You deserve it. Go and get it!
