AM vs PM Skin Care Routine

Best Skin Care Regimen for Morning and Evening 

When it comes to the health and care of your skin, nothing is more important. Your skin is the largest organ of your body and deserves to be well cared for. However, there is much misinformation about how we should treat our skin, and finding the right type of routine for your type of skin can be a challenge. What many may not realize is that for optimal skin health, your skin care habits must take place in the morning when you wake up and in the evening when you go to bed.

Good skin care can start at any age, and regardless of where you are in life, starting a good routine now can prolong effects of aging down the road. While many believe that the quality of your skin is largely a result of your DNA, the truth is that is only a partial component to consider. Your daily routine, your health choices, and even stress levels can have both a negative or positive affect on skin health. As you begin to search for the right routine for you, you will find a tremendously overwhelming amount of products, opinions, and reviews.

As you sort through the noise, there are a few things to keep in mind: Washing your skin, balancing the skin, and hydrating the skin (1). These three key face washing steps are the staples to any AM vs PM skin care routine and from there, the products you choose will come down to personal preference depending on your lifestyle and skin type. However, we have identified top products and routines perfect for any age, skin type, or lifestyle. Here are our top morning and evening skin care routine tips to achieve the ultimate classy skin.

Morning Skin Care Routine

The morning is a beautiful time to start your skin care. It’s a fresh day with fresh opportunities, and if completely correctly, you can achieve fresh skin each morning as well. Here are a few steps and eco-friendly, natural products that are easy on any skin type.

Step 1: Wash Your Face

Simple! With clean hands, apply a water-based facial cleaner to a soft cloth, mix with water, and rub in gentle circles around your face (2). For maximum coverage, it is a good rule of thumb to work each product into sections on your face. Starting with the forehead, work your way down your T-zone to your nose, then from there to each cheek, and finish with chin and neck. Once the product has been evenly applied and massaged into your skin, rinse of with cold water to close pores on your face and reduce redness or inflammation.

Buy on Amazon

We suggest using the PURE Biology Facial cleanser. This is a high-end facial cleanser is made entirely out of natural ingredients carefully tested for quality, making it perfect for any skin type (especially if you have sensitive skin). Not only is it loaded with essential oils such as Rosemary, Lemongrass, and Lavender which are designed to reduce inflammation and redness, but it also includes Proline and Hyaluronic Acid which helps reduce visibility of fine lines and wrinkles. This specific face wash is gentle, hydrating, and will leave your skin feeling refreshed and clean.

Step 2: Toning Your Skin

Toning your skin is an extremely important especially if you suffer from problematic skin issues during your younger years, but is often a skipped step in the skin care routine process. The purpose of toning is to balance the pH levels in your skin, which in turn minimize pores and reduce redness, giving you an even skin tone and complexion (3). It’s important to look for toners that include Witch Hazel. Witch Hazel is a completely natural, plant-based ingredient that is highly effective and safe for any skin type. When applying toner, extract a small amount onto a clean cotton makeup wipe or a reusable bamboo makeup pad, which can be rewashed later, and gently coat is over your entire face and neck. Allow to fully dry before applying serums or moisturizers.

Buy on Amazon

The Luxury by Sofia is an organic, all natural toning solution with Witch Hazel as it’s first ingredient. It leaves your skin feeling soft and rejuvenated, and many reviews said they see results within the first few minutes of using this product. This product also includes Lavender water, Geranium Flower Oil, Organic Aloe Extract, and many other carefully sourced ingredients to revitalize your skin from dull to radiant within minutes.

Step 3: Serums and Moisturizers

When it comes with serums and moisturizers, they are two different products with one common goal: to hydrate the skin (4). Serums are highly concentrated solutions that are specific to your skin type. When it comes to serums, always remember that a little goes a long way. One small pump (about the size of a pea) is all you need for your whole face. Gently massage the serums in circles around your whole face, concentrating a little extra on areas prone to wrinkle such as under your eyes, around your mouth, and forehead. Once applied, wait 2-3 minutes for the serum to soak in before applying your moisturizer. Remember, once applied there is no need to wash it off and your moisturizing can be applied on top of it.

Whether you are looking for oil control, dry skin solutions, anti-aging solutions, or whatever the purpose may be, there is a serum out there for you. However, if you don’t know where to start, we suggest trying our favorite Ole Henriksen Truth Serum.

Buy on Amazon

This powerful serum is great for any skin type and is full of collagen and potent vitamin C. These ingredients help rebuild skin, prevent the effects of aging, and work to protect the skin against environmental challenges and damage. The serum immediately soaks into the skin working it’s way into the deepest layers for long-lasting results. This light, soft, radiate serum is so effective, it’s no wonder it’s the number one choice for serums on the market.

But are serums different than moisturizers? Do you really need both?

The answer is yes. Both play a vital part in hydrating the skin, and choosing one over the other is choosing to reap only half the benefits. While they work similarly, they work better and more effectively for the long-term health of your skin if used hand in hand. Once you have let your serum sink in for 2-3 minutes, it’s time to apply your moisturizer.

Apply a pearl size amount of moisturizing to clean hands, and apply all over your face. Be sure to map out your face for maximum coverage starting with your forehead and working your way down to your chin and neck. Let the moisturizing sit for at least 5 minutes. Moisturizers because of their properties and role in your skin care routine, can take a little longer to fully absorb. It’s important to give your skin time to fully absorb your moisturizer before applying makeup or before sun exposure.

Buy on Amazon

TATCHA The Dewy Skin Cream is a great option for any skin type. It is a verified clean product meaning it is all responsibly sourced, carefully picked ingredients unlike any other moisturizer on the market today. Finally, a luxury brand without the luxury price tag, the Dewy Skin Cream is full of anti-aging properties. This rich facial moisturizer includes a fermentation of Japanese anti-aging super food concoction – green tea, purple Japanese rice, and Okinawa Algae Blend + Hyaluronic Acid. Together, these ingredients prove to be a powerful trio bringing any skin at any age to life, and leaving your skin feeling soft, dewy, and healthy even after one use.

Evening Skin Care Routine

You woke up, went through your refreshing morning routine, had a classy day, and now you’re ready to unwind. Many tend to skip their skin care routine at the end of the day due to stress or exhaustion. But in fact, your evening skin care routine can be both a relaxing and rejuvenating process to close out your day. After all, you deserve a little ‘you-time’ after a long day.

 

Step 1: Remove makeup and access oils and dirt

After a long day, no matter what your routine may be, it is inevitable that our skin picks up dirt and oils throughout the day (5). It is important to start your nighttime skin care routine with an oil based skin cleanser. This is a bit stronger and more efficient for end of day skin care in that it effectively removes makeup or any dirt and oils that may be sitting on your skin at the end of the day. With clean hands, apply an oil-based facial cleanser to a clean cloth and gently massage into skin in circular motions. Once you have covered your entire face, gently rinse off with cold water.

Buy on Amazon

If you are unsure of where to start, we suggest starting with the Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser. This powerful, yet soft cleanser is packed with Vitamin E + A and many other antioxidant ingredients. It is made fresh right in the United States with 100% all natural, organic, nontoxic ingredients free from synthetics and fragrances. There is no outsourcing, no shortcuts, so you know the product you are receiving truly is the highest quality for any skin type.

 

Step 2: Toning Your Skin

Balancing the pH levels in your skin is extremely important and goes hand in hand with other moisturizes, serums, or night creams you may be using. Toning your skin again before bed allows it to fully rejuvenate over night. It keeps your skin from getting oily and maintains an even skin tone, correcting any redness (6). Applying this step to your evening routine as well is one that is often overlooked and not done at all. However, it is still an extremely important step no matter what your skin type, routine, or lifestyle. You don’t need any special toner for the evening, so you are able to use the same toner AM and PM.

Remember, when applying toner, extract a small amount onto a clean cotton makeup pad and gently coat is over your entire face and neck. Allow to fully dry before applying serums or moisturizers.

Buy on Amazon

If you are looking for an eco-friendly alternative to cotton makeup pads, we suggest using soft, bamboo makeup pads, which can be rewashed and used again. Not only are they gentle on your skin, but they are gentle on the environment as well.

 

Step 3: Eye Cream

Eye cream is a very important step, and actually one that most people implement over anything else. Eye creams can be a very powerful tool in combating dark circles, bags, puffiness, or redness under the eyes (7). It is meant to be used at night since eye creams tend to be much thicker, and work to repair your skin while you sleep so that you can wake up with smooth, even skin. Eye cream can be used very minimally since you are not covering your entire face. With a clean finger, simply dab your finger into the eye cream product. There should just be a small amount covering the surface of your finger. Do this for each under-eye, and work the product in very gently back and forth along your under-eye.

Buy on Amazon

If you are looking for an exceptional option, look no further than Dr. Barbra Sturm’s de-puffing eye cream. Dr. Barbra Sturm is a German aesthetics doctor especially renowned for her anti-inflammatory products and non-surgical anti-aging skin care solutions. Her products are especially popular among the celebrity world, and for good reason. Using all natural ingredients such as golden root, sugar beets, yeast, and purslane provide ‘de-puffing’ and smoothing of the under-eye skin. It also includes active omega lipids to help skin retain its youthfulness and glow. Her products are extremely powerful, and highly effective in the anti-aging process.

 

Step 4: Serums and Moisturizers

After your eye cream has set in, you are ready to apply your serums and moisturizers. With serums, always remember that a little goes a long way. Use the directed amount, which is normally one pump the size of a pea, and apply over your entire face, focusing on areas like under your eyes, around your mouth, your forehead, or any areas that may be prone to wrinkles.

This again will depend on what you are looking for in the hydrating stage of your skin care routine, but there are many incredible options available for any skin type. For a night time serum, its important to get something stronger than you would use for your morning routine to wake up with fresher, brighter looking skin.

Buy on Amazon

The ISDINCEUTICS Melatonik Overnight Recovery Serum is the best option on the market for overnight serums. This refreshing and effective serum is packed with Bakuchiol and Vitamin C to promote skin recovery and youthfulness, but it also includes Melatonin to promote circadian rhythm and a good nights sleep. With such carefully sourced, powerful ingredients, it truly is the magical 3-in-1 night serum for any skin type.

After you use your serum, it’s time for a moisturizer. The moisturizer you will use at night should be more of a night cream. Night creams work very similarly to any moisturizer in that is supplies hydration to the skin, replenishes your complexion, and smooths out any skin texture (8). Night creams can also boost collagen in your skin, which helps your skin to look younger more long term, and also promotes good blood circulation. Night cream is used just like your morning moisturizer. With clean hands, apply a pearl size amount to your fingertips and massage in a circular motion on your skin, covering the whole face.

Buy on Amazon

We recommend starting with the best: La Prairie Anti-Aging Night Cream. This wonderful night cream is created with a unisex fragrance and is perfect for any type of skin. It is Dermatologist-tested and recommended, but is also allergy-tested and noncomedogenic. This means if you are one with sensitive skin, this product is especially great for you. With it’s natural ingredients, it helps stimulate the skin’s over night repair process, offering protection, hydration, and energy packed nutrients that promote optimal skin health. This incredible night cream helps people at any age start their fight back against skin aging.