6 Beauty Editors Share Every Step of Their Morning Beauty Routines

What we can't picture our mornings without.

By Danielle Fontana Dooley, Associate Director, Digital Content · Published: Nov 28, 2016

While nighttime skin care products seem to get the majority of the glory within the beauty realm, to me, there’s something so invigorating about mornings. Not only are they a time to start fresh and put yesterday behind you, but they’re also the time where my favorite beauty products get used to prep my skin for a long day ahead. And judging by the varied responses I got after asking my fellow editors about their usual morning routines, it seems as though I’m not alone. From shampoos to eye creams, these are the a.m. products we can’t live without (and the sometimes-lengthy routines you’ve come to expect from a skin care–obsessed beauty editor).

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“Every day differs just a bit depending on what my skin needs at the moment. But, for the most part, my morning routine goes something like this:

If I’m going to the gym, I’ll give my skin a light cleansing with a cotton round and Boscia Sake Water to remove any lingering dirt or makeup. And, it wakes my skin up. When I’m ready to get dressed for the day, I’ll wash my face with Rodan & Fields UnBlemish Acne Treatment Sulfur Wash ($43), which I love because it’s super thick so it feels like I’m giving my skin a treatment at the same time. I’ll apply eye cream—right now I’m into the AmorePacific Time Response Eye Renewal Crème ($260). Next is toner, which I recently just got into after a 20 year+ hiatus. I rotate between Rodan & Fields Unblemish Clarifying Toner ($42) and Sunday Riley Martian Mattifying Melting Water Gel Toner ($55). After that, I’ll apply Rodan & Fields Unblemish Dual Intensive Acne Treatment ($102), which really helps keep breakouts at bay. If my skin is red or splotchy, I’ll add in a layer of PCA Anti-Redness Serum ($59) before putting on an anti-aging serum, which could be anything from Phace Bioactive Illuminating Serum ($92), Cellcosmet Switzerland CellLift Serum ($495) or La Prairie Cellular Radiance Perfecting Fluide Pure Gold ($525). Lastly, I always apply Sisley Sunleÿa SPF 50 ($300) for sun protection. And then it’s off to do my makeup.”

—Elise Minton, Executive Beauty Editor

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“I don’t wash my face in the morning. I know that might be a big no-no, but for me, my skin is better when I don’t. Right now, my rotation is: Rescue Ultra Moisturizer ($80) first, Decleor Auorabsolu Intense Glow for Eyes Dark Circle Corrector ($52) next (the scent alone just wakes me up) and Revision IntelliShade ($41) last.”

—Liz Ritter, Executive Managing Editor

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“My mornings are precious so I’m the ultimate multitasker—I do everything in the shower. I brush my teeth right before I hop in and then it’s straight to business. First, I use Julien Farel Vitamin Shampoo and Conditioner ($25). Ever since I got my hair chemically treated one too many times, it’s been so difficult to maintain and this is the only shampoo that I’ve tried that doesn’t leave my hair a matted, tangled mess. Plus the set smells great! While I’m conditioning, I work on my face. I have two cleansers that I alternate between: Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Daily Foaming Wash ($38) and Natura Bissé The Cure All-in-One Cleanser ($62). I like that both are gentle enough to use in the mornings and they both leave my skin looking radiant after. In particular, I love how the Kate Somerville cleanser smells—it’s like a bit of aromatherapy in the morning. Right before I jump out of the shower, I slather Curel Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer ($11) all over. It’s so quick yet effective for keeping my skin moisturized all day.

I prep for makeup by using Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré ($28) all over my face, and blended in with a beautyblender ($20), the best. For foundation, I’m obsessed with Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Cushion ($47). No offense to the Korean companies that pioneered this technology, but Lancôme’s cushion compact is in my book, the best one. It gives amazingly smooth coverage that immediately covers all the redness and unevenness in my skin without ever looking heavy or unnatural. I’m also obsessed with Lancôme’s Cushion Highlighter ($39) which gives a great glow. I finish with brows—Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil ($24) all the way—and I apply Revlon Color Stay Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain ($9.50)—it gives such a nice color flush while instantly moisturizing my lips—on my way out the door.”

—Carolyn Hsu, Site Editor

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“In the shower, I wash my face with whatever cleanser is in there that day (right now it’s Juara Rice Facial Cleanser, $29), which has a creamy texture and smells so good). When I get out, I immediately apply moisturizer while my skin is still damp. I just started using Pacifica Cactus & Kale Oil-Free Recovery Lotion ($14)—I pretty much only use lightweight, oil-free moisturizers—and it seems to be really compatible with my sometimes-normal, sometimes-combination skin. If my skin has been particularly oily for any reason or I have a breakout, I’ll use toner before I moisturize and a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment on my trouble spots. Obagi CLENZIderm MD Therapeutic Lotion with 5 percent benzoyl peroxide is my go-to for nipping blemishes in the bud before they get out of control. For SPF, I typically get it in my BB/CC cream with a minimum of 35 (most of the ones I use are 50+). Cushion compacts are my current obsession and I think they deliver really good protection while also evening out my skin tone.”

—Brittany Burhop, Senior Editor

5 / 6

“Because I’ve found that my makeup looks better throughout the day when I don’t skimp on my a.m. skin care routine, my regimen can be a little lengthy. The way I cleanse depends on whether I work out that morning—if I do, I’ll wash my face with PCA Skin BPO 5% Cleanse r ($36) to keep breakouts far, far away; if I don’t, I’ll run a cotton pad over my face with Sonia Kashuk Renew Micro-Exfoliating Toner ($15) to create a clean canvas for the rest of my products, but the rest of my regimen stays the same. Next comes Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster ($48), partly for the citrus scent that’s come to wake me up every morning and partly for the plumping effects it delivers, and then belif Hydra Sebum Control Essence ($42) to keep my oily skin under control. I’ll then apply Tula Probiotic Illuminating Face Serum ($78), which balances whatever issue my skin is dealing with that day before swiping my Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter Anti-Puff Eye Roller ($9) around my eyes to de-puff and perk me up instantly. Once that’s absorbed, I reach for Kate Somerville Goat Milk De-Puffing Eye Balm ($38) to keep my under-eyes hydrated (because no one likes cakey concealer).”

—Danielle Fontana, Editorial Assistant

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“I’m a minimalist when it comes to my skin-care regimen. In the mornings I keep it pretty simple and use a cleanser that is not too harsh or too gentle—Algenist Gentle Rejuvenating Cleanser ($28) is my favorite because it cleans my dry skin without leaving it feeling stripped or tight. Its blend of alguronic acid, oat amino acids and witch hazel help keep my skin feel soft and supple. To hydrate, I use a few drops of Skyn Iceland Arctic Face Oil ($35) with a powerful combo of camellia oil, vitamin E and sunflower oil, which somehow has a lightweight consistency yet is thick enough to quench my dry skin. To prep my face for my foundation, I keep reaching for Illamasqua Hydra Veil ($45) primer—I apply a very thin layer and I love that it doesn’t feel sticky or tacky but totally locks in my makeup so it lasts throughout the day.”

—Tatiana Bido, Special Projects Editor

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