The Ultimate Skincare Routine for Glowing Skin (Morning and Night)
Skincare can sometimes feel like solving a complex puzzle with multiple serums, cleansers, and treatments all competing for space in your routine. The truth is, you don't need a 20-step skincare routine for healthy skin, but you do need consistency, patience, and products tailored to your specific skin type and concerns.
Think of your skincare routine like a 24-hour shield: protecting your skin from UV rays, pollution, and environmental factors during the day, then working to repair and restore while you sleep at night. Let's break down effective morning and nighttime routines to see if you're missing anything that could help you achieve the skin of your dreams!
Morning Skincare Routine
1. Cleanser
Even if I don't wake up sweaty or oily, I use a gentle cleanser to remove any leftover night creams or sleeping masks from the night before. If you have sensitive or dry skin, a wet towel might suffice, but this step preps my skin for everything that follows.
Current fav: Laneige Water Bank Gentle Gel Cleanser with Hyaluronic Acid
2. Toner/Essence
This step isn't a must for everyone, however, as a healthcare worker who still wears a mask 9 hours a day, I need to ensure my skin's pH is balanced and can use the extra hydration. I think of it as my skin's first drink of water and the step that preps for the serums to come.
Current Fav: Farmacy Honey Milk Hydrating Essence with Chamomile + Ceramides
3. Serums
This is where real protection happens. Many people gravitate toward Vitamin C serums for morning use, and while I've tried quite a few, I don't use it just because I think I should. I honestly don't see enough difference in my skin to make it mandatory in my routine - maybe I haven't found the perfect one yet! Instead, I focus on hydrating serums and light exfoliation since I wear a mask all day at work.
Current Favs: Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum and La Roche-Posay Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment
4. Moisturizer
Everyone needs moisturizer to lock in hydration for the day - yes, even if you have oily skin! The texture should match your skin type, so adjust if you feel like your moisturizer is making you oily or not hydrating enough.
Current Fav: Kiehl's Ultra Face Cream
5. Sunscreen (THE NON-NEGOTIABLE!)
Sunscreen is the MVP of your morning lineup - without it, you're not winning the skincare game. Daily SPF protects against sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and premature aging. If you take nothing else from this blog, take this information with you.
Current Fav and reigning MVP: Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum SPF 50
[Shop My Favorite Morning Skincare Picks for All Skin Types Here]
Nighttime Skincare Routine
1. Pre-cleanse
Remember that sunscreen from step 5? It's time to get it off, along with any makeup worn throughout the day. Oil cleansers and cleansing balms are formulated to break down makeup and SPF, whereas regular cleansers won't cut it. Since I wear sunscreen every day, I double cleanse every day. Simple as that.
Current Fav:Dermalogica Precleanse
2. Cleanser
Now that the SPF and makeup are properly removed, it's time to cleanse. At night, I use an exfoliating cleanser to keep breakouts at bay. It can be either chemical or physical exfoliation depending on the day - I usually use a physical exfoliant on Sundays.
Current Favs: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant Exfoliator or Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel
3. Mask (2-3 times per week)
Depending on my skin's needs, I rotate between hydrating masks, exfoliating masks, or pore-cleansing masks. I keep at least 4 different masks in my medicine cabinet at all times - yes, all opened, yes, all in rotation. I feature my full mask collection in my shop section because there are too many favorites to list here!
4. Toner/Essence
At night, I use an exfoliating toner to combat any breakouts on the horizon or address current ones. Depending on how my skin feels throughout the day, I'll layer a hydrating toner after the exfoliating one to restore moisture.
Current Favs: Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant or Farmacy Honey Milk Hydrating Essence
5. Treatments
This is where I incorporate exfoliating treatment pads if needed - these are specialized wipes soaked in active ingredients that you apply and let dry (don't rinse off). This step depends on current skin needs, but I always keep some on hand in case my skin decides to act up. If my skin is behaving, I'll just do spot treatments.
**Important note:** At the time of writing this, my skin type is normal, so I can experiment more with exfoliants. Over-exfoliating is absolutely a thing - pay attention to your skin and consult a professional before going overboard with active ingredients.
Universal Fav: Dr. Dennis Gross Extra Strength Daily Peel Pads
Spot treatment: Urban Skin RX Acne Serum
Retinol: Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum
6. Serums
At night, I use serums targeted for nighttime repair since they're usually more concentrated and work while your skin is in restoration mode. My serum choice depends on how many treatments I've used in the previous steps - if I've thrown everything at my skin, it's all about hydration and repair from here on out.
Current Favs: The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum, Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Serum
7. Moisturizer
Night creams are usually richer and thicker than day moisturizers. I only break out the heavy-duty night creams in winter when LA gets a bit drier (yes, we have seasons too!).
Current Fav: SKIN1004 Soothing Cream
8. Sleeping Mask (Optional)
If you want to treat your skin to something extra special, seal everything in with a sleeping mask. This really depends on your skin type and needs. When I had oilier skin, I wasn't a fan, but now that my skin is more balanced, I indulge from time to time.
[Shop My Favorite Night Skincare Picks Here]
Beginner Quick Start Guide
Feeling overwhelmed? Don't stress! You don't need a 10-step routine to have healthy skin. Here's the bare minimum beginner routine that will still give you results:
AM: Cleanser → Toner → Moisturizer → Sunscreen
PM: Cleanser → Toner → Moisturizer
Start here, and once you're comfortable, you can add serums and/or exfoliants based on your skin's needs.
The Budget-Friendly Shopping Strategy
If you don't know where to start and want budget-friendly guidance, head to your local Sephora. (I know, I know - I just said "budget" and "Sephora" in the same breath but hear me out!) Go to Sephora and ask for a skincare consultation. They have face scanners that test your skin's hydration levels and can tell you exactly what you need, what to focus on, and what textures work best for your skin type (oily skin should use foaming cleansers and gel moisturizers, dry skin needs cream cleansers, etc.). Ask lots of questions about what you should be using.
Here's the key: you can take that expert information and shop anywhere that sells skincare! I have a $7 cleanser and a $69 cleanser side by side in my medicine cabinet, and both work for my skin because I know how to shop for my specific needs.
The Bottom Line
The ultimate skincare routine isn't about how many products you own - it's about using the right ones, in the right order, at the right time of day. Keep it simple, protect your barrier, and let your skin shine through!
Disclaimer: I’m not a licensed professional, just your beauty bestie sharing what I genuinely love and use. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase. These links help keep the blog going and support future content. Please consult a licensed expert for any skincare or health concerns.