Here’s A Simple AM And PM Skincare Routine That Will Work For Anyone
But before I jump into the post, I highly recommend reading A Beginner’s Guide To Active Ingredients In Skincare Products Broken Down By Skin Type and Concern (Includes a Printable Infographic!) post because it is a great jumping off point for anyone who is completely new to skincare, but wants to learn more. And, you’ll get more out of the post below 🙂
I know trying to figure out skincare and what works for your skin type and concerns can be overwhelming. In this post, I want to share a simple AM and PM skincare routine, which will work for anyone.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between an AM and PM skincare routine?
An AM skincare routine refers to skincare done in the morning. And PM routine refers to skincare done at night / at the end of the day. But, that’s not the difference I’m referring to. What I’m talking about are the different needs the skin has in the morning vs night.
In the morning, the skin doesn’t require much. The focus of an AM skincare routine is to balance and protect the skin.
It’s a different story at night. After a whole day of exposure to sun, makeup, debris and dirt etc, the goal of a PM skincare routine is to cleanse and hydrate.
What to use in an AM skincare routine and why?
Keeping AM skincare goals in mind, here are the skincare products to use:
Step 1 : Balance the skin with a hydrating toner. Bring the skin back to its natural pH level and remove any excess oiliness and dirt, which can happen overnight. Use a hydrating toner with ingredients like water, glycerin, green tea (centella Asiatica extract), aloe, rosewater, hyaluronic acid.
Step 2: Protect the skin with a vitamin C serum, moisturizer* and SPF (in that order) . These products help protect the skin against sun and environmental damage, dark spots (hyperpigmentation), acne, fine lines and wrinkles as well as keep the skin hydrated. Look for lightweight, non-sticky formulas.
*Depending on your skin type, you don’t have to use a moisturizer in the morning — a hydrating sunscreen will do.
Vitamin C adds antioxidants to the skin, which help fight all the things mentioned above. When you pair vitamin C with sunscreen, it boosts the skin’s ability to protect against sun damage. Added bonus: vitamin C serums help brighten the skin and reduce pigmentation too.
Sunscreen is the most important product for an AM routine and makes a huge difference in the long-term health of skin, so make sure to use it every morning with minimum SPF 30 and reapply throughout the day.
Related:
Why You Need A Vitamin C Serum In Your Morning Skincare Routine — And Beginner Tips To Get Started
Chemical vs Mineral Sunscreen: Everything You Need To Know
What to use in a PM skincare routine and why?
I can’t stress it enough, but PM skincare routines are important. If you’re diligent about following a routine, then most skincare concerns slowly disappear and often stop reoccurring. What’s the big secret? Clean skin = healthy skin.
Step 1: Cleanse the skin using the double cleanse technique. Start with an oil-based cleanser/balm followed by a face wash. The first cleanse with the oil-based cleanser breaks down all makeup, product, dirt, residue, excess sebum etc from the skin to make it easier to clean. The second cleanse with a face wash ensures any leftover dirt or product residue is removed. There are a variety of cleansing oils and facial cleansers available. You can’t really go wrong with something gentle and hydrating. It sounds tedious to do every night, but I promise you (and your skin) will be so happy.
Step 2: Hydrate the skin with a hyaluronic acid serum and moisturizer. Hydrating the skin properly at night is important because if it’s not, the skin produces excess oil to compensate for the lack of moisture and that leads to a host of other problems such as clogged pores, dehydrated skin, and acne breakouts. Hyaluronic acid is a gentle and effective ingredient in skincare, which helps to hydrate the skin i.e. it attracts water. Follow the serum with a rich moisturizer that will help lock-in all that hydration and keep the skin plump and soft. For PM serums and moisturizers, look for ingredients such as glycerin, ceramides, niacinamide, collagen, peptides, hyaluronic acid etc.
Related:
Here Are Some Great Skincare Products For Men
A Beginners Guide: What Is Retinol and How To Use It In A Skincare Routine
