How to Build a Simple Morning Skincare Routine

Three steps cover most of what a morning routine needs to do: wash, moisturize, and put on sunscreen. A simple morning skincare routine built on those three is easier to keep up than a long one, and the steps you do every day matter far more than the extras.

The morning’s job is to prepare your skin for the day, and the biggest daytime stressor for skin is ultraviolet light. That is why sunscreen, not a serum, is the anchor.

1. Cleanse gently, or just rinse. If your skin is dry or sensitive and you washed properly the night before, lukewarm water may be enough in the morning. If you wake up oily or sweaty, use a mild cleanser suited to your skin type. Pat dry instead of rubbing.
2. Moisturize. A moisturizer helps hold water in the skin and supports its outer barrier. Lighter lotions and gels suit oily skin; creams suit dry skin. Apply it while your skin is still slightly damp.
3. Apply sunscreen last. Use a broad-spectrum product and apply enough to cover your whole face, ears and neck, not a thin smear. If you will be outside for long stretches, reapply through the day as the label directs. Our explainer on what SPF numbers mean covers how to read the label.

What about serums and extras?

They are optional. Antioxidant serums, eye creams and the like can be pleasant to use, but none of them replaces sunscreen, and adding several new products at once makes it hard to tell which one caused a reaction. If you want to add something, add one product, patch test it first, and follow the directions on its label. Products with acids or retinoids are usually better kept for the evening, and it is sensible to ask a dermatologist or pharmacist before combining active ingredients.

Some people like a combined moisturizer with sunscreen in it. That can work well, as long as it is labelled broad spectrum and you apply a generous amount. Many people use far less than the amount needed to get the protection printed on the bottle.

Making a simple morning skincare routine stick

A routine only helps if you do it. A few things make that easier:

• Keep the products where you already stand each morning, such as next to your toothbrush.
• Tie it to something you never skip, like brushing your teeth or making coffee.
• Choose textures you like wearing. A sunscreen you hate the feel of is one you will stop using.
• Give any change a few weeks before judging it, unless it stings, burns or itches.

The most common ways routines go wrong are covered in our piece on common skincare routine mistakes, and piling on products is near the top of that list.

The American Academy of Dermatology has a clear guide to how to select a sunscreen if you are choosing one for the first time. If you have a skin condition such as eczema, rosacea or acne, or you are using prescription skincare, check with your dermatologist or doctor before changing your routine, because some prescriptions change what your skin will tolerate.

Start tomorrow with the three steps, and nothing else, for two weeks.