A morning skincare routine is cleanser, any serum you use, moisturiser, and sunscreen as the last step (AAD). Add the products on your shelf to Oleah and you have one list of what you already own, including two products doing the same job.
What are the core steps of a morning routine?
The AAD's order is wash, apply anything a doctor gave you, then moisturiser and/or sunscreen, then makeup if you wear it (AAD). In the morning that becomes:
- Cleanser
- Serum, if you use one
- Moisturiser
- Sunscreen
- Makeup, if you wear it
These are the same core steps as the night skincare routine. The difference is the last one. Night ends with moisturiser. Morning ends with sunscreen.
Do you need to wash your face in the morning?
The AAD says to wash your face once in the morning and once at night, as well as after sweating heavily, using a gentle cleanser that does not contain alcohol (AAD). Use lukewarm water and your fingertips, then pat dry with a soft towel (AAD).
Why does sunscreen go last?
The AAD says to always put sunscreen on after other skin care products and beneath your makeup. (AAD) It also suggests putting sunscreen on about 15 minutes before you go outdoors, and using at least a teaspoon for your face (AAD).
How do you build a morning routine from what you own?
- Pick your cleanser. The gentlest one you already have.
- Pick one moisturiser. One your face is comfortable with.
- Find your sunscreen. The AAD recommends SPF 30 or higher, broad spectrum and water resistant (AAD).
- Add them to Oleah. Add the products on your shelf to Oleah and you have one list of what you already own, including two products doing the same job.
- Decide if a serum belongs. If you use one in the morning, it goes after cleanser and before moisturiser.
- Keep it the same for a while. Change one product at a time, so you know what your skin is reacting to.
Where does a new product go in the morning?
Match it to the step it fits. A serum goes after cleansing. If your morning serums are niacinamide and vitamin C, read can I use niacinamide and vitamin C together? A moisturiser with sunscreen in it can do two steps; the AAD suggests a moisturiser with broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher for people with oily skin who want to save time (AAD). Test anything new on a small patch of skin first (AAD).
If you are still choosing your basics, start with a simple skincare routine.
When should you stop?
If a product stings, burns or makes your skin red, wash it off and stop using it. If a doctor prescribed it, ask them first. If your skin stays sore, see a pharmacist or doctor. If it blisters or swells, see a doctor today. If your lips, tongue or throat swell, or you have trouble breathing, call emergency services now. Oleah is not a doctor and does not give medical advice.
Where Oleah fits
Add the products on your shelf to Oleah and you have one list of what you already own, including two products doing the same job.
Oleah is an iPhone app for the skincare you already own. You add the products on your shelf or in your routine, take quick face scans that take about 30 seconds to follow visible changes over time, and ask questions along the way. Oleah can flag products on your shelf that may not belong together. There is a check-in on day 3, a first report on day 7 and the next report on day 14. Oleah is not a doctor and does not give medical advice, and it does not sell skincare.
Download the free iPhone beta. Add the products on your shelf, then take a quick face scan.
Questions people ask
What goes into a morning skincare routine? Cleanser, any serum you use, moisturiser, and sunscreen as the last step.
Should sunscreen be the last step of skincare? Yes. The AAD says to put sunscreen on after other skin care products and beneath your makeup.
Should I wash my face in the morning? The AAD says to wash once in the morning and once at night with a gentle cleanser.
Is a morning routine different from a night routine? The core steps are the same. The morning ends with sunscreen and the night ends with moisturiser.
Sources
- AAD: Should I apply my skin care products in a certain order?
- AAD: Face washing 101
- AAD: Dermatologist-recommended skin care for your 20s
- AAD: How to apply sunscreen
- AAD: How to control oily skin
- AAD: How to test skin care products
Oleah tracks how your skin looks. It is not a medical device. See a doctor about skin conditions.
