Some people wake up with skin thirsting for a tall glass of moisture. Others start the day a little on the oily side. Having combination skin, I’ve experienced both. However, I learned to adjust to no matter what the day brings by creating a morning skincare routine fully focused on brightening my complexion. This morning ritual lifts the lackluster look and leaves my skin — and my mood — on a high note.
As crazy as it may sound, you’ll see me switch between two different products a lot. I do this just to keep my skin guessing and to make sure I’m getting the full spectrum of brightening nutrients. Today’s cleanser of choice is Andalou Naturals Meyer Lemon Creamy Cleanser, which is a fruit stem cell concoction. It’s made with 72% organic ingredients, has a gel texture and smells refreshing. The antioxidant powers of the fruit stem cells really help even my skin tone.
I follow this up with the Andalou Naturals Brightening Clementine + C Illuminating Toner. The purpose of toner is to open your pores and get them ready to guzzle moisture and nutrients. If your skin tends to be more dry, toner can actually add insult to injury. But the Andalou Naturals formula doesn’t contain much alcohol like the not-so-natural skincare options out there. In fact, alcohol is one of the last ingredients listed, and I don’t find it drying at all.
Serum is the next step. Honestly, I haven’t always used serum. But since trying the Andalou Brightening line, I’m a believer! Again, I use two different serums for optimum skin-nourishing benefits. The Andalou Naturals Brightening serum is a little thick but definitely hydrating. I also like the light-weight, 100% vegetarian and cruelty-free Avalon Organics Vitality with Vitamin C Serum. This one features white tea, lemon bioflavonoids and (obviously) vitamin C for ultimate sun-damage repair. I recommend using a separate serum for your eyes, preferably a gel texture that is lighter and won’t clog pores. Andalou Luminous Eye Serum fits the bill perfectly, because it has caffeine to help stimulate circulation and reduce puffiness that is nearly inevitable first thing in the morning.
Last but certainly not least…moisturize! Serums are great for repairing your skin, but an age-defying moisturizer with SPF will give you the protection you need from further sun damage and other pollutants we encounter throughout the day. Andalou Naturals Ultra Sheer Lotion is truly ultra sheer, which I love. You don’t want to that feeling of something thick on your my face, especially right before applying makeup.
Now that my skin is clean and awake, I hydrate my lips with a vitamin E-enriched balm. It’s just what you need to keep your smackers smooth. Cheers to a beautiful morning!