5-Minute Morning Skin Care Routine For Glowing Skin In Midlife

I love the phrase “glowing skin is always in. ” It’s true—what woman doesn’t want radiant skin? One thing that I have come to realize in midlife is the importance of my morning skin care routine. It sets the tone for my day. It doesn’t matter if I am staying around the house or if I am dressed for the day; I always take the time for morning skin care. A good routine not only protects our skin, but it also keeps our skin healthy and glowing.

Mornings are busy. I get it. Time is a luxury for many of us in the mornings. That is why I am sharing my morning routine with you. It may seem like a lot of steps to you, but it only takes about 5 minutes, and since I have been consistent with all of the basic steps (cleanse, tone, treat, hydrate, protect) my skin has never been happier. By the way, I never go to bed at night with any makeup on my face.

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5-Minute Morning Skin Care Routine For Glowing Skin

Consistency is key when it comes to skin care. That is why I keep everything at my fingertips in the morning. The lineup of morning products is in one section of my skin care/makeup rounder that sits on my bathroom counter. Having it easily accessible makes getting ready in the morning more efficient.

I have normal skin. In the winter it can get a little dry. The reason for that is I get a little aggressive with my Retin A. Dryness is something I usually address at night with heavier moisturizers and oils. So if you have oily skin, combination skin, dry skin, or acne-prone skin this morning skin care routine may not be the routine for you.

Is Morning Skin Care Necessary For Glowing Skin?

Want glowing skin? Then you need to make the time for a five minute routine. My dermatologist is always saying that you never leave home without broad spectrum sunscreen. She even says to wear it in the house. The reason that morning skin care is so important for glowing skin is that you are cleansing your skin to remove any buildup from the night before. We may not be able to see it, but our skin restores itself overnight and skin cells can build up.

The other way in which our morning routine sets us up for glowing skin is SPF. The last and most important step in the morning. SPF helps to protect your skin from free radicals and the environment. It is a necessary skin barrier no matter where you live.

How To Do Morning Skin Care Routine In 5 Minutes

Yes, you can do all of these steps in five minutes. Make sure you are not rummaging through drawers or cabinets for your morning skin care routine and you will get this down to a science.

Step 1: Cleanse

One thing about midlife is that we don’t want to strip our skin of its natural oils. My aesthetician reminds me of that EVERY time I see her for a facial.

I am a morning workout girlie. Before I go to the gym I freshen my face with micellar water and then put on a thin layer of moisturizer and sunscreen. I always protect my skin before leaving the house.

If I am not working out or after working out, I use a gentle cleanser and warm water on my face. I keep separate washcloths that I use on my face to blot my skin dry. I like this bamboo washcloth and this microfiber washcloth.

You will want to take 30-60 seconds for this step so that you gently work your cleanser into the skin. After that you will want to make sure you take the time to thoroughly rinse the skin and blot it dry with a clean cloth.

Step 2: Tone

Next up I always use a toner to balance everything out with my skin. Toner not only helps to balance the pH in your skin, but it will help your skin better absorb the next steps.

I swear by these facial sponge cotton pads to use with all of my liquid products. They do make your skin care products last longer. You don’t need nearly as much product versus using a cotton pad. The other nice thing is that they don’t leave any lint behind on your skin.

Toning your face will take you less than 30 seconds so do yourself a favor and don’t skip this step.

Step 3: Serum

Serums are great for addressing specific issues that occur naturally with our skin as we age. They are lightweight and are packed with high concentrations of specific ingredients to address the issues that you have.

Again, this should only take you about 30-60 seconds. You may want to use a roller like this to help get all of the serum into your skin.

Step 4: Eye Cream

While my serum is soaking in I take a few seconds to put on my eye cream. We have to protect the delicate skin under our eyes. It is thinner than the rest of the skin on our face so it is very important to keep it hydrated. You can get an eye cream that addresses what your skin needs…..dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles, etc.

It takes a very small amount of eye cream to go under each eye so this step only takes a few seconds.

Step 5: Hydrate

Next, I hydrate my neck. Yes, include neck cream in your morning and evening skin care routines. Make sure that you use upward strokes to apply this cream. The upward strokes help to defy gravity.

Once the neck is hydrated it is time to hydrate the face with a moisturizer. Again, it is always good to use upward strokes when applying this. Gravity is not our friend as we age. Any extra lift is a good thing.

Hydrating your neck and face should only take 1 minute, 2 minutes maximum.

Step 6: Protect with SPF

The layer that you never want to leave home without. A broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher. It doesn’t matter if it is raining or if the sun is shining SPF should always be your last step in your morning skin care routine.

One tip that I learned from a makeup artist that I love to pass along is this. If you are going to be in the car for prolonged amounts of time put a second coat of SPF on the left side of your face. That windshield sunshine can get you. Oh, and don’t forget the backs of your hands too. All of the time on the steering wheel they are being exposed. I like to keep a small tube of this handscreen in my handbag or console. It is a great moisturizer and sunscreen combination.

Now you are ready for makeup if you desire.

What SkinCare Products Make YOur Skin Glow In Midlife

Here are the products that give my skin the healthy glow I love and others always ask about. I love trying new skin care products, but these are my tried and true. If I mention another option that does the same thing it could be that I switch between the two interchangeably or rotate depending upon what I have at the time.

Bioderma Micellar Water

This micellar water is the first thing I use on my skin every morning with a cotton pad. Micellar water not only cleans my face in the morning, but it also helps to hydrate it at the same time. My skin always feels soft and smooth after using it.

It just takes a few seconds to soak a round cotton pad with the product and wipe it all over my face and neck. I’m ready to put on my moisturizer and sunscreen combo and head out the door to the gym.

Tatcha The Rice Wash

The Tatcha rice wash leaves my skin feeling so soft after cleansing. It is made with a blend of Japanese algae for nourishing the skin and hyaluronic acid that helps the skin look smooth and plump with hydration.

I dampen my face, put a little on the tips of my fingers and it turns into a rich foam that rinses off easily. It leaves my skin feeling so clean and soft.

A couple of times a week I like to use this Detox Me mask. It is a deep clean for post sweaty workout. I put it on my face dampened with water just before I hop in the shower, let it go to work, and then rinse it off in the shower. It is made with lactic acid to exfoliate the skin and salicylic acid to purify and tighten pores. Argan and dandelion leaf extracts are also added to help with skin inflammation and help repair sun damage. Plus it smells wonderful while it is working to help you get your glow on.

Paula’s Choice Advanced Replenishing Toner

This Paula’s Choice toner is designed for an anti-aging skin routine and that is why I use this formulation. This toner is designed to replenish essential nutrients to the skin. It contains hyaluronic acid and evening primrose oil. Both are essential ingredients for an anti-aging skincare routine.

It takes a few seconds to swipe this over my face and neck in upward strokes. Leaving my face feeling soft and hydrated. One thing about this product is that with consistent use over time, it will help top reinforce the skin’s natural moisture barrier. That means your skin will be able to retain moisture better.

Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Serum

This Vitamin C serum is my big splurge when it comes to my morning skin care routine. This little bottle is expensive but mighty. I have tried other Vitamin C serums and find myself coming back to this one. This Vitamin C serum does it all. It provides environmental protection, lightens lines, and brightens my complexion. It only takes a few drops of this. A little goes a long way.

It does go on sale from time to time for 15% off so I always keep my eyes peeled for that.

Necessaire Neck Serum

This fast-absorbing repair serum for the neck is a favorite. I like that it is fragrance free so that it doesn’t fight with the perfume I always spray on my neck each day. It is infused with peptides to treat and prevent wrinkles and sagging skin. You can also use it on the decolletage for firming that skin.

Neocutis Lumiere Eye

Lumiere Firm has been my go to morning eye cream for a few years now. It is an anti-aging eye cream that isn’t too thick and it does the trick for my skin. It has growth factors to support collagen production under the eyes. It has caffeine in it to reduce any eye puffiness, and Vitamin C for antioxidant care.

This is another product that I watch to go on sale a couple of times a year at 20% off. A little goes a LONG way with this product. I also like to keep it in the refrigerator because it feels so good going on cold to help with any puffiness.

Merit Great Skin Instant Glow Serum

One squirt of this serum into the palm of my hands every morning to spread onto my face is so delightful. You immediately feel the hydration from the blend of four types of hyaluronic acid. It also contains cacao seed extract which has caffeine in it so you get that immediate plumping.

It is a light weight formula that absorbs quickly. This step takes less than 30 seconds to apply in upward strokes.

Merit Great Skin Priming Moisturizer

This lightweight moisturizer is designed to work with the Instant Glow Serum. When it came out recently I knew I had to try it. It did not disappoint. The propriety Great Skin complex by Merit combined with oat extract and hyaluronic acid is fantastic for keeping my face hydrated all day. It also leaves a very smooth finish.

Again I apply this layer in upward strokes in 30 seconds or less.

Elta MD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46

I have tried so many broad spectrum face sunscreens over the years. This clear version is my favorite. It is not too heavy. My dermatologist recommends it. It is good for sensitive skin. Needless to say I feel like this sunscreen checks all of the boxes.

You can shop this morning skincare routine below.

Thanks, Let’s Keep In Touch

Thanks so much for stopping by. A morning skin care routine doesn’t have to be complex or time-consuming. It just needs to be effective so you can get your glow on. Here’s to glowing skin and a great start to every morning. I also have some favorite anti-aging skin care tips and products if you want to check those out too.

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