If you’re not cleansing your face morning and night, you should. But do you need more than a good wash? Probably. Different times of day also call for different types of products. As you decide what to include in your skincare routine, think about what you want the products to do. Small adjustments to your morning and evening prep can make a big difference to your skin’s health and appearance.

What you need from your morning skincare routine

Woman waking up in the morning, stretching.

Your morning routine serves a three-fold purpose. First, the skin needs gentle cleansing. Your skin secretes oil all night long that, if left, can clog pores. And, if you’re applying makeup, that oil could prevent your makeup from adhering well.

Second, your skin needs hydration to stay flexible and injury-resistant. It’s less likely to get damaged if it’s strong and supple. A good moisturizer hydrates the skin as a way to resist drying and daily damage.

Finally, you’re heading out into a harsh world, at least as far as the skin is concerned. UV rays penetrate the skin, potentially causing sunburn and breaking down the skin’s natural elasticity.

Whether you know it or not, you also battle the effects of free radicals throughout the day. Some free radicals are a byproduct of the body’s metabolism, but others come from environmental pollutants. These unstable molecules can damage the structure of your skin.

With these three challenges and purposes in mind, a morning skincare routine should include a few basics.

Cleanser

Skip drying soaps and artificial fragrances in favor of a gentle cleanser like SkinResourceMD’s Total Facial Cleansing Gel or Tea Tree Deep Clearing Facial Cleanser. These formulas remove excess oil and dirt but don’t strip the skin of natural moisture. Consequently, your skin doesn’t feel tight or dry after cleansing.

Moisturizers and antioxidants

Moisturizers maintain the skin’s natural hydration. SkinResourceMD’s Oil Free Antioxidant Facial Moisturizer is a great option because it’s lightweight and sinks into the skin. It also contains antioxidants to counteract the effects of free radicals.

You can also add extra treatments before applying your morning moisturizer. Consider using Hyaluronic Moisture Boost Serum to lock in an extra layer of moisture, or give yourself an antioxidant boost with Total Antioxidant - Vitamin C Facial Serum.

Sunscreen

The last step in your morning routine should always be sunscreen. Summer or winter, you need sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Try a physical sunscreen like Essential Solar Protector or Hyaluronic Facial Solar Protector, a tinted sunscreen. Both of these physical sunscreens prevent UV rays from penetrating the skin while hydrating at the same time.

Essentials of an evening skincare routine

At the end of the day, your skin has slightly different needs than first thing in the morning. Again, you need a good cleansing to remove makeup, oil, and dirt. However, at night, your skin is going to stay relatively protected for seven to ten hours. This is the time to apply targeted skin treatments and heavier moisturizers because they’ll stay in contact with the skin longer and penetrate deeper.

Cleanse: Your morning cleanser will work well for nighttime use too.
Special treatments: At night is a great time to address your specific skin issues. Try Baobab Skin Correction Facial Cream to even your skin tone and treat fine lines and wrinkles. Exfoliate and target wrinkles with Alpha Hydroxy Skin Renewal Serum, or treat rosacea with R-Relief Serum.
Moisturize: Moisturizers applied at night have more time to penetrate the skin for deeper hydration. Ultra Rich Biolipid Cream treats dry, sensitive skin with soluble beta-glucans and plant extracts filled with antioxidants. This thicker formula sinks into the skin and doesn’t feel sticky or heavy while you sleep.

Make your routine your own

Sensitive, dry, oily, or combination—are only a few of the words that could describe your skin. The fun part of skin care is customizing your routine to fit your skin and lifestyle.

If you’re rushing out the door in the morning, a simple routine that includes a cleanser and moisturizing sunscreen might be all you need. However, if skincare is your daily self-care, you might take the time to layer several products to add antioxidants and wrinkle treatments before stepping out the door.

You can do the same kind of customizing at night. If you struggle with acne, you can apply acne treatments when they have more time to soak into the skin and treat clogged pores at a deeper level.

You get to decide whether you want your routine to be simple or complex. Tailor your routines to your lifestyle, but make sure to care for your skin at the beginning and end of each day.

Morning vs. Night—Do You Need Different Skincare Products?