7 Ways to Upgrade Your Morning Skin Care Routine

It’s time to rise and shine! When it comes to your morning skin care routine, there are a few simple tweaks you can make to help take things to the next level. From doubling your fun by double cleansing to mastering the art of multi-masking, here are seven ways to upgrade your morning skin care routine. It’s time to have some fun this A.M.!

Morning Skin Care Routine Upgrade #1: Start at Night

Beauty sleep, FTW! Set yourself up for your morning skin care routine by taking care of your complexion before you snooze. After cleansing, apply the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Intensive Overnight Mask, a luxurious, hydrating, leave-on creamy mask. Immediately, skin feels hydrated and looks more radiant. Smooth it over your face, neck, and jawline until absorbed, then leave on overnight.

Morning Skin Care Routine Upgrade #2: Double Cleanse

Double cleansing started off as a popular skin care trend in Korea—and when you learn what it is, you’ll understand why so many people are catching on to this cleansing technique. Double cleansing involves first using a no-rinse cleansing option like micellar water or towelettes to help remove makeup, dirt, and excess oils from the surface of your skin, then following up with a rinse-off cleanse to help remove any remaining impurities.

For the first part of your double cleansing routine, consider using micellar water, which is powered by tiny micelles—oil molecules—that act as a magnet to lift dirt, makeup, and impurities up and away from the skin. Find your micellar water match: The L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser for Normal to Dry Skin hydrates and soothes, the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin purifies and mattifies, and the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Cleansing Water Complete Cleanser Waterproof- All Skin Types intensely purifies. Just saturate a cotton pad and sweep it across your skin. The best part? You don’t have to be anywhere near a sink to use it! Micellar water is a total timesaver when it comes to speeding up your morning routine.

Another option you can use for the first step in your double cleansing routine is a towelette. The L’Oréal Paris Ideal Clean™ All Skin Types Makeup Removing Towelettes gently cleanse and remove makeup—even waterproof mascara. Meanwhile, the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Radiant Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes gently remove impurities and even eye makeup. As with micellar water, there’s no rinsing necessary after using a towelette—so keep a pack on your nightstand to cleanse before even getting out of bed.

Done with the first part? Now you’re on to step two! Head to your bathroom to use a rinse-off cleanser, like the L’Oréal Paris Ideal Clean™ All Skin Types Foaming Gel Cleanser. It helps lift dirt and impurities without drying out skin.

Morning Skin Care Routine Upgrade #3: Mask It Up

Like double-cleansing, multi-masking is another buzzy skin care trend of the moment. Mulit-masking involves applying different masks to different areas of your face—at the same time. Plus, masking is a totally relaxing, spa-like experience—meaning it’s a great way to get your day started on the right foot! Sit back, catch up on your favorite morning news show, and mix and match the following face masks from L’Oréal Paris. Each one is formulated with three types of clay (kaolin, montmorillonite, and Moroccan lava).

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Mask Detox & Brighten Treatment Mask: Over time, harsh environmental factors, like pollution and debris can leave your complexion looking dull and tired. This mask formula is enhanced with charcoal to help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and pollution and reduce the look of dullness.

How to use it: Apply an even layer to clean, dry skin, leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse off. Use three times a week for best results.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Mask Purify & Mattify Treatment Mask: Day after day, impurities, dirt, makeup, and excess oils can build up on the surface of your skin, leaving your complexion looking overly oily. This mask formula is enhanced with eucalyptus leaf extract to help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils and reduce the look of excess shine.

How to use it: Apply an even layer to clean, dry skin, leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse off. Use three times a week for best results.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Mask Exfoliate & Refining Treatment Mask: Dead skin cells can accumulate on the surface of the skin day after day, leaving your complexion feeling rough. This mask formula is enhanced with red algae extract to help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils and exfoliate dead skin cells.

How to use it: Apply an even layer to clean, dry skin, leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then remove with water in circular motions to exfoliate. Use three times a week for best results.

L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Mask Clean & Comfort Treatment Mask: Over time, harsh cleansing can be drying, leaving skin feeling uncomfortable. As a result, skin needs cleaning that is effective yet gentle. This mask formula is enhanced with seaweed to help draw out the buildup of impurities, dirt, and oils and gently cleansed stressed areas.

How to use it: Apply an even layer to clean, dry skin, leave it on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse off. Use two times a week for best results.

Morning Skin Care Routine Upgrade #4: Try a Facial Oil

Does thinking about your massive to-do list for the day stress you out every morning? Take a few seconds to treat yourself to a spa-like skin care experience by adding a facial oil to your routine. The L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Glow Renewal Facial Oil is formulated for dull, dry mature skin with a blend of eight essential oils to help restore the look of your glow.

Have oily or combination skin? You can still get in on the facial oil action! The L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Facial Oil Light is formulated with a purifying blend of eight essential oils. It has a weightless finish that leaves skin looking dewy—not greasy.

To apply either of these lightweight, non-greasy facial oils, squeeze 4-5 drops onto the palm of your hand and dab the facial in small dots onto cleansed skin with your finger. Smooth it on your face slowly and deeply, using the whole surface of your hand.

Morning Skin Care Routine Upgrade #5: Don’t Forget About Your Eyes

So you’re showing your face some love in the morning—that’s great! But your under-eye area deserves attention, too. Whether you have dark circles, puffiness, or fine lines and wrinkles, look for an eye cream that suits your needs. The L’Oréal Paris Eye Defense is a light, non-greasy gel-cream that is specially formulated to help defend against signs of premature aging—like dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines and wrinkles—around the eyes. Apply it in small dots around the eye and smooth until absorbed.

Morning Skin Care Routine Upgrade #6: Apply a Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen—and Take Other Sun Protection Measures

The last step in your morning skin care routine should be a broad-spectrum sunscreen formulated with an SPF of 15 or higher, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But that’s not the only sun protection measure you should take. Per the FDA, you should limit your time in the sun (especially during peak hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.), cover up exposed areas by wearing long sleeves and pants, UV-blocking sunglasses, and a broad-brimmed hat, and reapplying sunscreen at least every two hours—but more frequently if you’re swimming or sweating. Try the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Bright Reveal Brightening Day Lotion SPF 30 and toss it in your tote so that you can easily access it for reapplication throughout the day. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, you can get burned even on cloudy days, so sun protection measures are important to follow year-round.

Morning Skin Care Routine Upgrade #7: Extend Skin Care to Your Body

Don’t leave all the spoiling for your face—your body needs care as well. Before hopping into the tub for an A.M. shower, consider dry brushing, an exfoliating method that entails rubbing a dry body brush (or loofah if you have sensitive skin) across your skin to gently slough off dead skin cells on the surface. Start at your feet and work your way up to your chest, moving the brush (or loofah) around in gentle circular motions. Pay particular attention to areas that are prone to dryness, like your elbows, feet, and knees. Once you’re done, rinse off in the shower. Then, apply a body lotion to damp skin to help lock in hydration.

As far as how often you should dry brush, there’s no right or wrong answer. Some people can tolerate daily exfoliation, while others may only be able to handle doing so once or twice a week. Pay attention to how your skin responds to determine what works best for you.