This article has been updated since its initial publish date to include more expert insight.
Washing your face every morning is not only a great way to help you wake up, but also a preventative and protective step for aging gracefully. If you’re noticing new wrinkles forming, additional sagging skin and a lack of youthful glow, it’s important to add two other post-washing steps to your routine.
We spoke with Gabrielle Richens, certified skin therapist, anti-aging skin coach and founder of The Rich Skin Club and dermatologists Dr. Angela Casey, M.D., founder of youth skincare line Bright Girl and Dr. Luigi L. Polla, founder of Forever Institut and Alchimie Forever about the two major steps your aging skin needs every morning after washing it.
READ MORE: How Many Skincare Products Should You Really Be Using? We Asked A Dermatologist
Step #1: Wash Your Face With A pH-Balanced Cleanser
Morning skincare habits should take into account the circadian rhythm of the skin, Casey explains. In the morning, the skin has completed its rest and repair phase, she says, which occurs overnight. "Skin permeability is less in the morning compared to the evening, and blood flow to the skin slows," she stresses. Penetration of hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds peaks in the early morning hours. "All of these factors should be taken into consideration as we address morning skincare," she adds.
With that said, Casey notes that the first step in any great anti-aging skincare routine is to "wash your face with a pH-balanced, gentle cleanser using lukewarm water." This step, she says, "refreshes the skin and removes any sweat and debris that may have accumulated overnight."
#2: Apply a Vitamin C Serum Directly After Washing
After washing the dirt and oil from the night before away with a facial cleanser, many people think the immediate next step is moisturizing. While moisturizing is vital (more on that below), Richens suggests adding a Vitamin C serum to your skin directly after washing it and before adding a moisturizer. "Vitamin C serum is a crucial morning skincare step for anti-aging, no matter your age or skin type," says Richens. The serum, she adds, acts as a "shield between your skin and the outside world," giving users a brighter, more even skin tone, as well as boosted collagen production, which "strengthens the skin barrier and smooths out wrinkles."
"This extra layer of protection, as you go about your day," says Richens, "helps to prevent skin damage triggered by daily exposure to UVA rays, pollution, industrial chemicals and more." Regardless of your skin type, Vitamin C serum has benefits that when paired with moisturizer can keep your complexion looking vibrant. Knowing your skin type can help you find the right one, Richens says, and most people fall under three categories— oily, dry or combination types.
"If you have sensitive skin, start low with a 5-10 percent concentration, and work your way up," Richens explains. "Normal, dry, oily, or mature skin can handle higher concentrations. The sweet spot for most skin types is around 15-20 percent." After finding a morning serum that works for you, the next step in post-washing skincare is applying a daily moisturizer with SPF.
#3: Add Moisturizer with Sunscreen and SPF
Surely you’ve heard it before, but this is worth repeating again and again. When it comes to a crucial morning skincare step for anti-aging, it’s imperative to commit to wearing SPF every day, 365 days a year, no matter the weather or temperature or activity. Dr. Polla tells SheFinds that you should not only moisturize your skin after washing it, but also add sunscreen or find a moisturizer that already contains SPF. "I recommend [to] apply sunscreen even if indoors, as you’re prone to SPF exposure through the windows and oftentimes, we end up running outside for an unplanned errand," Polla says.
If you're at your local drugstore with a plethora of options and not sure what kind of moisturizer to buy, Polla explains that you can find all the protective ingredients you need within a daytime-specific product. "Use a day moisturizer packed with both antioxidants and SPF, and place it in plain sight, next to your toothpaste," Polla says. "This way, you’ll see it in the morning when you go to brush your teeth, and it will prompt you to remember to apply it daily." If you do nothing else for your skin, he says, this single step will ensure you age as gracefully as possible.
With both products of equal importance, Vitamin C serum and SPF-packed daytime moisturizer have their own benefits that contribute to healthy skin. While both can't completely prevent all signs of aging from appearing, they can keep that youthful glow and firmness as long as possible. Skincare is essential for not only physical but also mental health, and adding these two steps after washing your face contributes to your overall well-being. It's never too late to add them to your routine!
