am and pm skin care routine

From Sunrise to Sunset: A Comprehensive Guide to Your AM and PM Skincare Routine

To achieve glowing, blooming skin, you need a healthy diet, lifestyle as well as additional minerals from a proper skincare routine. And I have to admit people seem to underestimate the importance of morning skincare and think morning skin care is not necessary. That’s extremely wrong since taking care of your skin in the morning helps you prepare your skin for the day ahead as well as removing leftover product from the previous night which may affect your makeup. 

The morning and evening skincare routines differ in their goals and techniques, and it’s important to understand these differences to get the most out of your products. If you haven’t planned out your AM and PM skincare routine, let us do it for you.

AM Skincare Routine

For a good beginning to a new day, you probably need to refresh yourself with a good skincare routine. In case you don’t know where to start, we’re here to help you.

Cleansing

Cleansing in the morning is important to remove any sweat, oil, or debris that has accumulated on your skin overnight. Choose a gentle cleanser that won’t strip your skin of its natural oils, and massage it onto your skin using circular motions. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

Toning

Toning helps to balance your skin’s pH level and prepare it for the rest of your skincare routine. You would love to use a toner that is alcohol-free and contains hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid. Apply it to a cotton pad and sweep it over your face, avoiding the eye area. You can also apply it on your bare hands and pat them on your face like how Asian women do. To me, this is the best Korean skincare for 40s technique ever.

Serums

Serums are lightweight formulas that penetrate deep into your skin to deliver active ingredients. Choose a serum that targets your specific skincare concerns, such as hydration, brightening, or anti-aging. Apply a few drops onto your fingertips and gently press it into your skin.

Moisturizing

Moisturizing in the morning is important to keep your skin hydrated and protected throughout the day. Choose a moisturizer that contains SPF to provide sun protection, and make sure it’s suitable for your skin type. Apply it all over your face, neck, and chest.

For those who haven’t found any matte moisturizer with SPF, here are our recommendations:

La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid: This lightweight, oil-free sunscreen provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection with a matte finish. It’s also water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer with SPF 30: This moisturizer is specifically designed for oily skin and helps to control oil production while providing sun protection. It also contains niacinamide to help soothe and calm the skin.

Supergoop! Matte Screen SPF 40: This mattifying sunscreen contains silica to help absorb excess oil and create a smooth, matte finish. It’s also enriched with antioxidant-rich plant extracts to help protect the skin from environmental stressors.

Sun Protection

Sun protection is essential to prevent damage from harmful UV rays. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and apply it generously all over your face, neck, and any other exposed areas. Reapply every two hours if you’re spending time outdoors.

PM Skincare Routine

After a busy day, it’s night time and you can spend some time for yourself now. For relaxation, you might want to start doing your daily PM skincare. 

Cleansing

You should double cleanse at night to take off your makeup and clean dirt, and oil that has accumulated on your skin throughout the day. Start with an oil-based cleanser to break down any makeup or sunscreen, then follow up with a water-based cleanser to remove any remaining impurities. You can also use a clay mask for deeper cleansing.

Toning

Unlike your morning routine, you might want to choose a stronger toner at night. Go for a product that contains gentle exfoliants, such as alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), to remove dead skin cells and promote cell turnover. Apply it to a cotton pad and sweep it over your face, avoiding the eye area. You can just pat the toner all over your face if the product you’re using is gentle on the skin.

If you’re looking for a cruelty-free, Paraben free and naturally derived toner that has at least 2% of salicylic acid, Azimd skincare the one spray can work well for you.

Treatments

Night time is the best time to apply treatments that target specific skincare concerns as you don’t have to go out for the next 8 hours, giving your skin more time to absorb the product. Choose a treatment that is suitable for your skin type and concerns, and remember to read the instructions before using it. If you want to retain moisture, while providing protection and enhancing the natural repair process of your skin, you should try out Essential Beauty hydrating facial serum.

Eye Cream

To hydrate and protect the delicate skin around your eyes, you might want to use eye cream. This is optional since most people who use eye cream are over 30. Choose a product that contains antioxidants, such as vitamin C or E, to brighten and protect the skin. Gently pat it onto the skin around your eyes, using your ring finger.

Moisturizing

Moisturizing at night helps to hydrate and nourish your skin while you sleep. A moisturizer that is suitable for your skin type and contains hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin is best for a night routine. 

Recommended Skincare Items

Bad Habit Skincare

Bad Habit is a skincare brand from the US that is focused on resetting stressed-out skin. They help people with damaged skin from bad habits recover like dehydration from too much screen time.

The brand ensures that their products do not contain parabens, sulfates, phthalates, mineral oil, formaldehyde, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, triclocarban which might cause irritations and other skin problems.

Bad Habit is also perfect for people who are vegan since their products are 100% cruelty-free and clean.

This brand is quite popular on social media and many influencers, and even Emma Chamberlain have done a Bad Habit skincare review. Most of the feedback is positive but it’s claimed that this brand is not for people with sensitive skin.

Photo from Cosmetic Businesses

Le Mieux Skincare

Le Mieux is a skincare brand that offers a range of products for various skin concerns, including aging, acne, hyperpigmentation, and sensitivity. The brand combines science and nature to create innovative formulas that use advanced technology and high-quality ingredients.

Le Mieux products contain a variety of active ingredients, such as peptides, stem cells, and antioxidants, to improve the appearance and health of the skin. The brand also offers various types of products, including cleansers, serums, moisturizers, masks, and eye treatments.

The brand claims that their products don’t contain binders, thickeners, fillers, sulfates, or parabens. They are also a proud participant in PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies Program, their products are cruelty-free and not tested on animals.

Many people have used Le Mieux’s products and left a lot of reviews. They said their products were effective, well-formulated and affordable. You can read Le Mieux skincare reviews on social media or online shopping websites like Amazon.

Photo from Create. Play. Travel

For healthy, radiant, youthful skin, you should be doing your skincare properly and frequently as well as knowing your skin and the products you use well. The key for a perfect skincare routine is understanding and being steady as skincare is a form of relaxation and self-love. And don’t be impatient if they don’t work immediately, your skin needs time to absorb. If you’re into skincare but don’t know where to start or just want to try new products, you should check out Bad Habit and Le Mieux, they might have what you need.

10 AMAZING NATURAL HAIR RULES YOU SHOULD FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS

Natural hair is fundamentally a lifestyle choice. Achieving your hair goals requires dedicated effort and a keen understanding of your unique hair type, porosity, density, and width. Think of your hair like a plant: the more you nourish it with quality products, hydrate it, and shield it from harsh conditions, the more it will thrive, grow, and transform. Here are the top 10 essential rules for maintaining healthy, vibrant natural hair!

SOLIDIFY YOUR WASH DAY ROUTINE

Your wash day is essential for maintaining healthy natural hair, as it all begins with proper moisture. Clarifying your hair is a crucial step in your wash day routine. If your hair is dirty, it won’t be able to absorb moisture effectively due to product buildup.

When it comes to shampoos, there are two key types every natural should have: moisturizing shampoos and clarifying shampoos.

Moisturizing shampoos feature gentle yet effective surfactants that cleanse the scalp by removing dirt and product buildup. These are perfect for regular use.

Clarifying shampoos, however, contain stronger cleansing agents designed to deeply cleanse your hair and eliminate hard-to-reach dirt, including mineral buildup. Shampoos with chelating ingredients are especially beneficial for low porosity hair, which often experiences quicker product accumulation.

Weekly deep conditioning is an essential rule in caring for natural hair. Its primary purpose is to condition, strengthen, and soften your hair, setting the stage for your leave-in products.

Always prioritize deep conditioning after shampooing to counteract any stripping effects from the shampoo. Opt for deep conditioners that feature emollients, fatty alcohols, and are packed with nourishing plant extracts.

USE MOISTURIZING LEAVE-IN STYLERS

Leave-in conditioners are crucial for all natural hair types, regardless of curl pattern, porosity, density, or width. These products not only offer moisture until your next wash day but also condition the hair and minimize friction.

Curly and coily hair often experiences curl interlocking, where curls and coils tangle together. This can lead to severe knots and tangles, resulting in increased breakage and shedding if not addressed.

Leave-in conditioners contain friction-reducing agents that help keep your curls manageable. They are definitely a staple in any natural hair routine. When paired with a plant-based botanical gel, your coils will stay tangle-free and frizz-free for days!

KNOW YOUR POROSITY

What’s the point of using all those expensive products if you don’t understand your hair’s absorption potential? Porosity is the most crucial rule to know about your hair. It determines how well your hair absorbs water and products, guiding you on what to use and how to apply it effectively.

Natural hair porosity refers to your hair’s ability to absorb moisture and products. Low porosity hair has a low absorption rate because its cuticles are tightly closed, making it challenging for moisture to penetrate. High porosity hair, on the other hand, has open cuticles, leading to a high absorption rate but difficulty in retaining moisture.

If you have low porosity hair, focus on enhancing moisture absorption. Because the cuticles are tight, products often sit on the surface. Choose lightweight formulas that promote absorption and include delivery agents to help penetrate the cuticle, especially for leave-in conditioners and styling products.

For high porosity hair, which has raised cuticles, moisture retention is key. Use products with ingredients that form moisture barriers and fill cuticle gaps to prevent moisture loss throughout the week.

BALANCE PROTEIN

Protein treatments are vital for addressing protein loss caused by mechanical damage (like detangling) and chemical damage (from heat tools, dyes, and relaxers), and they should be part of every natural hair routine.

However, excessive protein treatments can lead to dry, brittle hair—exactly what we want to avoid! It’s crucial to tailor your protein treatments according to your hair’s porosity and width to prevent overuse.

Smaller proteins, such as amino acids and peptides, can penetrate the hair cortex to strengthen it, making them suitable for all porosities and hair widths.

Conversely, larger proteins like hydrolyzed wheat and collagen function similarly to film-forming humectants, creating a protective barrier around the hair. These treatments are ideal for high porosity or fine to medium strands but can increase dryness in low porosity and coarse hair.

MAINTAIN A HEALTHY SCALP 

Scalp health is essential for a successful hair journey, regardless of hair type. Just as we care for our hair ends, we must prioritize our scalp.

Think of your scalp as the foundation of your hair; it deserves just as much attention. If our hair ends are like the wise elders, our scalp is the precious baby!

Here are some best practices for maintaining scalp health:

  • Moisturize: Use skin-friendly products to keep your scalp hydrated. Remember, the scalp is skin too, so avoid harsh ingredients.
  • Scalp Massages: Every few days, massage your scalp with nourishing oils like olive, castor, or avocado oil. Adding rosemary oil can enhance blood circulation and keep the scalp well-lubricated.
  • Gentle Hairstyles: Avoid tight hairstyles to reduce the risk of follicle damage.
  • Stay Clean: Regularly cleanse your scalp to remove oil, dirt, bacteria, and product buildup.

PROTECT YOUR HAIR

Protective styling is crucial for maintaining a healthy natural hair routine. If you’re aiming for hair growth, protective styles help retain length while locking in moisture, supporting your growth goals. To avoid any drawbacks of protective styling, follow these best practices: ensure your style isn’t too tight to prevent follicle tension, and regularly take it down for clarifying and re-moisturizing.

LISTEN TO YOUR HAIR

Mastering the art of listening to your hair can be challenging, but it’s essential for your hair journey. For instance, some people with natural hair can go a week without moisturizing, while others may need to re-moisturize every two days. Both are perfectly normal!

Remember, everyone’s hair is unique. If your hair feels dry, clear away buildup and follow up with a deep conditioner and leave-in. Pay attention to what your hair is telling you—it will show its appreciation!

UP YOUR DIET AND EXERCISE ROUTINE AS NEEDED

This year, let’s acknowledge the important connection between diet, exercise, and beauty. The saying “you are what you eat” holds true for natural hair. Staying hydrated is essential for hair growth, but making key dietary changes—like eating a balanced diet and taking necessary supplements—is equally important. Regular exercise also plays a vital role.

To boost your hair growth, focus on incorporating plenty of leafy greens and fruits into your meals. Empower yourself by understanding your body—are you missing any essential nutrients? Nutrients like iron are crucial for the hair cycle, and deficiencies can show up in your hair.

Lastly, don’t underestimate the impact of exercise. Many people with natural hair report that moderate weekly workouts help enhance their hair growth cycle.

STOP COMPARING

They say comparison is the enemy of creativity, and I couldn’t agree more. Remember, pursuing any goal is a marathon, not a sprint. Despite what some natural hair influencers may claim, hair doesn’t grow overnight—anyone who says otherwise isn’t being truthful.

Avoid comparing your hair journey to others; you are unique, and there’s no need to emulate someone else. Instead, focus on the health of your hair. Healthy hair grows! By keeping it moisturized, protected, and happy, you’ll set yourself up for success on your hair growth journey.

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

We can be our own harshest critics, but your hair is beautiful just as it is right now. It’s important to take a moment to recognize your achievements, growth, and progress. Remember, your hair is always growing, and it deserves your gratitude!

CONCLUSION

These commandments are a foundational guide for healthy natural hair. While individual hair needs vary, following these science-based tips and adapting them to your specific hair type will help you achieve optimal results