From AM to PM: The Steps in Your Beauty Routine You Shouldn't Skip

Welcome to the beginner's guide to the perfect beauty routine, where we'll take you through the essential steps you should never miss in your morning and evening routines. While individual beauty routines can vary based on your specific skin and hair type, we'll cover the general steps that can elevate your daily regimen. Let's dive into these non-negotiable beauty steps to ensure you look and feel your best from AM to PM. 

Your Morning Skincare Routine

1. Cleanse: Cleansing is the foundation of any skincare routine. In the morning, it helps remove sweat, oil, and any residue from nighttime skincare products. Cleansing preps your skin to absorb the upcoming products more effectively. Choose a gentle, sulphate-free cleanser appropriate for your skin type. For a refreshing start, we recommend the Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse, which not only cleanses but also gently exfoliates, leaving your skin refreshed and radiant. 

2. Treat with a Serum: Incorporating a serum into your morning routine is a must to giving your skin an empowering boost for the day ahead. Serums are potent elixirs designed to address specific skin concerns and deliver targeted results. In the morning, your skin craves ingredients that provide protection and hydration to face the day confidently. Keep an eye out for powerhouse ingredients such as Vitamin C, Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid when choosing your morning serum. We love the Dermalogica BioLumin-C Serum, acts as a protective shield against environmental aggressors, brightening your skin.  

3. Moisturise: Think of moisturisers as your skin's protective shield, and here's why you shouldn't skip this crucial step. Firstly, moisturisers provide essential hydration, locking in moisture to prevent your skin from becoming dehydrated throughout the day. Secondly, they create a protective barrier against environmental stressors such as pollution and UV rays, which can wreak havoc on your skin's health and appearance. If you’re in need of a recommendation, might we suggest the Dermalogica Active Moist, this gem ensures your skin receives the perfect balance of hydration without feeling greasy. 

4. Sunscreen: Consider sunscreen the undisputed MVP of your morning routine. Its importance cannot be overstated, and here's why it claims the title of the most critical step. Sunscreen provides essential UV protection, shielding your skin from the harmful rays of the sun that can lead to premature aging, dark spots, and even skin cancer. It serves as your best defence against the formation of wrinkles, fine lines, and the loss of skin elasticity, ensuring your skin remains youthful and resilient.  Regardless of your skin type or the weather, sunscreen with at least SPF 30, such as the Avène Sunscreen Emulsion Face SPF 50+ is a non-negotiable component of your morning routine. Skipping sunscreen can undo all the other steps you've taken to care for your skin, making it an indispensable ally in your daily skincare regimen. 

Your Morning Haircare Routine

1. Shampoo or Dry Shampoo: Depending on your hair type and washing frequency, shampoo your hair or use a dry shampoo. Shampooing removes sweat and excess oil, while dry shampoo refreshes and adds volume. Choose a shampoo tailored to your hair type. For a clean start, we recommend the Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo if you’re going for the full cleanse or the Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo if you need a quick refresh in the morning.  

2. Conditioner: Conditioning your hair is vital for keeping it soft, manageable, and tangle-free. Select a conditioner that matches your hair type, whether it's fine, curly, or colour treated. For silky locks, the Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner is a MUST TRY. 

3. Prime, Protect & Style: If using heat styling tool is part of your morning routine, then a heat protectant is non-negotiable in your routine. Think of a heat protectant treatment as your hair's dedicated bodyguard, It's the barrier that stands between your hair and the risk of breakage and split ends, ensuring your strands remain intact and healthy. Consider the Kérastase Ultime Elixir Oil as it not only offers nourishment and hydration, but it also doubles as a potent heat protectant, safeguarding your locks while keeping them nourished and resilient. 

Your Evening Skincare Routine

1. Double Cleanse: Double cleansing is especially crucial in the evening to remove makeup, sunscreen, and the day's impurities. Start with an oil-based cleanser like the Dermalogica PreCleanse to break down stubborn makeup and follow up with the Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel for a deep clean. Double cleansing prevents clogged pores, reduces breakouts, and helps your skin breathe overnight. 

2. Treat with Retinol: Introducing retinol, your nightly beauty essential derived from vitamin A. This powerhouse ingredient works wonders while you sleep, promoting skin renewal, reducing the appearance of imperfections like fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scars, and boosting collagen for a youthful complexion. If blemishes are your concern, retinols got you covered, helping unclog pores and minimize breakouts. The Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6, is a gentle yet highly effective retinol treatment. Think of it as your skin's partner in achieving that dreamy nighttime transformation.  

3. Hydrating Face Cream: Nighttime is when your skin repairs and regenerates. Hydrate your skin with a rich, nourishing face cream like the Dermalogica Sound Sleep Cocoon night gel-cream to support this process. The type of cream you choose should cater to your skin's specific needs, such as dryness, aging, or sensitivity. 

Your Evening Haircare Routine

1. Shampoo & Conditioner (Hair Wash Day): Cleansing your hair effectively removes not only dirt but also excess oil, product buildup, and environmental pollutants that accumulate during the day. This cleansing action sets the stage for a fresh start, allowing your scalp to breathe and your hair to shine. It’s crucial to choose the right products tailored to your specific hair type and concerns. For instance, if you're seeking a balance between cleansing and hydration, consider the NAK Hydrate Shampoo & Conditioner duo. This dynamic duo not only cleanses but also infuses your hair with moisture, leaving it feeling revitalized and rejuvenated. 

2. Hair Mask: Every so often you should give your hair the TLC it deserves and that’s exactly what a weekly hair mask does. This step is all about indulging your locks in deep hydration and repair, leaving them soft, shiny, and utterly rejuvenated. The NAK Replends Moisture Masque is your go-to companion for this spa-like experience. Its rich, luxurious formula immerses your hair in moisture, infusing it with the hydration it craves. 

3. Hair Serum: As you prepare for a peaceful night's sleep, there's a vital step to consider for your hair's well-being. The seemingly harmless friction between your hair and pillowcase during the night can lead to unwanted hair breakage and damage. That's where the magic of a protecting styling treatment, like the Kérastase Nutritive 8hr Night Serum, comes into play. This Magic Night Serum forms a protective shield around your hair strands that ensures that nighttime tossing and turning won't disrupt your hair's health. It works its wonders while you rest, infusing your hair with the nourishment it craves, leaving it soft, silky, and ready to face the day ahead.  

By understanding why each step in your morning and evening routines is important, you're more likely to commit to these daily habits. Together, these steps ensure your skin is adequately cleansed, treated, and protected, while your hair remains clean, conditioned, and shielded from damage. 

Shop all your AM to PM essentials at ozhairandbeauty.com