Crafting beauty products day in and day out is part of the job as a beauty brand founder. So naturally, when we sat down with Sunday Riley, we knew she had the perfect morning and nighttime skincare routines down pat.
Skincare routines aren’t just about using products because you’re told to. They have two major benefits: They help you carve out time for the ritual of self-care and they help you set and achieve goals. “A skincare routine is important because it’s something you’re doing for not just the appearance, but the health of your skin,” says Geeta Yadav, M.D., a dermatologist. “Many people think of skincare as something that they can do in bursts spread out over long periods of time, yet still achieve results — but you’d never expect that working out once every few weeks would keep your heart healthy and your physique tight.” Maintenance is key.
While one skincare routine is better than not having one at all, the ideal skincare routine is split into one in the morning and one at night. Some of the steps and ingredients overlap each other, but there are key differences. “A morning routine should prepare your skin for the day with antioxidants that protect it from free radicals that develop as a result of sun exposure and your body’s metabolism. An evening routine, on the other hand, should include steps to treat specific concerns, such as blemishes or aging skin, and at the same time help the skin rest and recover from the day,” says Brendan Camp, M.D., a dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology. In addition, he notes that some skincare products can make skin more sensitive to the sun and are best suited for nighttime use.
If you’re looking to fine-tune your skincare routines, take a cue from Sunday Riley herself. We share her full a.m. and p.m. skincare routines below and had derms to weigh in on the important elements involved in each.
Sunday Riley’s A.M. Routine
Her complete morning routine can be found in one handy kit, Wake Up With Me, which was recently updated to include our latest sunscreen!
Step 1: Cleanse skin with Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser and pat dry
Some people think that cleansing in the morning isn’t that important, especially if you cleansed right before bedtime. However, during the night, dirt and oil from your sheets and environment can still creep into your pores. Washing in the morning helps cleanse your skin as well as maintain hydration levels, notes Rina Allawh, M.D., a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Find a face wash that contains safe ingredients that are gentle if you have sensitive, oily and acne prone skin. Ceramic Slip Clay Clenaser “contains kaolin clay, which is a non-swelling clay that absorbs particles, meaning it picks up impurities and holds them to the clay surface like a magnate,” adds Dr. Camp.
Step 2: Mist with Pink Drink Firming Resurfacing Essence onto your face and let dry
A mist might not always be top of mind, however, it provides ample skincare benefits — namely refreshing and rejuvenating tired skin. This product includes a lot of hero ingredients, chief among the peptides acetyl tetrapeptide-9 and acetyl tetrapeptide-11, notes Dr. Camp. “Peptides are short chains of amino acids, which are organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins,” he says. “In the skin, peptides contribute to the formation of collagen and elastin, which are extracellular proteins that function to give the skin structure, rigidity, and elasticity.”
Step 3: Apply a few drops of C.E.O. Glow Face Oil to face and neck followed by 2 pumps of C.E.O. Vitamin C Serum
Oftentimes a face oil is used as a last step in a skincare routine, however, Sunday strategically uses it in the middle of her a.m. regimen. “While some would advocate for the use of an oil as a last step because it may help seal in moisture, this product contains a number of oils derived from natural sources, chief among them raspberry seed and jojoba oil,” he says. “Vitamin C is a great addition to a morning routine because it scavenges free oxygen radicals that accumulate throughout the day and damage the cell structures like DNA, lipids, and protein and contribute to the signs of photoaging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and sun spots.” Sunday likes to mix them together in the palm of her face and apply with the massage movements.
Step 4: Exfoliate with 2 pumps Good Genes Lactic Acid to face and neck
Exfoliating is a helpful step in a skincare routine because it helps slough off dead skin cells to reveal younger and brighter skin cells underneath. Sunday does this with a lactic acid-containing serum. “Lactic acid is an ultra-gentle yet effective chemical exfoliant that helps support anti-aging goals like smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, brightening away dark spots and rapid cellular turnover,” explains Dr. Yadav. Sunday recommends using exfoliants, especially gentle ones like lactic acid, in the morning (but you can use it in the evening, too), however emphasizes the importance of adding in an SPF to protect against the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Step 5: Depuff by patting Auto Correct Brightening + Depuffing Eye Cream around the eye area
The main ingredient in this depuffing eye cream is probably something that’s been a mainstay of your morning routine for years: caffeine. And, according to Jessica Wright, M.D., General Surgery Specialist with Rejuvenate Austin Med Spa, it’s definitely an eye cream ingredient that you want to use in the a.m. hours. “In addition to caffeine, this eye cream also has horse chestnut extract, a great antioxidant, and watermelon rind extract, which is rich in vitamin A, the active ingredient in retinols.” Antioxidant-rich lutein provides a radiant glow to the fragile skin around the eye and protects it from harmful blue light.
Step 6: Protect your skin with Light Hearted Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen
This sunscreen is actually a combination of multiple sunscreens: octisalate, octocrylene, and zinc oxide for the ultimate lightweight protection that doesn’t leave behind a ghostly white cast on your skin. It also contains lutein, which naturally defends your skin from blue light (yes, you need sunscreen indoors, too). Slather this on as the last step of your morning routine, as well as every two hours for proper protection.
Sunday Riley’s P.M. Routine
Her complete nighttime routine can be found in Go to Bed With Me, which was recently updated to include our 5 Stars and Ice Ceramide Cream
Step 1: Cleanse skin with Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser and pat dry
Cleansing is so important at the end of your day, as your skin has been exposed to all the elements throughout the day, from the oil in your makeup to the free radicals lurking in the environment. Cleansing helps eliminate the dirt, bacteria, and buildup it’s seen through the day, notes Marisa Garshick, M.D., a dermatologist at Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery. The key is finding a cleanser that is gentle enough so that it won’t strip the skin of its natural oils — and you can whip out the same cleanser you used in the morning. “This particular cleanser helps remove impurities while still nourishing the skin and replenishing any moisture lost. The combination of green clay, bentonite clay, and kaolin clay together help to clear out pores and reduce oil while still being gentle on the skin,” she says.
Step 2: Mist with Pink Drink Firming Resurfacing Essence onto your face and let dry
Misting again at the end of the day is also beneficial as it can provide an added benefit to help hydrate the skin and also may work to enhance the absorption of skincare ingredients, notes Dr. Garshick. “Because essences are lightweight and in a liquid formulation, it is often best to use after cleansing,” she says. “The Pink Drink Firming Resurfacing Essence contains a combination of peptides, antioxidants, and prebiotics to help the skin appear firmer and improves the overall complexion.”
Step 3: Treat and prevent acne by applying two pumps of A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum with three or four drops of Luna Sleeping Night Oil
If you’re one of the estimated 40 to 50 million individuals in the U.S. who suffers from acne, per the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), adding a retinol to your skincare routine at night can help eliminate breakouts. “Retinoids, a derivative of vitamin A, works to regulate skin cell turnover to prevent pores from becoming clogged and subsequently reduce breakouts. They not only work to reduce the breakouts but can also help to improve the overall texture and tone of the skin, improving the overall appearance of pores, acne scars as well as blemishes,” says Dr. Garshick. Using a retinol at night is ideal, since it can make your skin more sensitive to the sunlight.
Step 4: Exfoliate with 2 pumps Good Genes Lactic Acid to face and neck
Exfoliating at night can help eliminate dead skin cells, which helps to reduce dullness and boost radiance, notes Dr. Garshick. Additionally, she points out that by helping rid the skin of dead skin cells, exfoliating can also help improve both skin tone and skin texture. “Lactic acid, a type of alpha hydroxy acid, works to exfoliate dead skin cells, while also improving dark spots and discoloration as well as improving fine lines and wrinkles,” she says. “Because lactic acid is a larger molecule than glycolic acid, it is a particularly good option for those with sensitive skin.”
Step 5: Gently pat 5 Stars Retinoid + Niacinamide Eye Serum around the entire eye area
Niacinamide (vitamin B3 derivative) and retinol (the gold standard in anti-aging) work together in this product to target the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines while brightening the entire eye area. You can use the tube’s applicator to massage a pearl-sized amount onto the outer crow’s feet, under the eye and in between the brow bone and eyebrow.
Step 6: Moisturize with Ice Ceramide Moisturizing Cream
Moisturizing at night is key, since it helps add back in moisture that was lost throughout the day. “By using moisturizers containing ingredients to boost moisture as well as to strengthen the skin barrier, a moisturizing cream can both hydrate as well as lock in moisture to give the skin an overall healthy, glowing appearance,” says Dr. Garshick. This moisturizer contains ceramides — “an essential ingredient to help maintain the moisture of your skin, ” says Lily Talakoub, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist. It keeps your skin barrier strong and “prevents the water from evaporating from the skin’s surface,” she says.
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