The Busy Girl's Morning Skin Care Routine

When it seems like time never slows down and you’re constantly on the go, it quickly becomes apparent that every extra second of your day matters. And that means that finding ways to get the most out of your time—especially during your morning beauty routine when you’re in a rush—is pretty important. Believe us, we’ve been there. 

You shouldn’t completely skip out on taking care of your skin, though—it’s just about finding ways to streamline your routine when you wake up in the morning. The good news is, even if you have a super-hectic schedule, you don’t have to forgo your skin care routine entirely.

Since a hectic schedule is no excuse to cut your ties with a proper skin care routine, the next time you’re short on time, just simplify your steps. That means using multitasking products and sticking to the essentials. Consider this the busy girl’s guide to morning skin care.

Step 1: Cleanse + Exfoliate

What do you get when you combine the acts of cleansing and exfoliating? The L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Bright Reveal Brightening Daily Scrub Cleanser! It’s not just wrinkles that can make you look older—so can dull skin and an uneven tone. And your skin’s ability to shed surface dead skin cells declines with age, which can lead to dullness and uneven tone. This daily scrub cleanser is formulated with glycolic acid and gentle micro pearls to help exfoliate dead skin cells and improve skin tone. When you use it, you’ll notice brighter-looking skin immediately, while your tone will improve with continued use over time.

Lather the scrub cleanser into wet hands and gently massage it onto your skin in circular motions, then rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Just keep this in mind: Using an alpha hydroxy acid like glycolic acid can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so make sure to follow up with a broad-spectrum SPF. And that leads us to our second point!

Moisturize + Protect Your Skin from the Sun

Using a broad-spectrum SPF (one that protects against both UVA and UVB rays) is very important. That’s because when you spend time in the sun without wearing protection, this can lead to damage—and that can cause visible signs of aging, like wrinkles and dark spots, to show up down the road. And don’t think you can get away with not using SPF when it’s chilly outside. The Skin Cancer Foundation says you can get still get burned even on cloudy days. Eek! They recommend wearing an SPF of 15 or higher for everyday use and an SPF of 30 or higher for use on days when you’ll be spending extended periods of time out in the sun, so plan accordingly.

When you’re short on time, reach for a moisturizer that’s formulated with SPF so that you can cut a step out of your skin care routine. A moisturizer with SPF should be the last step in your skin care routine before you move on to makeup. Try the L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Bright Reveal Brightening Day Moisturizer with SPF 30. This hydrating moisturizer is formulated with glycolic acid, vitamin C, Pro-Retinol, and broad-spectrum SPF 30. Apply it all over your face (and don’t forget your neck!) before sun exposure. The Skin Cancer Foundation advises reapplying sunscreen every two hours, so make sure to toss the bottle in your purse so you have it on hand during the day.

The Bottom Line for Busy Girls: Keep Your Skin Care Routine Simple!

See, it’s not so hard! If you find yourself feeling exasperated over your skin care routine, don’t worry. In the morning, just stick to the basics by cleansing your complexion with a scrub cleanser and swiping on a moisturizer with SPF to help keep your skin protected from UV rays. Set aside just a few minutes each morning before you leave for the day to care for your skin.