With 2018 officially on the books, a whole new decade of life is slated to come my way in t-minus fourth months! During my mid to late twenties I learned a lot about skincare, and while I’m far from being an expert, I’ve found a routine that really works for me and is something that I’m hoping to hone in on even morning during my 30’s! I actually shared my skincare routine on the blog last July, but have since added in a new step + really focused on sectioning out my morning and nighttime skincare routines. I’m really happy with my current morning routine, so I wanted to share it here, along with a few of my favorite products + a few words to the wise on a process that has left my skin feeling so bright and clean the last few months! Without further ado —

1. Cleanse! // After I’ve grabbed my iced coffee and thrown my hair up into a bun, I start my skincare routine by cleansing my face. The Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser has been my go-to for nearly a year now, and I love how it leaves my skin feeling smooth and hydrated (which is especially needed during these extra dry months in the desert).

2. Exfoliate! // Exfoliating is a relatively new step in my skincare routine and is something that has significantly help the overall look and feel of my skin! I exfoliate after I’ve cleansed my face, and before I moisturize! I recently participated in an educational session about chemical exfoliants with Glossier and learned SO much! The low-down is that exfoliating helps to shed away dead skin cells, deep clean your pores to bright your complexion, fight redness, along with breakouts, and encourages cell turnover. The process is still pretty new in my routine, but I am so excited to see the benefits of using a daily exfoliant as I head into a new year and decade of life!

3. Moisturize! // The final step in my morning skincare routine (pre-SPF, of course) is to moisturize! The Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream is my all-time favorite moisurizer! I’ve been using it for years and always find myself coming back to this product time and time again. It sinks in quickly, doesn’t have a heavy scent and always leaves my skin feeling super hydrated. I use it day and night and couldn’t recommend it enough!

And there you have it — my 3-step morning skincare routine for a combination skin gal living in the desert! And just for fun — here’s a few of my other skincare favorites that I tend to add in and out of my routine as the weather changes!

— Glossier Super Bounce – Leaves my skin feeling smooth + super hydrated!

— Glossier Super Pure — Helps to soothe redness and calm blemishes!

— Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay — A recent favorite that I discovered via Gal Meets Glam — always leaves my skin looking super glowy!

— Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream — My favorite eye cream that helps to reduce dark circles and puffiness!

— Glossier Mega Greens Galaxy Pack — A detoxing mask that leaves my face feeling super clean!

Now it’s your turn to share — what are your morning skincare must-haves? What skincare products do you swear by? Anything new that you’ve been loving lately? Do you currently use a daily exfoliant in your routine?

-Chelsea xo