Our Beauty Editor’s 5-Step Morning Skincare Routine for Dry, Rosacea-Prone Skin
Jo is a former Adore Beauty staffer and qualified dermal therapist with over decade of experience in the beauty industry.
She co-hosted our award-winning podcast Beauty IQ Uncensored for 4 years, interviewing names like Caroline Hirons, Katie Jane Hughes and Chris Appleton to name a few.
After sharing my ultimate hair routine, I thought I’d go all out and show you my current morning skincare routine, with the key word being “current” because I tend to rotate products very frequently.
That said, I’ve been using this routine consistently for quite a few months now, and I’ve seen good results for my dry, rosacea-prone skin.
A quick disclaimer before we get started: just because these products work for me doesn’t mean they’ll work for you. The best way to buy skincare online is to choose products based on your skin type and concerns, since mine may not be the same as yours.
So before you buy this exact routine, or any products recommended by a celeb, influencer, or even a friend, do your research before adding them to cart to make sure they’re right for your skin type and will target your concerns.
That way, you’re not wasting money, especially if you already own something similar with comparable ingredients.
Now that's out of the way, let's get into my current dry skin morning skincare routine.
Watch the YouTube video below, or read on for the quick(er) version.
Step 1. Vitamin C Serum.
Hang on, what about cleanser, you ask? Depends on the morning.
If I'm having a shower, I'll use the asap Gentle Cleansing Gel 300ml but otherwise, a quick swipe of Bioderma Sebium H2O Purifying Micellar Water Cleanser 500ml or a warm face washer does the job.
The first product I go in with post-cleansing is a vitamin C serum.
Societe Triple C Vitamin Therapy Serum is my favourite, I'm literally almost out of my current bottle, so it's going in my next staff order for sure.
Something I love about this vitamin C serum is it absorbs into your skin super quickly, so you don't have to wait around for three minutes for it to absorb. It sinks in straight away, so you can apply your next serum on top a few seconds later.
The benefit of vitamin C is that it has strong antioxidant properties, so it helps to fight against those free radicals that your skin might encounter during the day.
It also promotes collagen synthesis, so it's a great anti-aging ingredient too. Plus, it can also prevent and treat signs of pigmentation.
You can use a vitamin C serum day and night, but usually we've got other products to squeeze in at night, so I apply mine in the morning.
You can learn more about vitamin C and antioxidants in more detail in this episode of the Skincare School podcast below.
Step 2. All-Rounder Hydrating Serum.
Next, I use Aspect Super PD Complex and Dermalogica Smart Response Serum 30ml on alternating days.
I don't layer these next two product recommendations on top of each other. I don't like layering too many products in the morning because I find it encourages pilling or balling up of your sunscreen.
Both of these products hydrate the skin, but they also are antioxidant boosting products that enhance the effectiveness of your vitamin C serum for help addressing skin tone, texture, and the appearance of signs of ageing like hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles.
Aspect Super PD Complex has a creamy texture and is really hydrating, calming and soothing. It really does give you that glowy dewy look. Bonus, it doesn't really smell like anything, so it's also great for post-procedure skin.
Dermalogica Smart Response Serum 30ml is a bit of a confusing product because the marketing says it responds to 'skin's changing needs'.
You can read more detailed info about what that means in our full Dermalogica Smart Response Serum review here, but it's basically a creamy hydrating, brightening, anti-aging serum.
Both serums complement my vitamin C serum really well and I've seen good results from using them in tandem.
Step 3. Eye Cream.
I swear by Murad Vita-C Eyes Dark Circle Corrector 15ml because it's the only eye product that's actually made a difference to my dark circles.
You don't want to use too much of this product because it will pill under the eyes, so I try and get out half a pump to gently tap straight under and around the eyes.
It has an instantly brightening effect because it contains micro-reflective pigments`, so it gives you the quick fix. But over time with consistent use, it works to improve the appearance of dark circles.
It's probably the only dark circles eye cream I would recommend.
Step 4. Moisturiser for Dry Skin.
If you have oiler skin and find you don't need moisturiser throughout the day, you can go straight to your sunscreen.
My rosacea has flared up a little bit on my cheeks because my skin is really dry - this tends to happen in winter - so I apply moisturiser before sunscreen.
I'm sure you would've seen me recommend Aspect Phytostat 9 because I talk about it all the time.
It's expensive for a moisturiser but I love it so much. You only need a tiny bit and it's got a lot of active ingredients in it. It'd be great for someone who wants a simple, basic routine or doesn't want to spend on serums, too.
Step 5. Sunscreen.
The final step of your skincare routine should always be *sunscreen. Ultra Violette Lean Screen SPF50 Sunscreen 75ml is a UVA/UVB broad spectrum mattifying sunscreen with a mineral formula.
Make sure you apply the recommended amount of sunscreen. I know that it's tempting to go in with one pump, but with these kind of products, you probably need three to five pumps to actually get the full SPF 50+ protection.
And that's my morning skincare routine done!
Want more of Joanna's product recommendations? Check out these stories below:
*SPF is only one part of sun protection! Always seek shade, and wear sunnies, a hat and protective clothing. Use sufficient sunscreen for all unprotected areas and reapply sunscreen as directed. Always read the label.
