The Perfect Morning Skincare + Makeup Routine for Effortlessly Glowy Skin

What Is a Good Daily Skincare Routine for Glowing Skin?

Before picking up that foundation and makeup brush, it’s important to give your skin some TLC via nourishing, hydrating, protective products. Not sure where to start? No sweat. We’re walking you through a simple, step-by-step morning face routine using glow skincare products.

Step 1: Cleanse

Start your morning skincare routine with a fresh face. We recommend using a cleansing balm to boost hydration and help skin feel soft and supple if you have dry skin. If you’re on the oily side, reach for Confidence in a Cleanser instead. This gentle cleanser is infused with skin-loving ceramides and hyaluronic acid to help improve the look of clear skin.

Step 2: Tone

This step is optional but can help set you up for makeup success. Depending on the formula, toner helps control shine, adds hydration, and helps balance your skin’s pH levels. 

For example, Bye Bye Pores Leave-On Solution Pore-Refining Toner is the perfect choice for people with oily skin types who want to visibly minimize pores and excess oil. Miracle Water 3-in-1 Micellar Cleanser acts as a hydrating facial toner that also brightens the look of dull skin. 

Another benefit of taking the time to apply toner? It acts as a primer to help your skin better absorb the coming ingredients. 

Step 3: Apply Serum

Next up in this glowing skin routine is serum, and while toner is optional, we highly recommend not skipping this step. Concentrated with key ingredients that target specific concerns, facial serums are major players when it comes to helping your skin glow, and you have a few options to choose from:  

We recommend using these two serums if your end goal is glowy skin. 

• Bye Bye Dullness Vitamin C Serum: Formulated with 15% vitamin C, plus vitamin E, this antioxidant-rich serum boosts radiance, hydrates, and helps defend your skin from free radicals. 

• Bye Bye Lines Hyaluronic Acid Serum: Say adios to the look of fine lines instantly with this potent serum. It’s formulated with 1.5% hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamin B5 to help visibly plump, smooth, and hydrate. 

Step 4: Moisturize

Moisturizer is the final step of this easy morning routine for a glowing complexion. Not only does moisturizer help seal in the skincare products you’ve just applied, but it also helps your skin look and feel smooth, soft, and conditioned. You’ll want to choose a moisturizer based on your skin type to maximize the impact. Applying an eye cream afterward helps hydrate the delicate skin around your eyes. 

Which Makeup Products Help Skin Glow?

Let’s move on to a makeup routine that adds lots of glow. Follow this quick routine and you’ll be set.

Step 1: Foundation

There are plenty of foundation options to choose from, ranging from sheer to full coverage. To help narrow your choices, we recommend choosing a product that’s infused with skin-loving ingredients. 

For example, CC+ Nude Glow Lightweight Foundation + Glow Serum with SPF 40 is a medium coverage foundation with a built-in glow serum with 2% niacinamide to visibly brighten, hyaluronic acid to hydrate and create smoother-looking skin, and antioxidant-rich green tea extract. Available in 22 shades and suitable for all skin types, this fluid-like foundation also contains a clear SPF 40 that looks invisible on all complexions. 

If you prefer fuller coverage, try CC+ Cream with SPF 50+. In addition to the original formulation, you can try CC+ Cream Illumination with SPF 50+ or CC+ Cream Oil-Free Matte with SPF 40 for oily skin types. All three versions also feature nourishing skincare ingredients and sunscreen.

Step 2: Concealer

A dab of concealer in key spots—like under your eyes and over blemishes—can instantly brighten your skin and help it appear more even. One dot is all you need of Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-Aging Concealer to conceal dark under eye circles. Plus, it won’t crease or crack!

Step 3: Bronzer 

Though bronzer is an optional step in your makeup routine, it can quickly add warmth and a natural, sun-kissed glow. Simply sweep a light amount of Ombre Radiance Bronzer around your hairline and under your cheekbones. 

Step 4: Highlighter

No glowy skin makeup routine would be complete without a subtle highlighter on the high points of your face. Never sparkly or glittery, Hello Light Crème™ Anti-Aging Radiance Crème Luminizer instantly brightens via Drops of Light Technology™ for a gorgeous, lit-from-within glow. 

Step 5: Eyeshadow

Eyeshadow is another optional step of your makeup routine, but it can help define your eyes, and certain shades can even impart extra glow! 

For example, some of the Superhero No-Tug Waterproof Eyeshadow Sticks come in a pearly finish that helps your eyes look bright and awake. What’s more, they glide on effortlessly, won’t smudge or crease, and can be applied in mere seconds.

Step 6: Mascara

A coat (or two!) of mascara is the finishing touch on any makeup look. Plus, there's a mascara formula to achieve the look you want, whether it’s volumizing, lengthening, or definition. Every IT Cosmetics mascara is formulated with ingredients that help nourish your lashes, as well. 

Following the above morning skincare routine and makeup routine will help set you up with healthy, gorgeous skin immediately and with continued use. 

Now that you’re briefed on all that glowy skin routine intel, check out our radiant skincare routine for the evening and read up on skincare and makeup duos that work better together.