Get Glowing with This 5-Minute Skincare Routine for Busy Moms

You’re only four steps away from your best skin ever.

March 08, 2023

By: Jessica Butler

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Photo By: JGI/Jamie Grill

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Discover Your New Go-To Routine

Getting ready in the morning can be chaotic, especially if you have a jam-packed routine with kids. This simple, 4-step skincare routine will help you look and feel refreshed before you take on the day. Click through each step and check out our favorite product suggestions for each.

Step 1: Cleanser

You'll want the day off with a clean canvas, especially if you layer on a lot of products before bed. Whether your skin is oily, dry, or somewhere in between, you’ll find exactly what you need right here. Choose one that fits your skin type the best and remember to cleanse for at least 30 seconds every morning!

Dry Skin: Eucerin Gel Cleanser

This soap-free facial wash combines the hydrating properties of hyaluronic acid with Eucerin’s APG Cleansing Complex, which works as a mild surfactant to lift and remove impurities from your pores. It won’t make your skin feel dry or tight like traditional cleansers, so it’s the perfect pick for dryer skin types that need to retain moisture as much as possible.

BUY IT: Amazon, $9.40

Oily to Combination Skin: Cetaphil Fragrance-Free Daily Facial Cleanser

This pick is also soap-free and lathers up nicely to help remove impurities from oily and combination skin. It’s hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and will provide you with a deep clean to break down any oils or product residue from your nighttime skincare routine. Plus, this fragrance-free formula is less likely to irritate your skin or disrupt your skin barrier.

BUY IT: Amazon, $11.97

Sensitive Skin: Aveeno Calm + Restore Redness Relief Foaming Cleanser

If you’re prone to redness and benefit from skin-soothing ingredients, here’s the cleanser for you. This one is also non-comedogenic and formulated without fragrances, soaps, oils, parabens, phthalates, or dyes. So, lather up and get ready for clean, calm skin.

BUY IT: Amazon, $9.77

Acne Prone Skin: PanOxyl Antimicrobial Acne Creamy Wash, 4% Benzoyl Peroxide

Start off slow with this acne wash so your skin can get used to the active ingredient, Benzoyl Peroxide. Overuse can be irritating! But when used properly, this creamy wash can be a great way to kill bacteria and fight off existing acne, as well as prevent new spots before they even appear.

BUY IT: Amazon, $9.77

Step 2: Toner or Serum

While your skin is still damp, you’ll want to apply a toner or serum for extra moisture or other important benefits. Here are some top-rated ones to choose from!

All Skin Types: Etude House Soonjung pH5.5 Relief Toner

This K-beauty toner features a low pH that’s close to our skin’s natural pH level. It’s non-comedogenic, contains soothing ingredients like panthenol and madecassoside, and will help you lock in moisture.

BUY IT: Amazon, $17.77

Dry Skin: Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner

Complete with rose petals inside, this hydrating facial toner feels extra luxurious to apply. It contains hyaluronic acid to help plump the skin and according to Fresh, it increases "hydration by 46% for 6 hours."

BUY IT: Amazon, $15.97

Sensitive or Acne Prone Skin: Paula's Choice 10 Azelaic Acid Booster

Azelaic acid reduces the appearance of dark marks and smooths out skin texture. This particular formula includes salicylic acid (to unclog pores reduceinﬂammation) and licorice root (to desensitize, reduce redness, and calm skin).

BUY IT: DermStore, $39.00

Strengthen and Brighten Skin: CeraVe Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid

This serum contains 10% l-ascorbic acid, the purest form of vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid for a hydrating and brightening combo that’s gentle on skin. Like most CeraVe products, this serum is also formulated with three essential ceramides. The gel-like texture allows for a non-greasy and lightweight feel, which is great for layering with other skincare products.

BUY IT: Amazon, $21.99

Step 3: Moisturizer

After your serum sinks in, wet your hands and tap a little more water on your face so you can apply your moisturizer to damp skin — it'll help lock in more hydration. We've rounded up a few different options for various skin types, and feel free to use your face moisturizer as your eye cream as well. That's two in one!

All Skin Types: Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream

The gel-cream consistency of this K-beauty moisturizer feels amazing and leaves your skin with a hydrated glow. It features niacinamide, squalane, hyaluronic acid, rice bran, ginseng, honey extract, safflower seed oil, and corn milk extract. Not only will this moisturizer deeply quench your skin, but it will also help strengthen your skin barrier with continued use.

BUY IT: Amazon, $23.35

Dry Skin: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

By now, the CeraVe tub is a classic. With no-nonsense ingredients and incredible skin barrier protection, this moisturizer is perfect for those who need a little more help in the hydration department. It includes hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and CeraVe’s special MVE technology that helps keep your skin hydrated "for 24 hours," according to the brand. Plus, you receive so much product in this tub for the price!

BUY IT: Amazon, $15.48

Oily to Combination Skin: The INKEY List Omega Water Cream Moisturizer

Opt for a water-based moisturizer if you have oily to combination skin. This one is formulated with an omega fatty acid complex, glycerin, betaine, and niacinamide — and without silicones or oils. It’s a lightweight pick that won’t overwhelm your skin.

BUY IT: Amazon, $10.99

Sensitive and Acne Prone Skin: IUNIK Centella Calming Gel Cream

Banish irritation with this plant-based moisturizer made for soothing and renewing your skin. It contains protective ingredients like 72% centella asiatica leaf water, 10% tea tree leaf water, niacinamide, and adenosine. Give your skin the pampering and appreciation it deserves!

BUY IT: Amazon, $14.99

Step 4: Sunscreen

Never leave home without it! Apply three finger lengths worth of product to your face and neck every morning and you're ready to start your day! Click through some tried and true sunscreens that you're sure to love. Check out our favorite sunscreens list and collection of unique sunscreens for more options.

Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF 50+ PA++++

I admittedly bought this K-beauty sunscreen because I saw it trending on TikTok, but now I definitely understand the hype. Much like the Beauty of Joseon moisturizer, the texture of this sunscreen is a hydrating, lightweight gel-cream that gives you a glow from within. This has quickly become my new favorite sunscreen as it looks amazing alone or underneath makeup, and it has amazing protection for everyday wear!

BUY IT: Amazon, $18.00

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++

If you’re moving on to makeup after this super quick skincare routine, opt for this velvety smooth Supergoop! option. The chemical sunscreen doubles as a makeup primer and doesn't leave a white cast, so not only will your skin be protected from UV rays, but it will also be blurred and prepped for your go-to look. Choose between three sizes.

BUY IT: Sephora, $22.00 - $48.00

EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46

If your skin is sensitive, acne prone, or you have rosacea, this oil-free, combination mineral and chemical sunscreen may become your new favorite. It calms and protects your skin with a blend of Zinc oxide and octinoxate SPF filters, making it an awesome pick for those who have a hard time finding sunscreens that don’t exacerbate their skin issues.

BUY IT: Amazon, $38.95

Neutrogena Purescreen Tinted Sunscreen SPF 30

For a little coverage and a tint, try this new Neutrogena sunscreen. It’s a Zinc oxide mineral formula that features antioxidant vitamin E. This sunscreen may even save you some time on your makeup because it can double as a light, protective base! Wear it under your favorite cosmetics or rock it all on its own!

BUY IT: Amazon, $13.59

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: A Holy Grail Skincare Routine for Pregnant and Nursing Moms, This Popular K-Beauty Cleansing Balm Is a Game-Changer, The Best Products for Introducing Retinol Into Your Skincare Routine, The Best Tinted Lip Balms for a Perfect Pout

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