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Who here is a morning person? Who promptly rises from bed the moment the alarm sounds? Not I. By nature, I have always been a night owl. I feel extra energized in the evenings. Sometimes, I start personal projects late into the night, only to shake my fist in anguish when morning comes, having slept fewer hours than I should have. With age and jobs that require an early call time, I’ve become a reluctant early bird convert. In fact, I somewhat enjoy an early wake up call now, especially if it’s to catch a sunrise hike, run a half-marathon, or to avoid traffic (all recent reasons I’ve gotten up early).

On a regular work day, I cherish every minute of sleep I can get. Therefore, my morning skincare and makeup routine is super minimal. It does the trick to moisturize, protect, and awaken me, and it takes a total of 15-17 minutes. I am going to share my current AM routine here for this transitional time where it is still cool but beginning to warm up. Some brands get switched into my routine, but the category of products I use remain the same. Keep reading to read about my simple AM routine for early spring.

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This gel cleanser gently cleans the skin without stripping it of its natural oils or making skin feel tight. Packed with antioxidant-rich blueberries, it claims to protect the skin for a glowy complexion. It has small pieces of blueberries in the cleanser and smells like actual blueberries! The sensory experience helps to wake me up. It also works gently on the skin.

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This organic eye cream contains yerba mate which naturally is full of caffeine, which claims to stimulate circulation to reduce dark circles and puffiness. I don’t have any puffiness, but I did not see a significant difference in my dark circles. The formula itself, however, is thin and a small pump is all that’s needed for both eyes. It absorbs quickly and does well to smooth and moisturize the eye area. It also layers well under makeup. An extensive review on a handful of this certified organic skincare line can be found here.

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A morning moisturizer is a must for this dry skin gal. During the early spring, I prefer one with a lighter texture that will hydrate, revitalize the skin, and layer well underneath foundation. My skin responds well to the Moisturizing Bomb from Belif; it has a cream-gel texture. Belif also has an Aqua Bomb, which has gel consistency—perfect for summer or those with oily skin. The Drunk Elephant Hydration has a similar texture as well. Each one of these have a light to no scent and would work well with those with sensitive skin.

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Like a lot of the advanced Korean and Japanese sunblocks, this one from Missha scores high in my book. It has broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and SPF 50 while having a lightweight texture that absorbs into the skin without leaving a greasy residue or white cast. It has a mild, appealing scent and doesn’t have an alcohol smell. This Sun Milk provides just a light bit of hydration, which is perfect for the spring season.

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This lip balm provides hydration to the lips while containing SPF 15. I like the non-tinted one, however, for spring I’ve been reaching for Rose. The rosy nude tint is subtle to complement my minimal makeup look. Plus, it’s easy to reapply at the desk during the workday without the use of a mirror.

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My everyday makeup routine is quite simple and natural. The goal is to even out my skin tone by minimizing any breakouts and look more awake and put together. I’ve also included all the application tools I use (two, to be exact).

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The L’Oreal Pro-Glow foundation suits my skin well for cool to mild temperatures. The finish is quite dewy, but looks fine once lightly set with powder. I apply it with a damp beauty sponge for a seamless and natural look. I have never tested makeup for 24 hours, as it claims on the packaging, but it lasts moderately well for 12-14 hours when set.

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After foundation, a light dusting of finishing powder helps to set the base. This powder also blurs slight imperfections and comes in two shades as well as a solid, compact format. If layered too heavily, it can dry skin out so a modest bit is all that’s necessary. I find that it does lighten my foundation shade just ever so slightly, but it’s remediated with facial spray. I use this trusty ol’ makeup brush to apply powder, bronzer, and blush. With a pinched ferrule (the metal part of the brush), it has the perfect shape for each different application.

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Luxury or drugstore, this bronzer is a favorite of mine. It matches my skintone well. I sweep it along the cheekbones, the jawline, and the sides of the forehead to warm up my complexion. The shade “Bronzer” is a hybrid of bronzer and contour. It’s buildable and has a coconut scent.

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This light nude terracota with gold sheen further warms up the complexion while providing a subtle glow to the cheeks. Mac’s Mineralize Blush formulas are airy and easy to apply. Warm Soul is buildable for the desired flush.

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A brow mascara is the way to go for quick taming and thickening of the brows. It’s as easy as brushing the product into the brows. This one stays put without being too obvious.

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After a quick curl of the eyelashes, I apply brown liquid liner (black can be a harsh contrast on my bare lids); the one from Stila is waterproof and has a super fine felt tip. It applies easily without dragging on the skin and lasts a full work day and more without transferring or fading. The mascara I am using right now is Lash Sensational from Maybelline. It is a very wet formula that took a little bit to get used to. Once it dried out after two weeks, it worked decently to elongate the lashes without transferring. The curved plastic brush makes it simple to apply to upper and lower lashes for a fanned effect.

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The Mac Fix+ is another makeup bag staple! This facial spray minimizes the powdery look of makeup and helps it to meld into the skin for a natural appearance.

What is your morning skincare and makeup routine? I’d love to know what YOU do. Leave them down below.

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