Let’s chat a little morning skincare. What’s an essential for you? SPF is a no-brainer and a good hydration serum is also fairly essential for me. This post is a little expansion of an instagram post – I’m thinking of adding some of my IG content over here to the blog for prosperity sake. Lol. You never know right?!
So, what skin treatments do you use in the A.M?
For me, I need Niacinamide in some form (or two or three – I’m not fussy), an antioxidant/vitamin C serum of sorts and I do love me a bunch a peptides (I’m in the early stages of drafting a big peptides post – it’s quite the undertaking but one I’d really like to publish soon) so here we have the serums I have on rotation right now in morning.
Niacinamide
Good Molecules- Niacinamide Brightening Toner* I use this in two ways. If I’m skipping cleansing I’ll pop on a cotton pad and swipe or press into the skin like an essence after cleansing. Niacinamide is one of my fave ingredients and performs a myriad of benefits- for me reducing redness is the main.
Other benefits include – brightening, more even skin tone, reducing dullness in skin and targeting the appearance of large pores.
The Niacinamide Brightening Toner is also free of alcohol and fragrance plus contains Vitamin C – so there’s a little boost of antioxidant protection in there too. Plus it’s extremely purse-friendly at just $14USD via Beautylish.
Full Ingredients List
Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Betaine, Arbutin, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Astragalus Membranaceus Root Extract, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Dextrin
Vitamin C
I’ve been using Summer Friday’s CC Me now for a couple of weeks as my vitamin C step and I really quite like it. The texture is nice and light and the formula provides some hydration too.
You’ve also got a decent hit of niacinamide in here to work with the Ascorbic Acid in brightening the skin tone.
CC Me does contain some ‘natural’ fragrances which haven’t caused my skin sensitivity any problems, but do watch out for that if you avoid any fragrances in skincare.
I feel like if you are a hardcore Vitamin C user this may feel a little mild. I personally prefer a milder formula as I am not working on pigmentation and use vitamin c more for the antioxidant protection rather than skin tone correction.
I do also really rate the Tatcha Violet C Serum. I have written more about it HERE.
Full Ingredients
Water (Aqua), Niacinamide, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Ascorbyl Glucoside (Vitamin C), Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Squalane, Diheptyl Succinate, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Orchis Mascula (Orchid) Flower Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang) Flower Extract, Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis (Cantaloupe) Fruit Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Flower Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Extract, Rose Gallica Flower Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia (Cinnamon) Bark Extract, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Flower/Leaf Extract, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Leaf/Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Black Tea) Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E) Acetate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Amyl Cinnamal, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Eugenol, Hydroxycitronellal.
Peptides
I’m super into using peptides. I love them. There’s so many different peptides that do different things (signal skin to build collagen, reduce inflammation, skin regeneration, hydration). They are tiny little warriors in the fight against fine lines, wrinkles, damaged skin etc. I am planning a much deeper dive post into peptides and how they work. Stay tuned.
I have a rotation of peptide infused products and the ones I’m using rn in the morning are Good Molecules Super Peptide Serum*, Kate Somerville Bio Mimicking Peptides*.
These two are at very different ends of the price spectrum. I’ve been using the KS on and off for a while now and I really enjoy it. The Good Molecules is much newer to me but I like so far and will keep testing.
Good Molecules Ingredients
Water/Aqua/Eau, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Acetyl Octapeptide-3 Copper Tripeptide-1, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Glycereth-25 PCA Isostearate, Polyacrylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Thromethamine, Polyisobutene, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, BHT, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycine
Kate Somerville Bio Mimicking Peptides Ingredients
Water, PPG-24-Glycereth-24, Glycerin, Propanediol, Spondias Mombin Pulp Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Pulp Extract, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Pulp Extract, Acetyl Glutamine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acer Rubrum Extract, sh-Polypeptide-1, sh-Oligopeptide-2, sh-Oligopeptide-1, sh-Polypeptide-9, sh-Polypeptide-11, Panthenol, Cichorium Intybus (Chicory) Leaf Extract, Zinc PCA, Caprylyl Glycol, Glycine Soja(Soybean) Seed Extract, Lecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, 1,2-Hexanediol, Bacillus/Forlic Acid Ferment Extract, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Silica, Adenosine, Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate, Capryl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum.
Venn Vitamin B Activated All in One Concentrate is my do-it-all. It’s a much richer cream texture than a serum and can be used either as a serum or as your one and only step as it’s quite moisturizing on its own. Niacinamide, peptides and antioxidants. It’s got it all. It’s quite spendy, but it’s a staple for me.
I have written more about the Venn HERE in a more dedicated post.
Venn Vitamin B Activated All in One Concentrate Ingredients
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Glycerin, Water,Propanediol,Hippophae, Rhamnoides Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Coco-caprylate/Caprate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil,1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate,Niacinamide,Stearic Acid,Lupinus Albus Seed Oil, Nicotinoyl Dipeptide-22,Pinus Pinaster Bark Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, C14-28 Alkyl Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Olivoyl Glutamate, Triticum Vulgare Germ Oil Unsaponifiables, Behenyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Arginine Fucose, Acmella Oleracea Extract, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract, Spilanthes Acmella Flower Extract,Carnitine,Ellagic Acid, Biotin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrogenated Olive, Oil Unsaponifiables, Kigelia Africana Fruit Extract,Quillaja Saponaria, Bark Extract, Pistacia Lentiscus Gum, sh-Polypeptide-64,Tocopherol, Glutathione, Carnosine, Glycine,Glutamine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Serine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Valine, Folic acid, Riboflavin, Thiamine HCL, Inositol, Calcium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Potassium, Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Pyruvate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Cyclodextrine
So that’s the serums/treatments I am currently using on my skin in the AM right now. Though the particular products change and rotate at times, the ingredients I look for really don’t.
Do you use a serum in the morning? Would love to hear what you are using!
