Mornings are meant to be filled with cups of coffee and a quick scan of the local newspaper (or a scroll through Instagram for those a bit more tech-inspired.) But if you’re a beauty editor, you’re most likely a lipstick loving, skincare fanatic, which makes your mornings a bit more hectic. There’s nothing more time-consuming (and fun!) than going through a full rundown of your skincare routine and a complete makeup application each and every morning. Since beauty editors are always on the verge of cutting edge cosmetics, we thought it’d be best to share our morning routines and our favorite everyday-use products. Read on for all the details!
Claire Hannum: Associate Editor
How Long Does it Take:
My beauty routine takes about half an hour. On a busy morning, it only takes about 5-10 minutes.
Skincare Routine:
When I wake up in the morning, I start the morning by taking a quick shower (without getting my hair wet) and washing and moisturizing my face.
Makeup Routine:
If I have extra time, I’ll try out a new product or look, but when I’m in a hurry, I stick to my tried-and-true favorites as basics, like NARS Orgasm Blush or Benefit’s Posietint Cheek and Lip Stain, Mac Brow Set, Benefit Erase Paste Concealer, Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara, Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue, a beige eye shadow and tinted lip balm like Benebalm.
If I’m in the mood to make things more fun but still short on time, I put on a bright lipstick. On days where I have more time, I like to apply liquid liner, but I get too neurotic about both eyes matching to do it in a hurry.
Has Your Routine Changed Over the Years?:
My routine has changed a lot over the years — I used to spend much more time getting ready in the morning, though the results weren’t much better to show for it. When I was younger, especially in my middle school and high school years, I’d flat-iron my entire head straight every single day, and for many years before I got wiser on products, I did this using a cheap, damaging straightener that left me with fried ends. I’d spend half an hour coating my eyes in thick liner that I thought was cute but probably just made me look like a raccoon. It’s easy now to see where this came from — I was insecure and new to “getting ready” rituals and had no idea how to do it quickly.
Julie Ricevuto: Staff Writer
How Long Does it Take:
It takes about 20-30 minutes. Skincare is extremely important to me so I opt for a routine using multiple products.
Skincare Routine:
First, I cleanse my face using Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber De-Tox Foaming Cleanser to remove any oil buildup from the night. Then, I apply SkinCeuticals Metacell Renewal B3 all over my face to reduce wrinkles and prevent premature photoaging. I’ve begun noticing a bit of hyperpigmentation and lines on my forehead becoming slightly more prominent so this has been great in terms of a preventative anti-aging product geared towards younger skin. I follow up my serum with the moisturizer Belif True Cream Moisturizing Bomb, but I only apply to my cheeks to avoid oily zones such as my forehead and nose. I place a brightening and de-puffing eye cream under my eyes to help wake them up a bit.
Makeup Routine:
Once my face is prepped and moisturized, I throw on a mattifying primer to keep oil at bay throughout the day. Then, I use BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream for a bit of coverage and a natural looking glow. I then brush on bronzer into the hollows of my cheeks, and blush onto the apples of my cheeks to add a bit of dimension. Finally, I like to keep my eye makeup simple, so I usually just swipe on my favorite cream eyeshadow of the moment since it’s quick and super easy to apply, and then I swipe on two to three coats of mascara (the Buxom original Lash Mascara is my current favorite). To top it off, I’ll apply one of my nude Chanel lipsticks since they give off a natural vibe and are just as hydrating as most of my chapsticks are.
Has Your Routine Changed Over the Years?:
Absolutely, I wore NO makeup until my freshman year of college, and even hated wearing it when I first started. Then, I slowly started experimenting with it and found it to be fun and creative. However, I’ve always cared a lot about my skin and the products I put on it. My mom gave me a bunch of skincare products when I was in elementary school and told me to always keep my face extra hydrated so I’d “look young forever.” I’ve been a skincare junkie ever since!
Maggie Miller: President of YouBeauty
How Long Does it Take:
My routine takes 5-15 minutes depending on what I decide to do with my hair.
Makeup Routine:
For makeup I put on a tinted moisturizer (I rotate between Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue and Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Serum), either eye shadow or eye liner (rarely both; currently loving Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner and a Shu Uemura palette which sadly I cannot find online… but the new Tarte palette is also amazing), a few swipes of Givenchy’s Phenomen’Eyes Mascara, and Dior’s Lip Glow.
Haircare Routine:
My hair is naturally pretty straight, but will go wavy on occasion and I’m growing out a very damaging dye job so it misbehaves often. I usually wash it at night and put some Olive Oil leave-in conditioner (you can get this at Regis salons – it’s saved my hair and made it soft again). If I have ten minutes in the morning, I’ll flat iron it and put a few drops of Moroccan Oil Treatment on the ends to smooth out flyaways. If I don’t have the time (I have a 1 year old and my house is zoo-like in the morning), I just put it up in a clip or pull it into a messy pony.
Has Your Routine Changed Over the Years?:
It has changed but not dramatically. The products have changed as I learned more about brands and how my skin reacts, but I have always kept a fairly simple routine. When I was pregnant I became more conscious about what chemicals and products I was putting on my skin, and then after giving birth I pretty much stuck with natural products.
Rachel Grumman Bender: Senior Editor
How Long Does it Take:
If my twin toddlers cooperate and I have more than three minutes to get ready, my skincare and beauty routine typically takes about 15 minutes. It may seem like a long routine, but I only spend 10-30 seconds on each step.
Skincare Routine:
I start my routine by quickly applying a gentle cleanser, Dr. Dennis Gross All In One Cleanser With Toner, to a dry face and then rinsing it off. Since the most potent ingredients should be the first layer on your face, I always start with my long-time favorite anti-aging antioxidant serum SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, which leaves my skin feeling smooth and firm. Next, I apply either a moisturizer-SPF combo, such as , or straight-up sunscreen, such as . I now have some small sunspots under my eyes thanks to not being as vigilant as I could have about protecting that fragile area, so I dab on a dedicated eye cream with sun protection, Murad Essential-C eye cream with SPF 15, on a daily basis. Then, I quickly slather on a body moisturizer, such as the clean-scented Nivea Smooth Sensation with shea butter or the divine-smelling Tocca Giulietta Crema da Corpo, followed by sunscreen on my arms, hands, chest, and any other body part that might be exposed while I’m driving or walking around outside.
Makeup Routine:
If I only have a couple of minutes, I just put on Kimara Ahnert Mineral Liquid Powder Foundation with SPF 15; dot on Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer, which is the best I’ve found at eliminating this tired mom’s dark circles; and swipes of the beauty classic Maybelline Great Lash mascara and a bronzer for a healthy glow, such as Nars Bronzing Powder in Laguna or Guerlain Terra Ora. If I have more time, I put on eye shadow from my MAC eye shadow palette like this one and Covergirl Perfect Point Plus eyeliner in Espresso. As I’m running out the door or stopped at a red light, I swipe on a shiny neutral lip gloss, such as Guerlain Gloss D’Enfer in Browny Clap.
Has Your Routine Changed Over the Years?:
I’ve been using moisturizers and makeup with SPF for years, but I’m now much more religious about making sure I cover more areas of exposed skin (my hands, my arms, etc.) any time I’m heading out of the house.
Leah Prinzivalli: Staff Writer
How Long Does It Take:
I usually spend about 30 minutes on hair, makeup, and getting dressed in the morning. Lately I’ve started picking out my clothes the night before like a fourth grader, which you would think would result in more complicated makeup. (Nope!)
Makeup Routine:
I start with the one-two punch of CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser and Pixi by Petra’s Glow Tonic toner. Then, I use Glossier Priming Moisturizer on my face and classic Lancome Génifique for my under-eyes. I prefer powder foundation – Bare Minerals Original has never steered me wrong. Summer tan means I get to skip the bronzer and move on to eyes – I love a gentle glow; this week I’ve been using Eyeko’s Shadow Liner in Topaz. Lorac Pro Mascara and a lip like Marc Jacobs Eat Cake are my final go-tos. My hands-down favorite product one I picked up in a local shop, Greenwich Bay Body Butter in Fresh Milk. It’s a simple shea butter, cocoa butter and buttermilk lotion that smells amazing. I’m not a huge fragrance person, but sometimes I’ll spray on something fun when I get to work. This week, it’s been RiRi by Rihanna. I mean – why not?
Has Your Routine Changed Over the Years?:
Yes! I used to look at makeup as just utilitarian: Can you still see this zit? Over time, and especially since working here, I’m starting to have more fun with makeup.
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