Difference between the AM and PM routine

Skincare. 

Sometimes, this word can be a little daunting. With so many products in the market, each claiming to be the ultimate solution for all your skincare woes, it can get a little confusing as to which one is actually the most suited for your skin type. And if after much trial and error, you’ve finally figured that out, you’re likely left wondering what the best time would be to use each of the products. 

Should you cleanse your skin in the morning or before you sleep?

When should you use an eye cream?

Sunscreen or no sunscreen?

These are some questions that probably plague your mind and leave you feeling overwhelmed and at your wits ends. But fret no more, because we’re here to help you figure these things out. So keep on reading to find out!

Everyone has their own skin care regime that they follow, preferably twice a day. What works for someone else, might not work for you since all of us have different skin types. But did you know that your skincare in the morning should be different from your skincare at night? Yes! You heard that right. You need two separate routines that match your skin’s needs during the day and night.

Your AM and PM routine both have different purposes. Daytime skincare routine focuses on protecting your skin while you are out and about in the sun, while the nighttime routine focuses on repairing and rejuvenating your skin from all the damage it faces during the day. Keep on reading to find out how both the routines work and how they differ! 

AM skincare, the morning routine:

Your skin suffers a lot during the day as you are most active at the time, probably running errands, doing school drop offs and pick ups, or just simply going about your day. Your skin comes into contact with the harmful UV rays, as well as toxic fumes, pollution and dirt. Not to mention the heat that not only makes you sweat, but also strips your skin of moisture, leaving it feeling dry and parched. Hence, your daytime skincare routine should focus more on protection and hydration to survive the day time. Following are the steps that form an effective morning skincare routine:

• Cleanser: The first thing you should do after waking up is washing your face to ensure that your skin is like a fresh canvas, ready to absorb the goodness of the products in the upcoming steps of your regime. When you are looking for a cleanser, look for one that is lightweight, so while it does the job, it does not strip away the natural oils of your skin. We recommend the Leovard Multicleanser. It contains oatmeal to gently cleanse, papaya extract to exfoliate and slough away dead skin cells and salicylic acid which helps in keeping acne at bay. 
• Moisturizer: A lightweight moisturizer is a must for your AM routine to keep your skin hydrated and nourished, preventing it from drying out. The Leovard Multicream is lightweight, yet effective, lending your skin the hydration and nourishment it needs to make it through the day.
• Lip balm: Being outdoors can dry out the lips, making them look wrinkly and shrunken. Applying a generous cost of a nourishing lip balm, will help to add suppleness and plump them up. The Leovard Lip Luster makes a great pick as it also contains titanium oxide which helps against sun damage. 
• Sunscreen: Importance of sunscreen can not be stressed enough. When you step out of the house, you come into direct contact with the sun’s harmful UV rays, making sunscreen a vital part of any skincare routine, which must not be skipped at any cost. It is a common misconception that sunscreen is not needed if you plan on staying indoors or if the sun isn’t shining bright. But just because you can not see the sun, does not mean that the UV rays did not touch the earth’s surface. 

PM skincare, the nighttime routine:

Your nighttime skincare routine should focus more on repairing your skin from all the damage it went through throughout the day. It should also target conditions such as the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, ensuring that the skin remains looking radiant and youthful for as long as possible. Following are the steps that your PM routine should consist of:

• Makeup remover/cleanser: Never, I repeat, never, sleep without removing your makeup. Always remove it before bed, even if it’s the last thing you do, so that you have a clean base to apply your skincare products that will penetrate into your skin and work their magic. Cleansing before going to bed also ensures that the dirt and grime of the day is removed, preventing it from wrecking havoc on your skin, while you sleep unaware.
• Toner: Using a toner will not only prep your skin for the rest of the skincare routine, but will also help in removing the residual makeup that might still be on your skin. It also adds the much needed hydration to the skin as well as helping in preventing the skin from clustering, giving your skin a fresh look. 
• Moisturizer: For your night time moisturizer, opt for a thicker and richer cream that has more nourishing ingredients that will help in regenerating, rejuvenating and replenishing your skin from all moisture it has lost during the day.
• Serum: For a little bit of extra hydration and plumpness, a nourishing serum does a wonderful job. The Leovard Serum consists of several hydrating botanical oils as well as several other ingredients that your skin might need for a bit of extra love and pampering, including the hydrating aloe vera and green tea as well as the soothing lavender and chamomile.
• Eye cream: Puffy eyes are a common problem that we all face due to exhaustion and fatigue. Eye creams are a great investment once you enter into your late twenties as they help in keeping early signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles at bay, and also help in depuffing the eyes. A good eye cream with a list of splendid ingredients such as vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and other antioxidants will help in depuffing the eyes and also keep the undereye area nourished and hydrated. Leovard’s Lip Luster, originally formulated for the lips works as an amazing eye product with all the ingredients mentioned above. 

Takeaway

Bear in mind that your morning skincare should focus on protecting your skin from the damage it might face during the day, whereas the nighttime skincare should ensure that it focuses on repairing and restoring your skin from all the damage. Thus, making small tweaks in your skincare routine can have a huge impact on your overall skincare regime, ensuring that your skin looks radiant and youthful.