My Healthy AM Routine for Glowing Skin
Oh yes! Who doesn't love waking up and doing their morning skincare routine... I mean there's nothing quite like it! If you guys enjoy this post I'll add my PM routine too.

“Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty.”- Coco Chanel
In this blog post I'm going to be sharing with you my current morning skincare routine. The types of products I'm using when and why they the #bombdotcom Like Coco Chanel said, it's definitely up to us on how we want to look after our skin and how we look at the ageof 50... and I only want to be #flawless
MY AM ROUTINE:
My morning routine doesn't necessarily start with touching my products or my skin. Its first a big glass of water with one scoop of Vitamin C power. I use VITA-C 2000 which is a buffered version to help be easily absorbed by the gut. This contributes to normal immune function but most of all connective tissue formation such as collagen. Vitamin C is used to help make collagen so without it we'd be looking very saggy quite quickly.
Step 1- Cleanse:
Most mornings I cleanse my face with my beloved Lamelle Serra Cleansing Gel. This product has been my saving grace! It is indicated for dry, sensitive and inflamed skin. ( It can even help with reducing acne due to irritation of harsh products.) It has a dual effect of cleansing the skin gently while enhancing the vital barrier of the skin.


Step 2 - Exfoliate:
This step I do on mornings I feel my skin needs a little pick me up, I'd say two mornings a week. I use the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant because I can choose if I'd like a granular or enzymatic exfoliation that morning. It contains Rice powder which is extremely brightening, Papain found in papaya which is a natural exfoliating enzyme and Salicylic Acid which helps decongest pores.
Step 3 - My Actives:
Active ingredients are able to penetrate the skin to a much deeper level after exfoliating as you haven't got any barrier such as dead skin cells preventing it from entering the skin. My favourite morning actives would be Hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C. These are perfectly safe to use during the day and won't cause any photo-damage when in the sun. So on days I feel a little dehydrated and wanting to plump up my skin I grab my Hyaluronic Acid from Esse. This little guy is potent and it gives you an immediate face lift feeling. It smells organic and spicy which I love. Hyaluronic acid is one of the most important natural substances found in our skin, it plays a vital role in keeping our connective tissue (Collagen and Elastin) lubricated so that they can function optimally but most importantly keep our skin happy and moisturised.

Vitamin C-lipid Serum by Lamelle, is my second active I love to apply in the am. It gives you such a dewy glow! #yesplease It is a blend of natural oils and lipid soluble Vitamin C to enhance the skins texture and brightness. It also has ginger and Jojoba extracts which feels delicious on the skin!

Step 4 - Moisturise:
Currently I have been testing out a new product, but I want to try it for a little longer before I let you know my thoughts... But often I always gravitate to my beloved Esse Hydro moisturiser. It Leaves my skin feeling hydrated for the entire day, its not heavy, not greasy it's just perfect. It has prebiotics to improve rough, red skin and reduce irritation by favouring the growth of beneficial microbes; while the probiotics improve the population of the beneficial microbes. At Esse they believe that a balanced skin microbiome will result in improved moisture retention and fuller, healthier skin.

Step 5 - Eye Cream:
As we get older I think we start stressing about all the little lines starting to show up and thats why I've been using an anti-aging eye cream from Dermalogica. The multivitamin power firm has powerful antioxidants, Vitamin C & E to help improve elasticity. It also helps accelerate the skins natural repairing process with the help of vitamin A, often referred to as Retinol. It's super smooth, smells delicious and is working really well.

Step 6 - Last but not least SPF
Probably the most important step that everyone doesn't do. I can't express this enough... the sun causes severe damage to our skin cells. It causes DNA destruction, uneven skin tone, cancer, pre-mature ageing, pigmentation and the list just goes on. A lot of you ask if the SPF in your foundation is enough, sadly it isn't and the truth is we should be reapplying our SPF throughout the day at least 3 times.
I was gifted a fabulous Lamelle Helase SPF 50 and it is incredible. It doesn't smell like a normal SPF, its non- greasy yet leaves a nice subtle glow, it doesn't leave you looking all pale or grey. It spreads really well and I've been loving it. This would be a great choice for those who are dry to a combination skin type.

I hope this gives you a good idea as to what order to follow while you doing your skincare routine but also to show you that you can use natural and active brands together. Yes often a brand wants you to stick to an entire range and yes you do see great results, but there's nothing stoping you from playing around and finding what best works for you.
Always happy to answer your questions, leave me a comment on any instagram post or pop me a DM.
Lots of Love,
Amanda xoxo
Instagram: @amandafromafrica
Email: infoamandafromafrica@gmail.com