How you care for your skin in the morning can help set the tone for the whole day. Why not make sure the steps you take in your morning skin care routine are dermatologist-approved? Board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger is here to fill you in on five ways (and products!) to build your morning skin care routine like a dermatologist, including:

• Start with a gentle cleanser

• Mist on a toner

• Apply a vitamin C serum

• Finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen

• Protect and nourish your lips

Step 1: Start with a gentle cleanser

Beginning with a gentle facial cleanser is a great way to start your morning skin care routine. “Dead skin cells, oil, bacteria and other impurities can accumulate on your skin overnight,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “A morning cleanse also helps rinse off any overnight treatments from the night before, so you can have a fresh start.” Dr. Schlessinger also recommends using lukewarm water when washing your face. “Hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils, so lukewarm water for washing and rinsing is ideal.”

We recommend: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser, which gently removes dirt and excess oil to leave your skin clean and fresh-feeling. A blend of niacinamide and ceramides help maintain your skin’s natural moisture barrier and soothe any traces of redness or irritation, making it a great starting product for your morning skin care routine. If acne, fine lines or uneven skin tone is a concern for you, a gentle exfoliating cleanser such as LovelySkin LUXE Gel Cleanser is also an excellent choice. A combination of glycolic acid, salicylic acid and dermatologist-developed afaLUXE helps improve cellular turnover to gently exfoliate your skin without irritation.

Step 2: Mist on a toner

Using a toner can be a refreshing way to start your morning skin care routine that also infuses your skin with much-needed moisture. Toners with ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid can help hydrate your skin, providing moisture that can last throughout the day to keep your skin looking and feeling soft and smooth. Depending on the formula, toners can also be a beneficial part of your morning routine by delivering specific benefits such as balancing your skin’s pH levels or calming irritation.

We recommend: SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Essence Mist, an alcohol-free facial mist that works to improve your skin’s hydration levels with the power of glycerin and hyaluronic acid. It also helps to immediately calm reactive skin with a botanical blend of cucumber, rosemary, thyme and olive leaf extracts.

Step 3: Apply a vitamin C serum

Vitamin C serums can provide an array of skin care benefits, including reducing the appearance of dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles. These benefits are due to vitamin C’s antioxidant properties, which help neutralize damaging free radicals that may result from exposure to the sun and other environmental elements.

“Some research has shown using a vitamin C serum along with broad-spectrum sunscreen can provide better protection from sun damage than if either are used alone,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “That’s one reason why you might like to make a vitamin C serum part of your morning skin care routine along with your sunscreen.”

We recommend: Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Serum Brightening Skin Corrector, an antioxidant serum with an easy-to-wear formula that’s fast-absorbing and layers well under sunscreen and makeup for morning use. It contains 15% vitamin C to help diminish dark spots and smooth fine lines and wrinkles, leaving skin looking brighter over time.

Step 4: Finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen

One of the most impactful ways you can approach your morning skin care routine like a dermatologist is to apply a high-quality, broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. “A broad-spectrum sunscreen protects your skin from the damaging effects of both UVA and UVB rays,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “Both types of rays play a role in the formation of skin cancer, so protecting your skin from both is crucial for skin health.”

We recommend: SkinCeuticals Daily Brightening UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 30. This facial sunscreen is a fantastic multitasker for your morning skin care routine because it simultaneously provides the benefits of a moisturizer with the protection of a sunscreen in one easy step. This formula contains 7% glycerin to provide much-needed moisture, while a blend of tranexamic acid, niacinamide and phenylethyl resorcinol work together to help diminish discoloration such as dark spots. This formula also features a subtle, universal tint to help camouflage uneven skin tone and a touch of mica to give skin an immediate touch of radiance and glow.

Step 5: Protect and nourish lips

When it comes to approaching your morning skin care routine like a dermatologist, lip care products are also part of this equation. “The skin on your lips is different from the rest of your face in that it’s thinner and more delicate,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “Applying a moisturizing balm is a great way to keep your lips soft and protect them from becoming dry and flaky.”

We recommend: FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Lip Balm, a hydrating beeswax-based balm formulated with meadowfoam seed oil, cocoa butter and shea butter to condition and soften lips with every use. It also contains 1% hydrocortisone to treat inflammation and irritation, helping to heal cracked, chapped lips all year round.

Now that you’re all set with your morning skin care routine, check out the LovelySkin Blog to learn all the secrets for how to get fuller, softer lips and tricks to keep them that way!