4-Step CeraVe Skincare Routine for a Morning Glow

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Who doesn’t want glowing skin? If you’re like us, you have tried plenty of products, routines, and supplements. With so many brands and ingredients out there, it’s hard to know which are best, or what order to apply them in. So we have created a simple starting point: an affordable CeraVe skincare routine (includes other drugstore brands as well) that can help your skin look healthy and glowing.

Key Takeaways

• A simple morning routine goes in this order: gentle cleanser, vitamin C serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen.
• Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can brighten skin and fade dark spots; it works alongside sunscreen, not instead of it.
• Ceramides and hyaluronic acid help support the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated.
• Use a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every morning and reapply about every two hours outdoors.

The 4-Step CeraVe Morning Skincare Routine

Step 1: CeraVe Cleansers

The first step in any morning skincare routine is cleansing, and CeraVe is one of our favorite brands for it. The brand is known for affordable products developed with dermatologists. Skincare addicts all over YouTube and TikTok cannot seem to get enough of the brand. Even better, they seem to have cleansers for every skin type.

Whether you have sensitive skin, dry skin, or oily skin, CeraVe has a cleanser for you. Their cleansers are known for being gentle yet effective, which makes them a great way to start your day.

Our Favorite CeraVe Cleansers

• CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
• The CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
• CeraVe SA Renewing Facial Cleanser

Step 2: Vitamin C Serum

Whether you’re new to skincare or trying to improve your routine, a vitamin C serum is a great addition. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect skin from environmental damage and supports collagen production. Many people who use it also note that after applying it, they notice a ‘glow’ on their skin.

It’s a good choice if you want to soften fine lines, fade dark spots, or just brighten your skin. Apply vitamin C serum after cleansing and before moisturizer. Many people use vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night to reduce irritation. Vitamin C boosts your sunscreen; it doesn’t replace it.

Our Favorite Vitamin C Serums

• CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum
• La Roche-Posay Vitamin C Serum
• The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%

Step 3: Moisturizer

Our CeraVe skincare routine has to include a moisturizer, applied after your vitamin C serum. Keeping your skin hydrated supports the skin barrier and helps fine lines look less noticeable.

There are many different types of moisturizers, including water-based, hyaluronic acid, or even oil-based moisturizers. What works for you is going to depend on your skin type and what you want or need out of your skincare routine.

A few of the more popular ingredients are hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, and ceramides. Hyaluronic acid draws water into the skin, which can make it look plumper and smooth the look of fine lines. Salicylic acid is a chemical exfoliant that helps unclog pores, so it’s useful for oily or acne-prone skin. Finally, ceramides are lipids (fats) naturally found in the skin that help strengthen the skin barrier and lock in moisture.

Our Favorite Moisturizers

• CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
• First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
• Neutrogena Hydroboost Watercream

Step 4: Sunscreen

If there is one thing and one thing only you need to add to your skincare routine, it’s sunscreen. Consider it the number one essential in this CeraVe skincare routine. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Protecting your skin from the sun is the best thing you can do to prevent premature fine lines and wrinkles, and it lowers your risk of skin cancer.

One of the many things we hear when telling people that they need to implement sunscreen into their routine is that it makes their skin oily. Fortunately, this doesn’t need to be the case! There are lots of sunscreen options that don’t leave a white cast or an oily residue, and powder sunscreens can be handy for touch-ups over makeup. There is something out there for you!

Note: some active ingredients, such as retinoids and exfoliating acids, can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. If you use them, you need to apply sunscreen daily. Yes, daily!

No matter which products you use in your daily morning skincare routine, as a rule of thumb, sunscreen should always be applied last. Sunscreen also wears off, so reapply about every two hours when you’re outdoors, and after swimming or sweating, following the directions on the label.

Our Favorite Sunscreens

• CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30
• La Roche-Posay Anthelios Mineral Tinted Ultra-Light Sunscreen
• First Aid Beauty Weightless Liquid Mineral Sunscreen

Conclusion

There is no one-size-fits-all skincare routine. However, a solid morning CeraVe skincare routine (along with other quality drugstore products) is an excellent place to start! To reiterate: the order of your CeraVe skincare routine should be a gentle cleanser, vitamin C serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen. If you keep this in mind and choose products that suit your skin type, a consistent CeraVe skincare routine can help keep your skin hydrated, protected, and healthy. If you have a skin condition such as acne, rosacea, or eczema, a board-certified dermatologist can help tailor your routine.

Sources

• Cleveland Clinic – How To Order Your Skin Care Routine
• The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology (PMC) – Topical Vitamin C and the Skin: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications
• American Academy of Dermatology – Sunscreen FAQs