The secret to flawless looking skin? We asked beauty influencer, Rania Khayo, which products she swears by in her morning skincare routine. Here are her 6 steps to complexion perfection
Are you giving your skin the attention it deserves? We all suffer with breakouts and irritation now and again, but could it be because your skincare routine is not quite up to scratch?
For some people, a fresh-faced morning skincare routine consists of a quick splash with water followed by slapping on some moisturiser. But some, more complex and sensitive, complexions require a little more attention and TLC.
So, to help you achieve that natural, flawless, glow, we asked beauty influencer Rania Khayo which products she uses in her morning skincare routine, and some helpful tips on how use them to their full advantage.
Follow this six-step skincare routine and your skin will be flawlessly fresh, glowing and Instagram-ready!
Rania Khayo’s 6-step Morning Skincare Routine
Step 1. Cleanse.
I cleanse my face in the morning using Avène Extremely Gentle Cleansing Lotion to clean any leftover product residue from my nightly routine. I tend to use a gentle cleanser in the mornings as I’m not removing any make-up, so I don’t like using anything that’s too harsh for my complexion. A quality cleanser will gently strip your skin of overnight oil and any trace of nighttime products that you’ve used the night before — that way your skin will have a fresh, clean start.
Avène’s gentle cleanser is great for sensitive skin, so it will work for most skin types.
Another top tip is to use lukewarm water to rinse the cleanser from your skin. Hot water can irritate and over-dry your complexion, so make sure the temperature is just right to avoid any irritation. 
Step 2. Tone.
I love the Bioderma Sensibio Toner. Not only does it tone my skin, it’s also really soothing, so it leaves my skin super soft and fresh. I know a lot of you skip the toning part of your skincare routine — it’s the one step we all try to avoid! But it really does form an essential part of your beauty regimen. 
Here are some skin-toning benefits that might just sway you:
- It cleanses
- It restores skin’s pH balance
- It reduces the appearance of pores
- It keeps out impurities like dirt and grime
- It hydrates
- It prevents ingrown hairs
- It reduces acne and blackheads
- It evens skin tone
- It reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
See, I told you toning was worthwhile!
Step 3. Serum.
Why do I love using a serum? The answer is pretty simple — serum repairs tired, dull complexions, minimises pores and helps to keep your skin gorgeously hydrated.
Serums are usually super concentrated, nutrient dense treatments, yet relatively lightweight, which basically means they absorb into your skin quickly without leaving a sticky residue on your face. This is perfect for those who aren’t big fans of thick, intensive products, or people with oily skin.
I use Natio Rosewater Hydration Antioxidant Serum all over my face and neck. This serum not only helps to soothe the skin, it also helps to absorb your moisturiser, so you’ll get a lovely, lightweight finish.
Step 4. Eyes.
Did you know the skin around your eyes is ten times thinner than your face? That means it’s much more delicate, so it can crease and dry out a lot quicker than the rest of your face. It’s also that much more vulnerable to environmental factors like UV rays, so it’s also more prone to damage.
Because the skin around your eyes is thinner, and because of all the tiny muscles in the area, it's more sensitive and prone to a variety of issues, like puffiness, discolouration, and fine lines and wrinkles. And of course, those horrible dark circles we all try our best to hide.
My advice? Invest a decent eye treatment. Choose one that protects, restores and brightens, to get rid of any unwanted shadows. Bayeco’s Green Tea Correcting Eye Cream is an absolute must. It not only helps to reduce dark circles and puffiness, it also gets to work on wrinkles and fine lines with its powerful peptides, so your skin looks a lot firmer.
Step 5. Retinol.
Being in my late 30’s, it’s so important to find a cream that not only keeps my skin hydrated, but one that also helps to smooth wrinkles as well as skin texture. La Roche-Posay's miracle retinol moisturiser is great for people with oily skin, as it has a light, fluid texture with a non-greasy, non-sticky finish. Retinol in any regime is my secret ingredient to younger looking skin. 
Step 6. Sunscreen.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to keep your skin protected against harmful UV rays. Believe me, if you want to prevent premature ageing, THIS is the way to do it. La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios SPF 50+ tinted sunscreen has a very high UV protection, and is perfect for oily skin types. It has a slight tint to it which is amazing for giving you soft, smooth coverage, especially on days you don’t want to wear make-up.
Loved our 6-step morning skincare routine? We've got plenty more women's health and beauty advice on our Health & Wellness Edit, guaranteed to give your body a well-deserved boost. Suffer with breakouts? Here are 11 skincare mistakes that could be seriously damaging your skin. Considering moving over to a menstrual cup? Here are ALL your questions answered.
