Mornings can be really tough for some people — myself included. And even though I’m a total night owl, I’ve learned that there are several things we should do in the morning to keep our outer glow bright, no matter what time we wake up. After a long night’s sleep, there are certain things your body craves. These tips not only make you look and feel beautiful, they’ll make you more focused and energized to take on the day.

There’s certainly enough things to do in the morning already — get the kids ready for school, make breakfast, shower, get dressed, etc. But the good news is, many of these habits are quick and easy to do. And, the more you do them, the easier the routine will be.

8 Ways to Upgrade Your Morning Beauty Routine

1. Stretch in bed

After not moving your body for eight hours, many of us wake up still sleepy and stiff. An easy solution to this is to stretch in bed right after the alarm goes off! Do some simple leg stretches, arm stretches over your head and gentle spinal twists to detox internal organs. It improves circulation, and you’ll start your day feeling more energized and better all over.

2. Turn your shower into a spa

A shower is my favorite ‘me-time’ in the morning. I feel no guilt about locking the door and just standing under the warm water for a minute (or two). The ritual is calming because five minutes after waking up, I can feel myself already starting to stress and dread everything I have to do that day. It clears and cleanses my mind.

For my hair and body, I use products that feel and smell amazing. Honey makes everything better, and your hair is no exception. Garnier® Whole Blends™ is a line of shampoos and conditioners. They are paraben-free and include healing ingredient extracts like royal jelly, honey and propolis to repair and strengthen hair. I totally splurge on my hair, because a good hair day sets the tone for everything that follows, right? I love the Garnier® Whole Blends™ Repairing Line with honey.

Even if they’re not homemade, I like to put my shower products in pretty bottles and jars, just because I enjoy looking at them.

Any homemade body wash is a must-have. It’s so easy — just three ingredients, including honey of course!

Upgrade your morning beauty routine

3. Wash your face

Splashing water on your face in the morning not only helps you wake up, it helps get rid of any makeup from the night before you may have missed and let you start with a clean palette for serums, moisturizers, and makeup. Plus, the cold water brings blood to the skin, giving you an instant fresh glow.

4. Spritz on some mist

Applying a mist to your face in the morning will reduce any morning puffiness, particularly around the eyes. It’s cooling, and depending what you put in your mist, it can have extra benefits for your skin. Check out our DIY hydrating face mist, which includes key ingredients like green tea and essential oils.

5. Apply sunscreen

I just can’t repeat the importance of sunscreen — the top way to protect your skin from wrinkles, dark spots and cancer. Wearing a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 under makeup is critical to keeping your skin healthy and ageless. And, if you plan on being outside for the day, bring a bottle with you to reapply every couple of hours.

Better beauty breakfast

6. Drink a glass of water

Many experts say that drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning will help boost your energy levels and metabolism, and certainly we all want that!

After a night’s sleep, your body naturally craves water in the morning. An easy way of getting this done is to place a full glass of water on your nightstand before heading to bed. That way, it’s right there for you in the morning and you can drink it while still in bed! Or, if plain water bums you out, try out one of our 25 infused water recipes.

7. Eat a healthy breakfast

What we eat in the morning sets the tone of our day. Eating a meal packed with protein, such as eggs or Greek yogurt, is a great option to stay full longer and give you the energy needed to get through the day. Antioxidants are also important, as they contain important vitamins to keep skin glowing — think strawberries, blueberries, etc. Although loading up on bagels and doughnuts is tempting, you’ll crash and want more food sooner. To load up on both protein and antioxidants, try our yogurt parfait with berries.

8. Drink green tea

If you’re not a coffee person, or looking to kick the habit and try something new, green tea is an excellent way to start your morning. It will also give you a caffeine boost, all while providing your body with plenty of antioxidants to slow cell damage.

How do you carve out time to take care of your mind and body in the mornings? Leave a comment for a chance to win a $100 Visa Gift Card!

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