If you’ve been hearing more and more about the benefits of a morning routine, there’s a reason for that! It sets your day up for success, leaves you feeling more productive and even gives you more time — and sometimes all before 9 a.m.!
To help you own the mornings, we’ve turned to the ones who do it best: successful people. From celebrity makeup artists to dermatologists, they’ve provided exactly what they do to get it done. Scroll below to get the insight. (Editor's note: If you're looking for a morning boost to kick off your day, reach for our NEW Morning Get Up & Glow™!)
Routine #1: Nicole Rose Stillings (@DJRose), NYC DJ and co-founder of Rosé Rockers!
I wake up around 7:30 a.m. I'd love to pretend to be an early riser, but it's not realistic — especially when I've been DJ-ing the night before.
I put on the coffee, brush my teeth, take my vitamins and probiotics and force myself to drink a whole bottle of water.
I sit down to meditate and pop on my headphones (on-ear headphones really helps take me into a deeper meditative state.) I listen to different types of meditations, which I pick based on my mood and what I need to achieve that day. If I have a big performance, I might visualize my day and the success of the event, for instance. If I need some inspiration on a project or problem, I might do an open meditation with instrumental music in the background and wait for answers.
Next, when I'm clear-headed, I review my schedule for the day against my goals and make any necessary adjustments to use my day in the best possible way. Then, I start emails and sip my coffee. But first, I sprinkle in some Collagen Peptides and MCT oil. I love Vital Proteins!
Around 9 a.m., I head out to walk the pup and put on one of my favorite podcasts (BossBabe, Masters of Scale, Impact Theory, How I Built This, etc.)
Around 9:30 a.m., I hit the gym. If I only have 30 minutes, I'll just ride on the elliptical to an upbeat playlist. Here are some good #quarantineandchill vibes that I'm currently listening to. Then, I'm back home to get ready for meetings and the rest of my day. Feelin' like a boss!
Routine #2: Marisa Martino, co-founder of SKINNEY Medspa
My internal alarm clock always wakes me up some time around 7:45 a.m. The first thing I do is check my New York Times app for a quick news debriefing. This app is a game changer for me; it gives real-time news updates on important news, as well as a morning debriefing. After checking and responding to emails, up next is coffee!
If I don’t have early meetings, I like to work out! My workouts vary, but I recently downloaded the app Pojo- Fitness. I stream it right from my phone to my TV and do a 45-60 minute workout from my living room.
In my shower, I prep my skin for the day. I love SKINNEY Medspa’s Microdermabrasion in a Bottle. This heat-activating scrub takes away dead skin cells and impurities, as well as polishes your skin.
Next, I always use a chemical exfoliation. I love Biologique Recherché P50v liquid. This will take away more dead skin cells and open pores for the next step: hydration. I love La Mer™ gel moisturizer. It has just the right balance of moisture and oil. I also follow with their eye cream on my upper and lower lids and lips. Another beauty tip I do almost every day is a quick application of Bondi Sands Tanning Foam (use a tan mitt to apply.) This will keep your body looking sun-kissed.
Afterward, I always use SPF. My new favorite is the HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36. I am so impressed with this product. After application, your skin has a natural tint to hide impurities and you don’t need much makeup after applying. Now I’m ready for the day!
Routine #3: Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist
Before I get out of bed, I set an intention for the day. Then, I make tea. I am currently into Revolution Tea's Organic Earl Grey Green Tea.
I wash my face with a gentle physical exfoliator. I am currently using Schaf Skincare's Purifying Scrub. Made from lava particles from France and bamboo beads, combined with African shea butter and hyaluronic acid, it gently polishes away dead skin cells and leaves my skin hydrated and moisturized.
I follow this with an antioxidant. I am currently loving Isdinceutics Flavo-C Ultraglican Ampoules. The sealed tinted glass ampules protect the vitamin C from exposure to air and light, to keep its antioxidant properties potent. The hyaluronic acid and proteoglycans make the formulation very hydrating. The texture is light and the subtle fragrance is clean and refreshing.
Then, I moisturize. I am currently using H2O My God Water Moisturizer from GoodJanes. This rich cream hydrates and moisturizes with dimethicone, squalane, safflower seed oil, argan kernel oil and glycerin. Licorice, daisy and rose extracts provide additional skin-soothing properties. It also contains anti-aging peptides, vitamin C and plant stem cell extracts with potent antioxidant properties. I love that it's vegan and cruelty-free.
I apply Revision Skincare's Intellishade TruPhysical tinted moisturizer with Broad-Spectrum SPF 45. It's a physical blocker with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and I like the lightweight consistency and coverage. I finish with Brush On Block powdered sunscreen, which I also use for re-applications and touch-ups. It absorbs excess oil, so it serves a dual purpose as both a finishing powder and sun protection.
Routine #4: Dr. Caren Campbell, a board-certified dermatologist
Over a year ago, I took control over my morning routine. I do not see patients before 10 a.m. so that I can use this time for self-care to show up as the best version of myself for my patients and staff.
I wake up at 6 a.m. after getting at least 8 hours of sleep (I am someone that NEEDS sleep to show up as my best self!) I then wash my face, brush my teeth and make coffee. By 6:30 a.m., I usually practice a quadrinity check meditation that I learned from The Hoffman Process. This meditation checks in with the 4 aspects of YOU: intellect (what am I thinking?) body (how am I physically feeling?) emotional self (am I happy, sad, etc.?) and spiritual self (aka your intuition or gut.) Knowing where I stand in all four aspects of myself before my day has even started is essential to starting the day off on the right foot!
Then, I will either go for a run, hop on my Peloton® or go to my gym for a 45-minute upper body, full body or lower body workout. I go three days of the week for lifting.
I get home and do 10 minutes of breathing work. I sometimes incorporate a visioning meditation from Gabby Bernstein or Joe Dispenza. I then will read for 30 minutes or journal, depending on how I am feeling. I go to therapy one to two times per month in the mornings when I am fresh and open to feedback.
I then pick up an Acai bowl or smoothie and coconut milk cappuccino (perfect drink to toss in some Collagen Peptides!) on my way to work and GO! I see patients without any breaks from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. This is why my morning belongs to me.
Routine #5: Liz Sprinkle, founder of Love Always, Liz CBD
I begin every morning by taking my dachshund, Bodhi, for a quick walk while drinking my first cup of black coffee. After that, I'll come in and take a variety of supplements with 16 oz. of water to jumpstart my digestion and water intake.
For a daily boost, I take one of Love Always, Liz's CBD capsules and a women's probiotic. I also take a dose of Love Always, Liz's 1200mg CBD oil tincture to help me focus on my to-do list for the day.
Since I work from home, I always put on a face mask and Pixi DetoxifEYE eye patches on while I get business odds and ends taken care of. Before washing my face and going through a quick 5-minute skincare routine, I always put on tinted facial sunscreen to help protect my skin.
I've been religiously intermittent fasting for about two years now, so no breakfast for me! I try to hit a quick fasted workout before I eat around noon with a serving of Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides in warm water.
Routine #6: Joey Healy, celebrity brow specialist and founder of Joey Healy Eyebrow Studio
I listen to meditation music all night when I sleep, which makes a huge difference when waking up in the morning. I also take melatonin before bedtime so I can sleep thoroughly throughout the night. I don't toss and turn anymore and that really helps. I am a late riser, 9 a.m.! My store doesn't open until 11 a.m., so that time works perfectly well for me.
The first thing I do in the morning is play with my cat, Mascara, who sleeps with me! Then, I make an apple cider vinegar elixir and I take that with my vitamins. It's made of apple cider vinegar, honey, lemon, cayenne pepper and cinnamon. I take it every morning!
After that, I make a three-shot latte. Then I partake in twenty minutes of French lessons! I've been learning French for ten years and I work on it every day. I attempt to do the twenty minutes a day before I get in the shower. I shower and then I do my skincare routine, which includes JH20, my new refreshing mist.
Routine #7: Sarah Mirsini, founder of MASK
I like to start my mornings with no phone and no TV for at least 15 minutes or so. On days I am not that busy, I go for 30. I meditate and breathe to start my day off peacefully and I always set an intention, even if it's a small one.
On certain days, I do yoga or Pilates, but I prefer to work out in the afternoon. Then, it's time to shower! I try to wash my hair every other or third day, but I exfoliate every single morning with PCA Daily Exfoliant.
Then, I prep my skin for the day with one of my MĀSKs. If I am going to a meeting or an interview, I always do Luminouss, but my go-to is Spotless. I know you're not supposed to have a favorite child, but this formula is so special to me.
My makeup routine is very simple: a light foundation, eyebrows and some highlighter. I do my lashes as my own are so short and light. I always have a green juice in the morning on an empty stomach before I hop on the train to Manhattan. And every morning, I listen to a podcast to educate myself on topics I am passionate about.
Routine #8: Jenny Patinkin, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Lazy Perfection
My husband always gets out of bed before I do, so I take a few minutes alone to focus my brain and set some intentions for the day.
As soon as I get up, I make my bed. I don't feel organized if my bedroom is messy, even if I don't go back into it until bedtime. I start every day by wiping away the remnants of last night's skincare products with my new Jenny Patinkin Organic Bamboo Reusable Cosmetics Rounds. They are super soft but also give a light exfoliation and bring circulation into my skin.
I can usually keep my makeup really simple because I work from home, but I change it up all the time because I'm a professional makeup artist and experimenting is fun! A typical look for me would be something like applying the Ilia True Skin Serum Concealer under my eyes, around my nose and on my chin. Then, I draw a thick slightly flicked line of liner with Mineral Fusion eyeliner in Rough. I curl my lashes with my Jenny Patinkin Rose Gold Lash Curlerand apply two coats of W3ll People Beauty mascara. If I have the energy, I might also fill in my brows. And of course, I only use brushes from my own Jenny Patinkin Luxury Vegan Makeup Brush collection.
I do intermittent fasting until noon, but I sip on hot lemon and ginger tea or sparkling water for the rest of the morning.