My minimal morning routine for curly hair used to look very different. Getting ready used to take almost an hour. Skincare, hair, makeup, all of it stacked together before work, and it felt like a lot even on a good day. Things look different now. I work from home, but mornings are still full: getting my son ready for school, tutoring, keeping up with the blog. I needed a routine that actually fit into that, not one I had to carve out extra time for.
So I simplified. And honestly, my skin and hair have been better for it.
I stopped adding steps out of habit and started paying attention to what was actually working. Turns out, my skin and curls didn’t need more in the morning. They needed consistency and less interference. Now my routine is lighter, faster, and more intentional. This is what that looks like.
Why I Stopped Cleansing in the Morning
This was one of the first things I changed, and it made an immediate difference.
I used to cleanse morning and night because that’s what every routine guide seemed to recommend. But once I started paying closer attention, I noticed my skin felt tight and uncomfortable after my morning wash, especially in winter. I was stripping away moisture that my skin had been quietly rebuilding overnight, and then wondering why my face felt dry by noon.
Now I rinse with water in the morning and skip the cleanser entirely most days. If I feel like I need a gentle refresh, maybe after a sweaty night or when my skin just feels off, I’ll reach for micellar water. But that’s maybe once or twice a week, not every day. My skin has genuinely improved since I stopped cleansing twice a day out of habit. Less dryness, less tightness, less irritation.
The lesson: over-cleansing is a real thing, and dry skin in particular does not need it.
The Habit That Made More Difference Than Any Serum
Before I talk about products, I want to mention this because it genuinely surprised me: washing my pillowcase more often changed my skin more than adding any new product did.
When you use leave-in products or do scalp massages using oils, which I do regularly, some of that transfers onto your pillowcase. Even after washing your hair, even if you can’t see it, there’s buildup. And buildup on a pillowcase leads to breakouts, especially along the cheeks and jaw.
I now wash my full bedsheets once a week and my satin pillowcase two to three times a week. I know that sounds like a lot, but it made such a clear difference that I can’t argue with it. And the satin does double duty : it protects my curls from friction and frizz while I sleep, but it’s also genuinely good for your skin. Cotton pillowcases create friction that can press creases into your face overnight, and over time that contributes to sleep lines and wrinkles. Satin reduces that friction, so your skin stays smoother while you rest. One small swap that supports both your hair and your skin at the same time.
It’s one of those unglamorous habits that no one talks about because there’s nothing to buy, but it matters more than most people realize.
Minimal Morning Skincare for Dry Skin in Winter
Winter is when my dry skin shows up with full force, so my morning focus is purely on hydration and protection. No actives, no exfoliants, no complicated layering. Just moisture and SPF.
After rinsing my face, I apply the Garnier Hyaluron Barrier Repair Face Cream. This is my go-to winter day cream, it’s rich enough to actually feel hydrating but absorbs well enough that it doesn’t sit on top of my skin. If you’re in the US and can’t find it, the closest I’ve come across on Amazon is the Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream, same brand, different formula but still lightweight and hydrating for dry skin. If my skin is feeling particularly dry or tight that morning, I’ll sometimes layer a small amount of night cream underneath it first. That extra step takes about 30 seconds and makes a big difference on really cold days.
For my under-eye area, I use the Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream. I apply it very sparingly, a tiny amount is genuinely enough — and it keeps that area feeling comfortable without pilling under anything else I apply.
Then SPF. I use the Mixsoon Centella Sun Cream SPF 50+, and I’ll be honest, this is still the step I have to actively remind myself not to skip. If you’re in the US and can’t find it, the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Air-fit Suncream Plus is a very similar lightweight formula worth trying.
I finish with a lip oil because winter dryness is relentless and my lips always feel it first. That’s the whole skin routine — rinse, moisturize, protect. Five minutes, maybe less.
My Minimal Morning Routine for Curly Hair (2-Minute Reset)
Morning is not wash day. Mornings are for maintenance, not starting over.
I wake up, look at my braids or curls, and make a quick decision: do they look good enough to leave alone, or do they need a little attention? If my braids are neat, I put my hair up in a bun and move on. If things look messy, I redo the braid or smooth down the sections that need it. Either way, I lightly mist my hair with water — just enough to wake it up without soaking it — and then apply a very small amount of leave-in.
Right now I rotate between three leave-ins depending on what my hair seems to need that day: my most-reached-for is actually the L’Oréal Elseve Leave-In — if you’re in France, you probably know it well. For my readers outside France where it’s harder to find, the closest equivalent is the L’Oréal Elvive Dream Lengths, same line, different name depending on where you are. I also use the NOVEX My Curls leave in regularly (reallt defined and non voluminous curls), and the L’Oréal Hyaluron Repulp Leave-In on days when moisture is the priority.
What I stopped doing is layering multiple products in the morning. Honestly, I just don’t like the feeling of heavy hair — when it feels coated, or when I can smell my leave-in more than my own perfume, or when it looks and feels greasy. I like my hair to feel lightweight and clean, even on non-wash days. Less product in the morning is just more comfortable, and my curls actually look better for it too.
One product. A small amount. That’s it.
What I Look for in Products (And What I’ve Stopped Chasing)
I don’t follow strict all-natural rules. I’m not scared of ingredients that have long names. But I do prefer formulas that feel balanced, breathable, and uncomplicated — especially in winter when my skin can be more reactive and my scalp doesn’t tolerate heavy buildup well.
I’m drawn to products with high percentages of gentle, skin-supportive ingredients. Not out of fear or because I follow strict rules, but because I think it matters. It’s worth being intentional about what you put on your body regularly. It’s just a habit I’ve built over time.
When I was in the middle of my curly hair journey, growing out years of heat damage from daily straightening, I went through a phase of trying to follow other people’s routines. Someone would post their wash day and I’d think, maybe that’s what I’m missing. It took a while to trust my own hair enough to stop doing that.
Now, since starting this blog, I actually do try new products more often, that’s part of it, and I enjoy it. But I try to stay reasonable about it. If what I’m already using is working, I’m not going to throw it out for something shinier. I’ll experiment, but from a stable base, not from scratch every few weeks.
The Foundations That Matter More Than Products
Honestly, some of the things that have helped my skin and hair the most aren’t products at all.
I drink water first thing in the morning before coffee. I try to eat well most days, not perfectly, just mostly. I keep my sheets clean and my pillowcase washed regularly. I try to touch my curls less throughout the day. I prioritize sleep when I can.
None of these are exciting. None of them have affiliate links. But they’re the foundation, and without them, even the best products only go so far.
My Full Morning Essentials at a Glance
These are the products in my current routine, the ones I reach for regularly. I rotate slightly depending on the season and how my skin or curls feel, but these are the staples.
For Skin
- Garnier Face Cream — my everyday winter moisturizer
- Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream — under-eye hydration, used sparingly
- Centella SPF 50 — the step I’m committing to being more consistent about
- Avril Micellar Water – when needed
For Hair
And the non-product habit: satin pillowcase, washed frequently. Genuinely transformative.
Minimal Doesn’t Mean Perfect
There are mornings when I forget SPF. Mornings when my bun is a bit lopsided and I decide that’s fine. Mornings when I skip everything except rinsing my face because life is happening.
Minimal doesn’t mean flawless. It means deliberate. It means knowing what works for your skin and curls and sticking to it, while staying open to things that genuinely fit into that, not just adding for the sake of it.
Healthy skin and healthy curls don’t come from constant adjustment. They come from sustainable, stable habits you can actually keep doing, including the mornings when breakfast is already burning and everyone needs something at once.
If you’re also simplifying your routine, I hope this helps. And if you have a minimal morning habit that’s been working for you, I’d love to hear it.
You Might Also Like
If you’re simplifying your routine, these posts go deeper:
- My Simple Wash Day Routine for Long, Healthy Curls – The full reset routine I follow when it’s time to properly cleanse and hydrate.
- Why I Sleep on a Satin Pillowcase (And How It Transformed My Curls) – The small habit that made a bigger difference than another product.
- Winter Curl Care Guide – How I protect my curls when the air is dry and everything feels tighter.
Products Available in France
🇫🇷 Pour mes lecteurs en France
Certains produits que je mentionne sont plus faciles à trouver en France ou ont une version française.
Voici mes liens directs pour vous simplifier la vie !
Soin du visage :
- Garnier Hyaluron Barrier Repair Face Cream
- Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream
- Mixsoon Centella Sun Cream SPF 50+
Soin des cheveux :
Mention légale : Cet article contient des liens affiliés. Si vous achetez via mes liens, je perçois une petite commission, sans frais supplémentaires pour vous. Je ne recommande que des produits que j’utilise et apprécie sincèrement.
