Summer is just around the corner. How’s your skin doing? If your skincare routine is in need of a seasonal overhaul, these five tips can help you find the right warm-weather regimen.

This edition was originally published on July 21, 2022. Enjoy!

What you do first thing in the morning affects how the rest of your day goes. It’s true when it comes to choosing a coffee-only breakfast and it’s true for your skincare routine. Finding the right combination of products can get you out the door quickly and help you feel more confident, no matter how many meetings, errands or awkward encounters you have to deal with.

Pictured above is a sample daytime routine I follow for my acne-prone skin. All these products have helped improve the look and feel of my skin and are reasonably priced.

If you’re looking to build a better daytime skincare routine, these tips can help:

1. Consider how your skin changes throughout the day.

A good indicator of your skin type is what you see when you first look in the mirror in the morning. When I wake up, my skin is slick with oil and sometimes I find a new blemish or two. As the day progresses, my skin will typically get oily again by midday. Our skin reacts differently throughout the day, which determines which products we use in the morning to set us up for all-day comfort and glow. Lighter layers will keep oily skin comfortable all day. Sensitive skin that tends to redden or feel tight and dry may need richer products that protect the skin barrier from the elements.

2. Make your list of priorities.

Now that you’ve taken stock of your skin type and its specific needs, it’s time to think about what you want your skincare routine to accomplish. Do you deal with uneven texture or tone? How about blemishes or clogged pores? Are you trying to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles? As someone with acne-prone skin who also deals with hyperpigmentation, my daytime routine needs to be non-comedogenic and brightening. I stick to water-based formulas with ingredients like niacinamide and vitamin C while peptides are an excellent option for lines. Ignore the trends and choose products to address your concerns specifically to create an efficient routine.

3. Start with the key three.

There are three key steps to building a daytime skincare routine: Cleanse. Moisturize. Protect. If you only follow those three steps in the morning, you’re golden. Based on your skin type, cleansing may involve a face wash or just water. Your moisturizer can address several specific needs like tone, texture or acne control. And every skincare routine needs to end with sunscreen.

4. Strive for balance.

Your daytime skincare routine should complement your nighttime skincare routine. You don’t want to overdo it with actives during the day which can lead to increased sun sensitivity or irritation. So if you use ingredients like over-the-counter retinol or prescription tretinoin at night, your daytime routine should be more gentle—think antioxidants like vitamin C and hydrators like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. If you do decide to incorporate acids into your daytime routine like salicylic or lactic acid, start integrating them slowly.

5. Factor in the rest of your morning duties.

How much time do you want to spend on your skincare routine in the morning? Whether you have kids, pets or an addiction to the snooze button will all factor in how many steps you add to your routine on top of the key three. Eye patches, masks, ice rollers, toners, serums—add as much as you like but know you need to be able to stay consistent with your routine for at least three months to see results.

MIDDI is a weekly roundup of mid-priced beauty, fashion and home buys released every Monday. Have a product you’re searching for? Leave your suggestions in the comments.