Having written about beauty for a decade, here’s the morning routine I swear by for glowing skin

Start as you mean to go on.

I am a big believer in how you start your day sets the tone for the rest of it too. Meaning; I always like to make sure I do something healthy for both my skin and body first thing in the morning. I find that not only does this make me feel better, it also makes me look better, and feel better in my skin. And so after my alarm goes off at 6.45 am, I get into the kitchen and make a cup of hot lemon water. This habit is one I will never skip, not even on holidays, and on the rare occasion I have forgotten to buy lemons, I will substitute with a cup of green tea. Much is said and written about the benefits of drinking lemon water first thing, both for your digestion and the detoxing benefits, but I reckon the main benefit, for me, anyway, is that it is great to re-hydrate after a long night's sleep. As well as the actual health benefits, I love the quiet, slow ritual this has become in my mornings too. I don't wake my children up until after I have had my 20 minutes to myself, and honestly, I think this is great for all of us. I get to plan my day in peace while sipping on my lemon water, and my children get to wake up to a mum who is less stressed and ready to give them my full attention for the next hour until we have to leave the house. Another thing that has become my morning go-to and has made a serious difference to my skin is my Altrient Liposomal Vitamin C drinkable supplement. I take it straight from the little sachet, squeezed into a little bit of freshly squeezed orange juice, and I love knowing it is supporting my skin from the inside out. Since having used the Altrient Liposomal Vitamin C, I have noticed a real difference in my skin. It now feels smoother, tighter and far more glowing, and I am not about to stop taking these little miracle sachets anytime soon as part of my morning routine. The next thing I do is wash my face – something I never skip. If my skin feels dry, as it often does in winter, I will only use water and skip the cleanser altogether. In the summer months, however, when I sweat more and my skin is slightly less dry, I will often use a milk foam wash or my trusty Eve Lom cleanser first thing too, before applying any products to my face. I also find that a splash of cold water to my face is a great way to feel more awake, and give my skin that extra glow. Next, I apply The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA – and seriously, if you have been on the hunt for a really great, reasonably priced day cream that does what it promises, I cannot recommend this one enough. Packed with natural moisturizing factors like phospholipids, ceramides, and urea, this really is the best hydration money can buy – for only €7.95. I promise you will notice a difference in your skin pretty much immediately. The Essential Fatty Acids and Ceramides help repair the skins natural protective barrier and the amino acids will give your younger, firmer skin, as they help promote the production of collagen in the skin. If time allows, I also try to squeeze in a 15-minute yoga flow into my morning (YouTube is full of great videos and tutorials). Not only does the stretching make me feel more awake and ready to face my day, but yoga (and other exercises too) is great for getting your blood flowing, and bringing fresh blood into all the layers of your skin – including your face, resulting in fresher, more glowy skin – and if that is not worth the effort, I don't know what is.