How This Esthetician Turned Skincare Line CEO Nourishes Herself in the Mornings

What's the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning? A well-rounded morning routine sets the tone for the day and gets you prepped—both mentally and physically—before diving into a packed schedule filled with emails, chores, happy hours, workouts, and more. Our series Morning Person profiles those who have mastered the art of the morning routine.

Tune in every Monday morning here and on our Instagram to learn exactly how the pros get it all done before the sun comes up, from their go-to breakfasts to their a.m. workouts.

Leave it to Tami Blake, a licensed esthetician turned founder of the clean-skincare line Free + True, to say that the key to putting your best foot (and frankly, face) forward in the morning is to start the night before.

Blake has made a career of helping her clients achieve good skin health, and her active skincare line, which is made from locally grown botanicals and other clean ingredients, is a result of years of expertise and passion in this field. But her number one tip for getting radiant skin? Getting a good night’s sleep.

Keep reading to see how this esthetician nourishes her skin, mind, and spirit at the start of every day.

10:30 P.M. the Night Before

To have a great day, I start the night before. As an esthetician, my clients always ask me what they can do to have beautiful skin. My best piece of advice is to get a good night’s sleep. Your skin regenerates and rebuilds while you sleep, and sleep is critical for good skin health. There is simply nothing like waking up refreshed. I keep my phone in another room overnight. This practice ensures that I don’t waste precious time scrolling before I go to bed or first thing after waking up.

6 A.M. the Next Morning

After getting out of bed, my first order of business is meditation. I sit for 15 minutes in my backyard in silence with only the sound of water. (We are lucky enough to have a water feature.) If I’m feeling it, I’ll infuse a homemade essential oil blend of two parts lavender, one part peppermint, and one part rose geranium to enhance my practice and promote mental clarity.

Meditating allows me to quiet my mind, listen to the universe, and connect with Mother Nature. I juggle a lot during the day, and meditation has been a game changer for me as it keeps me calm and self-aware throughout the day.

6:40 A.M.

Then, it’s time for my a.m. skincare routine. I love starting off with a gua sha facial massage using Pro Rose Quartz Stone by CBJ Beauty Secrets. and Freedom Fighter Face Oil. Gua sha promotes healthy lymph flow while tightening and toning the skin. With regular, consistent use, the results are phenomenal. 

Then, I apply my skincare. 

Step 1: Cleanse with Marigold Morning Creamy Gel Cleanser.

Step 2: Hydrate with Ramblin Rose Hydrating Serum.

Step 3: Protect with our new Vitamin C serum called Bright Side. (It just launched this month!) It’s a potent formula that I’m super proud of and provides amazing results by brightening, evening out skin tone, and promoting collagen production! 

I’ve always been a fan of a bare face, so most days, I’ll just apply a little tinted sunscreen from UnSun and Li Whip from Kari Gran and be done with it.

7 A.M.

Next, I head to the kitchen. Each morning, I make a superfood latte to nourish my body. I whisk eight superfoods together into almond milk (the Whole Foods 365 brand is my favorite) over the stove and heat.

My husband is a chef, and over the past few years, we’ve been working hard to develop our own line of ingestible beauty and nutrition products. Stay tuned for more this year! My latte gives me the perfect nutrition to keep me going all day long. Then I head out the door.

8:30 A.M.

Before I get started with my workday, I make time for a little movement. I have recently fallen in love with roller-skating. It’s my happy place, and it’s great exercise, too! I lace up my Moxi roller skates and do a few laps around the office parking lot before I start my workday.

9 A.M. 

Now that my mind, body, spirit, soul, and skin are nourished, it’s time to get to work. Thank you for tagging along with me. Have a beautiful day!

Up next: Why This Founder Turned Her Haircare and Morning Routines Into Self-Care Rituals