The Absolute Game-Changers for my Over-40 Skin
Here's what really made the biggest changes in my (re)glow-up.
The biggest game-changer that brought on positive changes in my skin after I made it through the roughest bout of burnout a girl could fathom was actually being able to stick to any sort of skincare routine with consistency. There’s a reason for the saying “Consistency is key.” You cannot expect big changes with small, inconsistent efforts. It’s been almost a full year that I’ve had a super-consistent skincare routine, literally never missing a morning or an evening, and it definitely shows. And since I like to come with receipts, see the comparison below:
But if I had to start all over from scratch tomorrow, here are the top things that I would do from day 1.
1. Double-Cleanse
The first time I double-cleansed I saw its magic. Even if you are really giving your skin a good scrub with one cleanser, I promise you, it’s not enough. Before I got serious about my skincare regime, I would cleanse with a gentle cleanser and maybe follow up with a couple of swipes of micellar water on a cotton ball. My face was never truly cleansed. I know this because the micellar water cotton balls always looked like there was a ton of product on them, even when my face was “clean.” When I discovered the magic of double-cleansing, first with an oil-based cleanser like this one, and second with a gentle foaming cleanser like this one, I never looked back. The oil-based cleanser removes all the makeup, setting spray, sunscreen, pollution from the day, and whatever else might be hanging out on the surface. The foam cleanser really cleans deep down in your pores. I take my time with my double-cleansing; about a full minute on each step. Trust me. Skincare products can penetrate more deeply, pores do not get clogged, and makeup lays so much more nicely on a double-cleansed face.
2. Daily Exfoliation
I grew up in the St. Ives Apricot Scrub era, trying to scrub away my acne as a teen and causing all sorts of problems to my skin barrier along the way. We learned that St. Ives meant well but we really damaged our skin with all of that daily exfoliant in the form of walnut shell bits. Because I was told over and over that daily exfoliation with a harsh physical exfoliant was damaging, I stayed away from all types of exfoliation for many, many years. This is also not good. We need to remove dead skin cells as our cells are turning over and producing new, beautiful ones. So I began to incorporate an extremely gentle BHA exfoliating toner, just once a week to begin building trust of exfoliators again. The toner is just liquid - not a walnut shell in sight! - and also contains other helpful ingredients that help calm and repair the skin. Gradually, I built up to twice a week, then three times a week, then once daily, and finally, twice daily (once in the morning, and once in the evening). When I got to the daily application phase, the difference in my skin was very clear. I was getting compliments almost daily about how smooth my skin looked, and I will never avoid exfoliating ever again.
3. Apply Toner
Speaking of toners, applying a soothing and moisturizing toner twice a day is also a game-changer. Flooding the skin with hydration and calming agents makes such an incredible difference. I never really got the hype with toners before. After my St. Ives era, I was a Proactiv girlie, and the toner I used in my little acne-fighting kit during that time did not seem to do much. Now, I understand that toning without double-cleansing is futile, and including it is key to bringing hydration back to the skin. It literally does what the name implies; it tones the skin, bringing a healthy pH level and reducing irritation.
4. Daily Sunscreen
I was embarrassingly late to the daily sunscreen game, and there’s no excuse for it. At the age of 42, it is a non-negotiable. Sun damage is the worst offender when it comes to making us look old and causing skin problems. I just never liked the way sunscreen felt and looked under my makeup. I learned that choosing the correct sunscreen, like this one, along with letting it sit for at least 3 minutes before applying any makeup was the key to making it work for me.
5. Two Washcloths per Day
Along with St. Ives Apricot Scrub, I also grew up in a time where Neutrogena commercials taught us that we had to splash gallons of water on our faces to remove cleanser, without a washcloth in sight, and completely soak our bathrooms. I don’t know why, but we were made to believe that using a washcloth was way too harsh for our skin and just splashing our faces to remove product was perfectly fine. What a time to be alive. On my quest for skincare knowledge, I learned that not only do we really need to be using gentle washcloths to remove cleansers, but we need to be using a clean washcloth each time. I bought a few packs of these super-soft face cloths and use one per skincare sesh. Not only has my face thanked me, but my mirrors and floorboards, as well.
6. A Good Supplement Lineup
Consistent skincare with high-quality products can get you far, but taking care of yourself from the inside-out is also one of the biggest game-changers. Besides prioritizing protein, fruits, and vegetables, there are a few supplements that I swear by, that have really helped my skin.
A really good multivitamin: If you’re an adult and you don’t take a multivitamin, just do it. In a perfect world, we’d get all the nutrition we need from our food, but let’s be real. We don’t live in a perfect world, and chances are there are some holes in your nutrition. You want to make sure you’re getting at least vitamins E, B, and D, and bonus points if your vitamin has Biotin and Chromium in it, as well, if you’re looking to improve your skin.
Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides: There’s been some slander, recently, regarding collagen peptides, and I won’t stand for it. The most recent research states that hydrolyzed collagen peptides improve skin hydration and elasticity, and reduce wrinkles. As we age, our bodies slow the production of collagen, so we need to be banking it.
Silica: Silica and collagen peptides go hand in hand. If collagen peptides are the building blocks for your skin, silica is the mortar that goes in between them. When paired together, they help create strong, healthy skin.
CoQ10: CoQ10 is a “free radical scavenger,” searching out free radicals and eliminating them from the body. As we age, we need antioxidants to literally prevent the oxidation of our cells, much like when metals rust from being exposed to pollutants and irritants.
Astaxanthin: Astaxanthin is a carotenoid that has a slew of health benefits, but for skin it is a powerful antioxidant that also provides UV protection. Since I have begun taking this supplement regularly, I have not gotten a sunburn. I do still wear sunscreen while outdoors, but I would almost always get a sunburn every summer before taking this supplement. It’s truly magical. For that reason, I’m a fan for life!
Resveratrol: Lastly, resveratrol is a great supplement that can help the skin with hyperpigmentation and inflammation, help brighten the skin, provide UV protection, and help prevent oxidative stress.
That’s it! If you are looking for small ways to tweak your skincare routine, consider adding in one of the options above. I promise that, with consistency, you will see a difference!
Happy glowing,
- L