Skincare for 40+

[abs]

If you are over 40 what does your routine look like? Favorite products?

My skin is looking so dull with red splotches. I’m ready to try something new and would love product recommendations! Today is Ulta’s 10x point day so I plan on ordering there.

[redheadbaker]

I just turned 40. Here's what I do, though I am by no means an expert (if anyone wants to critique, feel free).

In the morning, I wash with Cos RX Low pH Good Morning cleanser.

Then apply Banila Hi Bye Clean Up Toner, then Hanskin Hyaluron Skin Essence, then Benton Snail Bee Ultimate Serum and Cos RX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream, and then Philosophy Ultimate Miracle Worker Moisturizer.

Twice a week, I use Tian C-source Vitamin C after the essence.

At night, I wash with Banila Clean It Zero, then Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, and repeat with the toner, essence, serums and moisturizer.

[ohgillian]

I really like Paula's Choice stuff.

Morning:
Wash with either Cetaphil or coconut oil.
Resist Advanced Replenishing Toner
Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (except on my nose)
Resist Advanced Pore-Refining Treatment 4% BHA (on my nose)
Resist Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum -- it's a hydraleuric acid, I'm sure I spelled that wrong.
Hydralight Shine-Free Mineral Complex SPF 30 moisturizer


Evening:

Same, except that instead of the Hydralight moisturizer, I use the following:
Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol


All of this is Paula's Choice except the Cetaphil and coconut oil.

ETA: Looking at that it seems really time consuming but it's like 3 minutes, tops.

[tiramisu]

My skincare routine is a bit advanced and honestly ridiculous. I have dry skin, for reference. I'd say the top things are to make sure you're hydrating your skin properly, using calming ingredients, and using things that help your skin cells turn over well.

I wash daily with Paula's Choice (PC): skin recovery cleanser in the morning, oil cleanser at night. Sometimes oil cleanser morning and night. Then the Resist toner.

Followed by PC 2% BHA lotion or occasionally 8% AHA gel (1-2x/week). 2-3 nights a week, instead I'll use PC 0.3% retinol 2% bakuchiol, and then I skip chemical exfoliants.

Next step for daytime is mixing a hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid, azelaic acid, peptides, Drunk Elephant Vitamin C serum, and a facial oil. At night I leave out the Vitamin C and on nights I use the retinol, I skip any other actives.

Top that with PC skin recovery antioxidant serum, then for daytime I'm using a PC SPF 30 moisturizer (it's in the coral-ish colored tube) and at night I'm using the skin recovery moisturizer.

[tiramisu]

Right ohgillian? It takes longer to type out than to do!

[ohgillian]

tiramisu, I've wondered if I would benefit from adding a Vitamin C serum. Was there any concern in particular that prompted you to add that to your routine? Other than blackheads I'm not unhappy with my skin, but I'm open to new ideas.

[tiramisu]

Sept 22, 2020 13:34:10 GMT -5 ohgillian said:

tiramisu, I've wondered if I would benefit from adding a Vitamin C serum. Was there any concern in particular that prompted you to add that to your routine? Other than blackheads I'm not unhappy with my skin, but I'm open to new ideas.

I did it for anti-aging, sun damage, and general brightness. I'm not sure if it's making much of a difference, but my skin does overall look fairly glowy. It hasn't eliminated the small amount of melasma I have, though.

[mrsukyankee]

I have found that snail stuff works wonders for calming redness. And definitely need to use a higher SPF as you get older as sun rays seem to make the redness worse and higher SPF keeps that at bay.

[bluestreet]

Nighttime—
Just started using the PMD cleanser (a glorified silicone vibrator brush). Game changer! Before that I double cleansed, but now I don’t feel like I need to.

Serum of choice (CosRx snail, Paula’s Choice calming toner, or whatever to put some moisture in before cream)

Alternate between Paulas Choice resist moisturizer with retinol or Paulas Choice Calm BHA followed by a moisturizer without any actives (eg, Embryiollese or Weleda Skin Food.

Morning I use a whatever cream I’m enjoying followed by Elta tinted sunscreen. Then makeup. If I’m not going to be outside I’ll just use Nars Tinted Moisturizer with spf (I know I should use actual sunscreen, but oh well).

Then I spend money at least once or twice a year to get some sort of laser or micro needling at a medspa. Makes such a noticeable difference. But it’s hard to budget for. IPL deals come up and you can get a session for $50.

[eb777888]

I'm 43 and have dry skin, very dry skin. In the morning I rinse with water and use Cetaphil moisturizing cream and Aveeno moisturizing sunscreen. At night I use Belief, the whole system- face wash, toner, moisturizer, eye mask and face mask. It's the best thing I've tried, I LOVE it. I also have to drink a ton of water to stay hydrated.

[eb777888]

Oops, lol, I thought I was on Married Life!

[qwerty]

I have combo skin and I like the Kiehls calendula products. I use the face wash, toner and moisturizer. I have yet to find an eye cream that really works for me.

[mila]

Side note- if you work from home all day, do you still apply SPF?

[eb777888]

Dec 27, 2020 18:25:34 GMT -5 mila said:

Side note- if you work from home all day, do you still apply SPF?

I just put it on every day as part of my routine. I cannot tell you the last day I never left the house, though? Just to take out the trash, take the dog for a walk, etc, I leave the house at some point. I also think that if I don't make it routine, I'll stop applying it every day. 

[tiramisu]

Dec 27, 2020 18:25:34 GMT -5 mila said:

Side note- if you work from home all day, do you still apply SPF?

You're exposed to UV rays even through your windows, so I always think it's good to do.

[sporky]

Dec 27, 2020 18:25:34 GMT -5 mila said:

Side note- if you work from home all day, do you still apply SPF?

Labmuffin did a great science-backed blog on the whole "sunscreen indoors" debate-

labmuffin.com/should-you-wear-sunscreen-indoors-an-analysis-with-video/

Long story short, it depends on your own situation at home. I do not wear it if I'm inside all day.

[mrsukyankee]

Dec 27, 2020 18:25:34 GMT -5 mila said:

Side note- if you work from home all day, do you still apply SPF?

Most days that I go outside for any period of time, I wear SPF 50 - I walk the dog, go for a walk or go to shops (so outside) most days. When it's pouring down rain or I'm working from home and it's very sunny out, I wear SPF 30 (I have my desk near a window). When I'm not going outside and it's grey outside, then I wear a moisturiser with SPF 20-30. So, I guess I wear some form of SPF all the time. I don't see a bad side to wearing it just in case.

[konapoppy]

Would any of you like 15% off to dermstore? Good until Jan 31

[mila]

Dec 31, 2020 15:46:55 GMT -5 konapoppy said:

Would any of you like 15% off to dermstore? Good until Jan 31

Me!!!!

[treedimensional]

I wear full makeup most days, it contains SPF, and use remover at night, then wash in the morning. Sometimes I moisturize around my eyes if it feels dry after washing. Not much of a routine here.

[VillainV]

Morning:

- Cleanse
- Toner
- Eye cream and moisturizer with SPF (sometimes I’ll do an under eye cream too)
- Minimal makeup

Evening:
- Remove makeup
- Cleanse
- Toner
- Night cream

I don’t always use the same products. I haven’t really found any that I feel work “better” than any of the others, but some of them I like using more than the others.

I don’t currently use any serums because I had a weird skin reaction a few months ago and went back to just my basic routine.

ETA: Yes, I wear sunscreen every day. For one, I live in FL and am outside every day (sometimes for just a few minutes at a time). Also, it’s easier for me to just use the same product every day and not think about if I’m going to be mostly inside or outside. If I KNOW I’ll be outside for a specific activity (like an outdoor walk or bike ride) I apply specific sunscreen to my face/neck/arms/shoulders. My dermatologist recommended this.