Safer Skincare at 40 – My Daily Routine

I must really like you guys because I’m keeping it bare-faced and real today.  Many of you have asked me to share more information about ‘skincare as you age’ within the safer beauty world.  So yeah, let’s talk about it!

First off, I hate the term “anti-aging”.

I feel like it’s just so negative.  I’d personally like to see the skincare industry make a huge shift in that regard because I honestly believe our skincare goals should always be about putting our best face forward no matter what our age.  And I just don’t buy into the idea that our best face is our 20 year old face.  I think we grow more beautiful as we journey through life….she says after having turned 40 last October.  😉  (Shoutout to all my 1978 girls!)

I’m not anti-aging.  I’m anti-sun damage, anti-hormonal breakouts and anti-dehydrated-dull skin.

I’m absolutely for radiant, smooth, hydrated, well-nourished, healthy, happy skin!  I’m for reversing the damage we did to our skin when we sunbathed without sunscreen in our youth.   (Or was that just me and my dumb, young self?)

I believe that what we put on our skin should be just as clean and safe and crud-free as what we eat.

But in keeping it 100% real with you all, at the age of 40 I also want my skincare routine to be effective.  Thankfully Beautycounter checks all my boxes.  Beautycounter is known for saying “Beauty should be good for you”, and I’ve absolutely found that to be true since I switched to using all Beautycounter skincare products a few years ago.  Who knew ditching the toxic chemicals and switching to safer skincare products would produce better results?!  My skin has never, not even in my 20’s, looked more clear and healthy than it does now.  Back in the day I never would have even considered leaving the house without makeup on because my skin was so uneven and blotchy.  It didn’t even matter that I was wrinkle-free back then because I would often reapply foundation and powder in the middle of the day just to cover up my uneven skin.  Since switching to Beautycounter I’ve felt so much more confident in my bare face.  And honestly, my one regret is that didn’t make the switch sooner.

I’m always tweaking and reevaluating what skincare products I’m using, but this is my current line up heading into my 40’s.  The older I get, the more products I use.  What can I say, it takes a village.  😉

My Daytime Regimen

I try to keep my daytime skincare regimen as bare bones as possible because I rarely have more than 30 minutes to get myself ready for the day.

1. My morning starts with a quick cleanse using this Charcoal Cleansing Bar.  For years I suffered from hormonal breakouts (monthly – oh the joys of being a woman), and since I started using this bar three years ago breakouts are no longer a regular thing for me.  Insert praise hands.  Sure I will occasionally get a random blemish from time to time (thank you stress and halloween candy), but it’s no longer a monthly thing.  This Charcoal Bar keeps my skin clear but never dries it out.  And by the way this one bar typically lasts about 5 months with twice daily use!    
2. After cleansing I spritz on this Brightening & Vitamin C Mist.  I use this in place of a toner.  Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants, helps to boost collagen and reduces the appearance of age spots (helps to counteract the sins of my youth ~ my regrettable unprotected days in the hot, summer sun).
3. Next I use the No. 2 Plumping Facial Oil (just one or two drops during the day) which is a blend of 7 natural oils, including jasmine that replenishes moisture and omega-rich argan oil that helps minimize the appearance of fine lines. This blend is great for moisturizing and combating the loss of elasticity.  *Little tip ~ Apply oils while your skin is still damp for deeper moisturization.
4. And last before makeup, right now I’m using the Rejuvenating Night Cream as my daytime moisturizer.  Yes, I’m using a night cream during the day.  I just prefer a cream to a lotion these days.  The night cream feels a little more moisturizing than the daytime lotion, and in the winter months my skin feels like it could use that extra boost of moisture.  This cream really locks in the moisture, and it’s very special ingredient, jambu extract also called spilanthes acmella is known as “nature’s botox” as it targets lines and wrinkles by reducing muscle tension.  If you’re wondering about sunscreen, the first step in my makeup routine is to use the Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer which has an SPF 20.  While it’s technically a moisturizer I classify it as makeup because it’s tinted. Daily sunscreen is the best defense against wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and loss of firmness.

You may notice my daytime routine doesn’t include an eye cream.  I feel like my makeup doesn’t stay on as well when I use an eye cream during the day, so I only use an eye cream at night.

My Evening Regimen

This is when the big guns come out.  😉  My evening routine is a little more involved, and has become a nightly ritual I truly enjoy.  It’s my daily self-care, and I never ever skip it.

1. I remove my makeup with the Cleansing Balm.  Coconut oil is what I used to use, but after finally trying this balm that everyone raves about last year I got hooked!  One jar has lasted for 5 months, and I still have half a jar left!  This balm has many uses besides removing makeup.  I occasionally use it as an overnight night mask when my skin is feeling like it needs a boost of hydration.
2. I don’t necessarily have to follow up with the Charcoal Cleansing Bar after using the Cleansing Balm, but I always do.  I just love that bar so much!  It may be a totally un-necessary step, but sometimes you just have to do what works for you.  😉  And double cleansing in the evening is my jam. Especially because with Beautycounter your skin feels refreshed and nourished after cleansing rather than tight and dry.  They don’t use sulfates in their cleansers like a lot of conventional brands do.  Sulfates strip the natural oils from your skin often leaving that really tight almost painful feeling after washing your face.  Beautycounter’s cleansers are not like that at all; your skin actually feels really great after cleansing!
3. I follow cleansing with a light misting. See above for all this wonder mist does.
4. Then I alternate every other night between using the No. 2 Plumping Facial Oil and the Overnight Resurfacing Peel.  As you might remember the Overnight Resurfacing Peel was on my 2018 Favorites List, and I have referred to that product on more than one occasion as a skincare game changer.  It is literally that good.  This overnight peel is formulated with 15 botanically-derived acids that improve skin texture, minimize the appearance of pores, fine lines and dark spots.  It clears away dull surface skin cells and soothes and nourishes to reveal a brighter-looking complexion.
5. In the evening I gently pat on the Rejuvenating Eye Cream with my ring finger.  Good things come in small packages guys.  And this eye cream is one of them!   It contains algae extract which has incredible therapeutic benefits for the delicate skin around the eyes, plus that powerhouse jambu extract I mentioned above.
6. If using the Peel, I wait 5 minutes before applying the Rejuvenating Night Cream.  If I’m using the facial oil I apply the moisturizer right away.
7. Last but not least I end my evening routine with the Lip Conditioner.  I used to get terrible chapped lips.  They would get so dry and peely (is that even a word?) that they would crack and bleed.  (TMI?)  This lip conditioner has been such a relief.  No more chapped lips for me.   It’s also great to use on cuticles.

Whew, it’s an arsenal, but you gotta do what you gotta do.  #thisis40  😉

Skincare tip ~ Massage Your Face

Surely you’ve heard that boosting collagen is the most important thing you can to do keep your skin looking vibrant and plump.  As we age our body produces less collagen.  How rude right?  😉  Well did you know that massaging your face can actually stimulate collagen production?  So simply taking a few extra minutes to massage your products into your skin can be beneficial.  Also helpful ~ using a facial roller.  Use one to massage your moisturizer into your face to improve lymphatic drainage, blood circulation and skin’s elasticity.

But What About Retinol?

This is a question I get a lot as retinol is touted by many conventional skincare brands as being the end-all-be-all for combatting lines and wrinkles.  Retinyl palmitate and Retinol (Vitamin A) are on Beautycounter’s Never List ~ a list made up of more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals that they will never use as ingredients in their products.  Research has shown that retinol may damage DNA and speed the growth of skin tumors when used topically.  However if you look deeper into this research you’ll see that the real issue is when retinol is exposed to sunlight.  So using a retinol product at night may be okay.  Although there are some experts that believe so long as you’re wearing sunscreen it’s fine to wear retinol during the day.  This is one ingredient you kind of have to make a judgment call on in terms of whether you feel confident in using it in your skincare routine.

Beautycounter goes above and beyond to screen rigorously and select ingredients with the highest safety standards.  And I appreciate how dedicated they are to bringing safe, but effective products to the market.  I’ve personally not used a retinol based product in many years and have not felt like I’m missing out on anything.

What I Will Be Adding To My Arsenal Very Soon

While I won’t be adding retinol to my routine, I will be adding this Rejuvenating Radiance Serum to my daytime routine very soon.  All of the “skincare experts” say serums are the new black for women in their 40’s.  I’ll be sure to report back to let you know what I think.  😉

Quick Summary

• You don’t need all the toxic crud to get good skincare results.
• The Rejuvenating Line from Beautycounter is an amazingly effective safer skincare line that firms, nourishes and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• You may want to do a little research of your own before using retinol.
• Skincare is healthcare, and beauty should be good for you!

Interested in Beautycounter but not sure where to start?

Skincare is not a one size fits all kind of thing.  However, I do believe that everyone is better served by using products that are free from harmful chemicals.  If you’ve been wanting to try Beautycounter but have been hesitant about where to start, I suggest taking the skincare quiz to find out which products are the right fit for your skin’s needs.

Right now is the perfect time to make the switch to safer skincare because Beautycounter’s skincare regimens are all on sale PLUS you get to choose one of these three free gifts with your purchase ~ The Cleansing Balm, Overnight Resurfacing Peel or the Charcoal Mask!

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