My Skincare Routine at 40

This is probably one of the most requested posts and to be honest I’ve always resisted doing it. The main reason is because I KNOW my skincare routine is overly complicated and convoluted. The other reason is that I feel like it changes so frequently. I LOVE skincare products and when part of your job is trying out all the new stuff it’s natural to constantly be switching things up. Hello my name is Nicole and I am a face goo addict.

With turning 40 this month I’ve had so many people admit to me they don’t do much for their skin beyond wash it and maybe use a moisturizer. SO, for the first time, I’m going to breakdown what I do- at least today as a newly minted 40 year old. I reserve the right to change it next week though lol.

My plan is to share my AM and PM routine essentials and then list the “extras.” Basically, the things I like to mix in but are not REALLY necessary. That way it’s a truthful reflection of what I ACTUALLY do while still providing a more basic framework for a normal person who doesn’t have a shopping problem.

Morning Skincare Routine

• Wash Face
  • Boscia Gel Cleanser – this has been amazing for my skin and is very gentle.
  • PMD Clean Rose Quartz – I absolutely love this thing! I didn’t think I needed the rose quartz feature but it’s so nice- it feels like a hot stone massage on your face. If you can spring for this version it’s worth it, otherwise the regular one is awesome, too.
• Apply Sunday Riley CEO Afterglow Vitamin C Moisturizer – I fee like this gives my skin a really nice glow. If you want something without actives I also love Earth Harbor Mermaid Milk

Nighttime Skincare Routine

• Wash – double cleansing if I’m wearing makeup (directions in next section)
  • Earth Harbor Sunshine Dew – This is my go to. I also really like the Elemis Cleansing Balm if you want something thicker.
  • Makeup Eraser to remove remaining Makeup
  • PMD Clean RQ and Boscia Gel Cleanser – same as in the morning
• If my skin is dull and needs exfoliated I use Sand and Sky Enzyme Powder Polish – this removes some of the dead skin etc without harsh abrasives. If I don’t use that I will use the Elemis Facial Resurfacing Pads nightly.
• ELF Lip exfoliator Scrub if needed
• Sunday Riley A+ Retinol Serum
  • A word on actives- My skin is sensitive and I can’t pile on actives. So if I feel there’s another issue I want to address I use one of these IN PLACE of the retinol. I know some people can use multiple at once but my skin can’t handle it. If I was only able to afford one though the A+ retinol is my top choice. It’s absolutely reduced my fine lines and improved my skin texture.
  • If my skin is dull and needs brightening I will use the Sunday Riley Vitamin C Serum
  • 1-2 times week I rotate in Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Serum
• Clarins Double Eye Serum– this is my favorite of all the eye serums I’ve tried. If you want something specifically for dark circles though the Ren Brightning Dark Circle Eye Cream is amazing.
• Hylauronic Acid Serum- I’ve been using Laneige Water Bank. I also really like Sand and Sky Emu Apple Drops.
• Sunday Riley Luna Oil– can use the PMD Rose Quartz stone side with this
• Nighttime moisturizer- I have a BUNCH but I always come back to the Ren Overnight Recovery balm. I like my face to be super greasy at night lol.
  • A few nights a week I rotate in an overnight mask instead- I like the Laneige Water mask and Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair – honestly this is probably overkill but I love skincare so it makes me happy.
• On my lips I use the Laneige Sleeping Mask every night without fail.
• For body lotion I use Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream after my shower. I like that it doesn’t leave that slimy lotion feeling because it absorbs quickly. It smells heavenly and it’s awesome for dry winter legs.

How to Double Cleanse

I did want to go into more detail about double cleansing because it’s made such a positive difference for my skin. I will tell anybody who asks that they need to be double cleansing lol. In truth, I would actually call what I do triple cleansing because there are 3 steps.

1. Apply oil cleanser to your DRY face using your fingers. Massage it into your face removing make up. Wet fingers with water and massage face again. I repeat this with a little more water then rinse my face thoroughly. Some people like to wipe their face with a wash cloth before rinsing.
2. Use a wet makeup eraser to wipe any remaining makeup off. I especially focus on making sure all my eye makeup is off.
3. Wash face with gel or cream cleanser. I use it with my PMD clean but you can also just use your hands. Then rinse thoroughly. My favorite Gel cleanser is from Boscia and my favorite Cream Cleanser is from Sunday Riley. In my opinion this is just a personal preference thing- both are awesome.

Weekly/Periodic Skincare Items

• I dermaplane with Tinkle Eyebrow razors around once a week or so. Basically when I start to feel the little hairs growing back because I like the way my makeup looks without them.
• I love my PMD Microderm tool but honestly I forget to use it most of the time and only end up doing it every other week or so.

And there you have it- all the products I stuff I use on my face. Like I said, I’ll probably find something else in a week that I love lol. But at least I have something in writing I can reference you guys to when you ask!