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Skincare for skin over 40, from someone who reviews it for a living
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items A realistic skincare routine for skin over 40: gentle cleansers that don't strip, hydration that sits well under makeup, vitamin C and niacinamide for tone, retinol for fine lines, and a daily sunscreen to protect all of it. It's grouped so you can s...
I'm a Gold Amazon Influencer with 1,100+ product review videos, a lot of them in beauty, and a mom of three, so I spend my week comparing formulas, reading the complaints and working out what's worth the money. I haven't used every product here mysel...
Contains affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
I'm a Gold Amazon Influencer with 1,100+ product review videos, a lot of them in beauty, and a mom of three, so I spend my week comparing formulas, reading the complaints and working out what's worth the money. I haven't used every product here mysel...
Contains affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission at no cost to you.
Sections
4
The gentle basics
Serums for tone and texture
Retinol, started slowly
Sunscreen and the extras
The gentle basics
Cleansers, hydration and moisturisers. Start here before adding anything stronger.
A non-foaming cleanser with ceramides and hyaluronic acid that cleans without leaving skin tight. A safe base for any routine, and the 16 oz bottle lasts months. If you wear long-wear makeup or a lot of SPF, you may want an oil cleanser first.
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, 16 oz
A creamy, fragrance-free cleanser for skin that has got drier or more reactive with age. It works well as the evening cleanse. It's gentle, so it won't fully shift long-wear makeup on its own.
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Cleanser
A cheap hydrating serum to pat onto damp skin before moisturiser, morning and night. The current version includes ceramides. Always seal it in with a moisturiser, especially in dry or heated air.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, 30 ml
A richer night moisturiser with peptides, niacinamide and ceramides for skin that feels dry by morning. It layers well over a serum. It's thicker than most CeraVe creams, so very oily skin may find it too heavy.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, 1.7 oz
A niacinamide and peptide moisturiser that has stayed popular for years, and good value for the size. It's rich but not greasy, so it works day or night. If you're sensitive to scent, Olay also sells a fragrance-free version.
Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, 1.7 oz
Serums for tone and texture
Vitamin C, niacinamide and gentle exfoliation for dullness, pores and uneven tone. Add one at a time.
An affordable vitamin C serum with vitamin E and hyaluronic acid for mornings, under sunscreen. Keep it away from light, and replace it once it turns dark orange, as that means it has oxidised. A good way to find out if vitamin C suits you before spe...
TruSkin Vitamin C Serum, 1 oz
A budget niacinamide serum for the look of pores and uneven tone. 10% is a strong dose, so if your skin is sensitive, start every other day. It can pill under some moisturisers if you use too much, and a few drops is plenty.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, 30 ml
A leave-on salicylic acid exfoliant for rough texture and clogged pores. Start two or three evenings a week rather than daily, and keep it on different nights from retinol while your skin adjusts.
Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, 4 oz
The premium morning vitamin C serum many dermatologists reference. At around $185 it's a considered purchase, not an experiment. If you're new to vitamin C, try the TruSkin first and upgrade later if you like the step. Linked direct from SkinCeutical...
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Vitamin C Serum, 1 oz
Retinol, started slowly
For fine lines. Two nights a week to begin, build up slowly, and always wear SPF the next day.
A long-standing drugstore retinol night cream at a fair price, and an easy first retinol. Start two nights a week, build up slowly, and wear sunscreen the next day. Some dryness or flaking in the first few weeks is normal.
RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Cream
A retinol eye cream for the fine lines that tend to show up first around the eyes. A rice-grain amount is enough for both eyes. Keep it away from the lash line, and skip a night or two if it stings.
RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream, 0.5 oz
A stronger drugstore retinol serum for people already used to retinol, not a first step. Move up to it once the RoC cream feels easy, build up slowly rather than starting nightly, and expect a short adjustment period.
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum
Sunscreen and the extras
Daily SPF comes first. The tools after it are optional extras, only worth it if you'll use them regularly.
A lightweight, oil-free zinc oxide sunscreen that sits well under makeup and doesn't feel greasy. Sunscreen is the step that protects everything else on this list, especially if you're using retinol. It's popular with acne- and rosacea-prone skin too...
EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen SPF 46, 1.7 oz
A simple ice roller you keep in the freezer for puffy mornings. Cheap, low commitment and a nice two minutes after a short night. Keep it moving rather than holding it in one spot on bare skin.
ESARORA Ice Roller for Face and Eyes
A handheld wand combining red light, microcurrent, warmth and vibration for a few minutes a day. This bundle includes the activating serum it's designed to be used with, and costs less than the wand alone. Results are gradual, so it's only worth it i...
Solawave 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Wand + Serum
A microcurrent device used for five minutes, a few times a week, for a more lifted look over time. The starter kit includes the gel activator you need. Reviews are more mixed than for anything else here, and results fade if you stop, so it suits some...
NuFACE MINI+ Microcurrent Starter Kit