I get asked all of the time what my secret is to having great skin in my 40's. And while I'm open about the fact that I do get Botox - the #1 tip I share with all my midlife ladies is nourishing your skin from the outside just as much as from the inside.
Skin care has been one of my top priorities for a while now.
It truly has made a difference in how my skin looks, and how confident I've felt in my own skin.
Your skin is the biggest organ of your body - and the most susceptible to environmental stressors, chemicals and other things that can damage your skin and make you age the fastest.
Healthy skin starts with a healthy diet and is followed up with taking care of it from the outside as well.
In this post, I'm going to share some of my tips to keeping my skin healthy, hydrated and glowing all year long.
First up, let's talk skincare must-haves.
When talking about basic skincare, two specific products reign above them all as glowing skincare super heros: Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C.
Let's break these two powerhouses down:
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring compound in the body that provides moisture and plumpness to skin. This hydration powerhouse helps with soft tissue growth, keeps your skin moisturized, prompts your body to make more collagen, prevents tightness, boosts elasticity and reduces scarring. As a humectant, hyaluronic acid works by drawing water into the skin, therefore you want to apply your hyaluronic acid product to clean, damp skin, and the lock it in with a moisturizer and face oil.
Unfortunately, even during our 20s, but more so as we reach midlife, our skin's moisture levels naturally start to decrease. This is when you should be thinking about incorporating it into your skincare with serums & moisturizers, which give your skin the same benefits.
One of my go-to serums for hydration is the Merit Instant Glow Serum. I love Merit products because they're clean, vegan, and cruelty free, with formulas that deliver on results.
Instant Glow contains 4 types of hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture, 2% niacinamide to brighten, and cacao seed extract for immediate plumping. The results? A super dewy, hydrated, plump complexion — also known as glazed donut skin!
You want to use this after cleansing & before your moisturizer. It's great with makeup or on no make-up days where you want still want to look glowy and gorgeous.
Vitamin C
The next part of the super duo is Vitamin C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning it fights harmful toxins that come in contact with your skin either externally or from inside the body. Vitamin C is known to boost collagen, fight wrinkles, prevent premature aging, reverse hyperpigmentation, can help reduce acne, protect your skin from sun damage & free radicals, and help regenerate your skin.
As we age, our skin has a harder time fighting environmental stressors and free radicals that can damage our skin barrier and lead to signs of aging. As a powerful anti-oxidant, Vitamin C neutralizes the free radicals that cause oxidative stress to skin and lead to premature skin aging. It is also essential to the production of collagen in skin cells, helping to support skin structure and delay signs of aging.
My favorite Vitamin C Serum is the Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C & Glutathione Clinical Serum.
This clinical-level serum features highly stable 25% vitamin C to visibly improve uneven tone, radiance, elasticity & firmness without irritation. It's potent 25% vitamin C targets stubborn discoloration & sun damage, the glutathione minimizes irritation & boosts skin’s antioxidant supply, and helps to reduce oxidative stress & targets discoloration.
Just like what you put on your skin matters, the ORDER you put it on matters just as much.
The quality of your products matters, but so does the order you put them on in.
This is because you really want to make sure that each product is able to have the effects it's supposed to.
Let's break down my simple skin care routine that you can easily replicate at home.
Morning Routine:
To start my skin care routine, I wash my face clean towelette.
→ This allows me to get the gunk off from the night before and start with a clean slate.
Next up, I apply my vitamin c .
→ vitamin C can boost collagen production, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also enhances skin brightness, helping to even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of age spots.
Then I apply my hyaluronic acid.
→ Hyaluronic acid is a powerful hydrator that attracts and retains moisture in the skin, helping to plump fine lines and wrinkles for a smoother, more youthful appearance.
Next, I apply my tinted moisturizer that contains an SPF.
→ The moisturizer at the end seals and locks all the products that you've put on your face, while also giving you that dewy, moisturized look.
Nighttime Routine
First, I cleanse.
→ I use the Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm. This allows me to get off any makeup and any other pollutants off my skin to repair my skins barrier as I sleep.
Next up, tone.
→ I like the Barefaced Toning Pads. They are gentle enough to use every night and add a nice layer of moisture to my skin while ensuring my skin is clean and prepped for my serums.
Then it's time for serums.
→ I like to use the Barefaced Liquid Gold serum. It brightens, defends against damaging environmental stressors & minimizes the appearance of premature fine lines and wrinkles.
Lastly, I complete my nighttime routine with retinol.
→ Barefaced’s Retinal Skin Therapy is gentle enough for daily use yet potent enough to deliver visible improvements.
And just like that, your skin care routine is done!
It's so important that you apply everything in this order to ensure you're getting all the benefits from your products.
If you're just starting your own skin care journey, click the link below to get a copy of my Skin Care Guide with my favorite products and go-to's to have healthy, glowing skin. I can't wait for you to see how amazing the results are!
xo, holly
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