My Skincare Routine ~ Update!

I’ve changed or dropped a few things from my skincare routine since I posted it last January so this is a Skincare Routine Update. This will be much less detailed than my usual skincare routine posts, really just to show what’s changed and explain why. If you want the deers on why I use each product and how, please see my separate morning and evening skincare routine posts from January:

Click here for my Morning Skincare Routine

Click here for my Evening Skincare Routine

 

In the Morning:

Wash: CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser (no change)

Contains moisturizing ceramides, hyaluronic acid and glycerine.

My face isn’t very dirty in the morning so the morning cleanser is detergent free and moisturizing. This is a large pump container that stays in my shower and lasts for months!

Anti-Aging Treatment ~ Antioxidant Serum: Timeless 20% C+E+Ferulic Serum (no change)

Vitamin C is one of the most effective antioxidants because of it’s ability to be absorbed by the skin. This lightweight, watery serum also contains Vitamin E and Ferulic acid which have been shown to increase efficacy of the vitamin c by 8-16 times. Apply 4-5 drops to face, neck, chest and backs of hands, avoiding the eyes. $5 Off at Timeless Skincare use this link: https://www.timelessha.com/discount/HOTANDFLASHY ($5 discount will automatically be applied at checkout, no code needed)

Anti-Aging Treatment ~ Peptide Serum: Timeless Matrixyl 3000 Serum (no change)

Matrixyl is the combination of two peptides (palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7) which have been shown to increase collagen stimulation and firm skin while reducing inflammation. This serum is 20% Matrixyl with moisturizing & soothing aloe, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. Apply 3 drops to face (including eyelids & lips), neck, chest and backs of hands. This is a clear viscous liquid that spreads and absorbs easily leaving no greasy film. $5 Off at Timeless Skincare use this link: https://www.timelessha.com/discount/HOTANDFLASHY ($5 discount will automatically be applied at checkout, no code needed)

Anti-Aging Treatment Neck ~ Vitamin A Oil: Aura Cacia Rose Hip Oil (No longer using)

I didn’t repurchase this oil when I finished my first bottle. It was a nice oil, but I didn’t love the patchouli oil scent. Rose Hip Seed Oil is a great natural source of Vitamin A so it can help with wrinkles over time. I’m now using a retinol product at night (see below).

Moisturize & Nourish ~ Ceramides, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid: CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizer (no change)

I use a separate moisturizer and sunscreen to really double up the hydration and protection. I continue to use CeraVe PM for my day lotion (the PM just means that it doesn’t contain sunscreen) because of the great ingredients. It’s got ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. I read some research recently about niacinimides and all the great things they can do for aging or acne prone skin so I’m way into them this year! Niacinamide is a vitamin B3  derived anti-oxidant that scavenges free radicals, it improves the skins barrier function, it’s anti-inflammatory, and it reduces wrinkles! I apply CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizer all over my face, neck, chest and backs of hands.

Sun Protection ~ All Mineral Sunscreen: La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral 50 Tinted Sunscreen (No Longer Using)

I discovered that this sunscreen contains only Titanium Dioxide which doesn’t screen out the whole UVA group of rays (it screens some UVA which is why it can still be labeled “broad spectrum”). I did an extensive search for a replacement all-mineral sunscreen (see post) and I now use:

Exuviance Sheer Daily Protector SPF 50 PA+++

The SPF rating was developed to account for how much UVB radiation is being screened, but it doesn’t cover how much UVA is screened. PA++++ is a european/asian standard of measurement for UVA screening (it ranges from 1 to 4 +’s, 4 being the highest). So I know I’m getting full UVA and UVB coverage from this sunscreen.

Protect Lips ~ SPF 30: Blistex Five Star Lip Protection spf 30 (no change)

Lips need sun protection too! Keep lips soft and hydrated.

Evening:

Remove Makeup: Kirkland Daily Facial Makeup Removing Wipes (no change)

I buy these wipes in a giant box from Costco. They gently wipe away makeup without alcohol or harsh chemicals. These super soft wipes contain cucumber, chamomile flower extract, aloe, and vitamin E to moisturize and soothe while gently removing makeup including waterproof mascara.

Wash: Eucerin Sensitive Skin Redness Relief Soothing Cleanser  (no change)

I never use cleansers that foam or contain abrasives on my face. This facial wash is specially formulated to clean sensitive skin while being non-drying and soothing with aloe and licorice root. I keep this cleanser on my vanity to wash my face at night and I also take this one along when I travel.

Toner ~ Alcohol Free Witch Hazel: Thayer’s Alcohol Free Witch Hazel Cucumber Toner (no change)

Witch hazel’s been around forever but most witch hazels are loaded with alcohol. I searched high and low to find an alcohol-free version. Thayer’s Witch Hazel is alcohol free and contains glycerin and aloe to moisturize and soothe. Witch hazel is an anti-oxidant so it fights free radicals while healing damaged skin. I wet a cotton round with this toner and sweep over my face to remove last traces of makeup. The cucumber scent is cool and refreshing!

Anti-Aging Treatment ~ Tretinoin 0.05% Cream (prescription) (Still using this while slowly going up to .1% strength)

Now that I’ve been using Tretinoin for 2 years (click here for my 2 year results post), my skin’s adapted to it and I have very little irritation so I can put it right up under my eyes and on my upper lip. I also don’t have to wait 15-20 minutes after washing my face to apply it anymore. I’m bumping up to the highest strength (tretinoin 0.1%) by using it 2-3 times a week until my skin acclimates then adding it one additional night at a time until I (hopefully) get up to every night with no irritation!

Anti-Aging Treatment ~ Hydroquinone 4% (prescription) (Discontinued Use)

After 6 months of daily use I didn’t see much change in my discolorations so I’ve stopped using hydroquinone. There are also questions about it’s safety so it made sense to me to drop it from my routine until more conclusive data is available.

Exfoliant ~ Polyhydroxy acid: Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads (Discontinued Use)

I found out that with alpha hydroxy acids, the ph of the product is more important than the acid percentage when it comes of efficacy. So, an AHA treatments with an acid content of 5% with a low ph can be very effective while another with 20% acid content and a high ph can be as mild as water. The later is the case with this multi-acid peel pad. It contains 20% acid, but is formulated at a ph of 6 so it’s very mild which is good since it’s meant to be used daily. But, I was only using it once a week so it was doing practically nothing and I stopped using it.

Antioxidant Serum: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum (No change)

I’ve been using this serum since the beginning of time because of it’s great ingredients. Olay packs palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, niacinamide, glycerin, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E into this silky lightweight serum. Two pumps spreads easily over the entire face (including eyelids), neck, chest & backs of hands.

Anti-Aging Treatment Neck: Vitamin A Oil: Aura Cacia Rose Hip Oil (Discontinued Use)

Neck treatment now using: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night

I’m trying an OTC retinol serum to see if I’ll have any improvement in my neck skin… the jury’s still out, but it’s a nice serum that doesn’t cause any irritation.

Moisturize: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream (No Change)

For the last step, I apply this thick moisturizing cream. It contains niacinamide, retinol and vitamin e in a moisturizing base. When I wake up in the morning my skin’s so soft and looks hydrated too.

Moisturize & Protect Lips: ChapStick Hydration Lock Moisturize & Renew (New)

This is a new product from ChapStick and I love that they added anti-aging CoQ10 and hyaluronic acid to help fight lip wrinkles.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment (No Change)

It’s hard to find a lip balm that stays on all night so my lips don’t feel parched in the morning. Aquaphor is the best I’ve tried (and I’ve tried a LOT). Nothing fancy, just does the job.

Shop My AM Routine on Amazon.com*:

Shop My AM Routine on Amazon.com*:

Timeless Skincare*:

$5 Off at Timeless Skincare use this link: https://www.timelessha.com/discount/HOTANDFLASHY ($5 discount will automatically be applied at checkout, no code needed)

Drugstore.com

CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion*

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser*

Blistex 5 Star Lip Balm SPF 30*

Eucerin Sensitive Skin Redness Relief Soothing Cleanser*

Thayer’s Alcohol Free Witch Hazel Cucumber Toner*

Aquaphor Healing Ointment*

 

* Links are affiliate links, this means that if you use the link and purchase a product, I receive a commission on the sale. It doesn”t cost you anything extra, and you are free to use the links or not as you choose. Thank you for supporting the blog.