ANTI-AGING SKINCARE NIGHTTIME ROUTINE

I recently shared my morning anti-aging skincare routine video with you here and broke it down on my blog here. While I attribute some of my skin to genes, a huge part of it is my skincare routine.

Because of my younger sun-worshipping days, I’m  fighting some pigmentation and sunspots as well as the fine lines that come with being over 40. While I use some treatment products in the morning, most of my actual treatment products are applied at night. This routine is a little more detailed than my morning routine.

I also shared my affordable anti-aging skincare products a few videos ago because you can certainly find quality affordable skincare products these days!  So if you’re looking for some great affordable and drugstore anti-aging skincare products, check out that video!

Also, do check out my Over 40 Anti-Aging Nighttime Skincare Routine video down below the post. I have more product suggestions and talk you through a lot of the reasons why I use what I use.

CLEANSING

I always double cleanse at night, meaning I first remove my stubborn makeup with an emulsifying type of cleanser and then cleanse my face. This has been very effective for my sensitive skin with keeping it clear and clean.

To remove makeup, I use either Belif Cleansing Gel Oil Enriched or Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm. Both remove makeup (even my waterproof eye makeup), so that when I go in with my regular cleanser, it can do what it needs to do in an effective manner.

I have acne prone, sensitive skin, so I’ve always been intimidated by balm cleansers. But the Clinique is a MUST HAVE makeup remover for me.

Neither one of these break me out or aggravate my skin in any way! They’re extremely effective yet very gentle on my skin at the same time.

I use the same cleanser at night that I use in the morning which is my beloved Skinmedica Facial Cleanser. It’s been a staple for me for about two years now. I love how it cleanses thoroughly without stripping or leaving my face feeling tight and without leaving a film.

Most nights I use my Foreo Luna Mini during this second step to leave my face feeling extra clean and to ensure dirt and oil, as well as makeup residue and dead skin cells are removed… without irritating the skin. I love this thing!

NIACINAMIDE

The first thing that goes on my skin every single night is Paula’s 10% Choice Niacinamide Booster.

What is niacinamide? And why do I use THIS one?

Niacinamide is Vitamin B3 which:

• visibly minimizes pore size
• dramatically improves uneven skin tone
• refines skin texture and fine lines.
• promotes a brighter, younger-looking appearance

Paula’s choice niacinamide is my brand of choice simply because I’ve never found another comparable formulation. The texture is like a cloudy water. It applies and sinks into the skin like water because of its extremely sheer formula. You can use it alone or add it into any product you put on your face. I’ve tried others and just don’t like them as much.

SERUM

I use my serum morning and night. In my video (at the bottom of this video), I mention another serum I’ve been using an enjoying. But the serum I always return to is the TNS Essential Serum by Skinmedica.

This serum is in a dual chamber pump and has two formulas that “combine to smooth wrinkles and regenerate skin cells for a more youthful appearance. The TNS complex is a protein- and amino acid-rich serum to reduce inflammation and the signs of aging. The APS corrective complex is a mixture of anti-aging ingredients, peptides and antioxidants to strengthen sagging skin.”

I’ve seen wonderful changes in my skin since using this serum. It’s truly the best anti aging serum for me and seems to make my face appear more plumped and appear brighter and more even in tone. It’s pricey but is one of the items I splurge for because it does make a huge difference in my skin.

TREATMENT PRODUCTS

This is where my routine gets a little more complicated. I rotate nights of using a retinol product with using acids. I’ll stop there and go into further detail within those categories…

RETINOL

I’ve tried different types of treatments over the years. Years ago, I used Differin Gel for my adult acne problems when it was prescription-only. It’s great stuff and is now over the counter! I also tried Retin-a micro and Tazorac at different points in my life. Both tore up my sensitive skin horribly. So I assumed my skin couldn’t handle any retinol product at all.

But thankfully, something made me try the Skinmedica Retinol Complex products. I ramped the strength up slowly, starting with the .25, moving up to the .50 after finishing my initial bottle, and ending with the 1.0.

Since then, I’ve moved on to the Osmosis Level 3 and am now on the highest level, Osmosis Level 4, Renew.

From here, I may be ready to move up to prescription level products again!

ACIDS

I use Sunday Riley Good Genes twice a week as my primary acid product. It’s a fantastic lactic acid product which actually does what it claims without drying my skin out.

Despite having rosacea and sensitive skin, I can use this with no problems because of the ingredients they use.

Good Genes is a high potency, purified grade lactic acid that exfoliates dull, pore-clogging dead skin cells. It reveals brighter, smoother, more radiant, fresh looking skin. It also plumps my fine lines and has helped with hyperpigmentation. I use products that I truly see a difference with and this is one product I can’t be without.

The hype is real with this product! I think I’m on my fourth bottle and finally caved and bought the HUGE jumbo bottle. This is a truly excellent anti-aging skincare that delivers results!

After hearing the hype about Pixi Glow Tonic, I decided to try it out within the last year. I’d had bad experiences with glycolic acid products in the past with my sensitive skin. So I didn’t have high hopes. But this works really well for getting rid of dead skin cells and brightening the skin without making my skin react. I’m glad to have a glycolic acid product to work into my routine! I use Pixi Glow Tonic once a week.

ROSACEA TREATMENT

My rosacea has been under control for a long while now, thanks to dietary changes and good skincare, including Finacea prescription treatment. Earlier this year I did a brand review on The Ordinary Skincare. The Ordinary Azaelic Acid Suspension was one of the products I tested out.

It’s quite a bit thicker (yet still lightweight) in consistency than Finacea’s lotion-like consistency. I do much better when I wait several minutes after applying before going in with any other products. But it works well at keeping my rosacea flare-ups under control. I use my rosacea treatment on my acid nights.

MOISTURE

Facial Oil

The oil I’ve been using and loving lately is L’Occitane Divine Youth Oil. It functions differently than other facial oils that are applied as the last step by pressing them into the face after you’ve put on your moisturizer. L’Occitane recommends applying the Divine Youth Oil to the face (including the undereye area!!), neck and chest prior to your moisturizer.

So that’s what I’ve been doing and it’s been working very well for me. As a combination/oily skinned gal, I LOVE this oil! It doesn’t sit on top of my face the way a lot of oils do but sinks into my skin. I wake up in the morning feeling so much less greasy than when I was using other oils. I have more detail on this oil here.

MOISTURIZER

Olay Regenerist Micro Sculpting Cream is hands down my nighttime moisturizer of choice and I think, the best anti aging cream around! It’s packed FULL of anti-aging ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, peptides, aloe, plant extracts, collagen, elastin, green tea that make my skin look healthy and radiant when I wake up in the morning!

Before trying this night cream, I always assumed it would clog my pores and be too thick and heavy for my sensitive skin. But it sinks right into the skin and feels luxurious. I’d buy it by the VAT if I could!!

EYES

Just like in my morning routine, I apply Skinceuticals A.G.E Eye Complex under my eyes and on my lids right over where I just pressed my L’Occitane oil. It moisturizes and treats with ingredients like vitamin E and peptides to help reduce fine lines and puffiness.

BROWS & LIPS

My final nighttime anti-aging skincare steps are just like my morning skincare steps…brows and lips. I apply my NeuBrow Brow Serum to help my sparse uneven brows grow in. It’s really working to change my brows. They’re not perfect but they’re more even than they were and I’m having to spend less time filling them in.

Glossier Balm DotCom is my current lip balm of choice that I apply to my lips as my very last skincare step before bed. I mess around with other balms but have a steady relationship with her right now. I love how my lips are nice and hydrated when I wake up in the morning!

Since I’m constantly trying new products, things change during the year. Some products may be replaced. But these are consistent staples in my nighttime anti-aging skincare routine right now. All of these nighttime anti-aging skincare products are working incredibly well for my over 40 skin. I always share what works on my combo oily sensitive skin so that you can check out the products to see if they might work for you as well!

My more detailed skincare routine is in the video below: