My Skincare Routine for Aging Gracefully

I’m nearing 40… I’ll be 38 this year. My “plan” is to age gracefully. I’m not scared of wrinkles, but I’d like my skin to be bright, glowing, and smooth. I plan to use clean products for everyday use, but I’m also not opposed to the occasional gentle “treatment” as needed. Join me today as I share my skincare routine for aging gracefully.

How to Get Clear Skin and Reduce Premature Skin Aging

Before we dive into my skincare routine for aging gracefully, let’s first talk about how to get clear, glowing skin. Your skin is a reflection of what is going on in your gut. So the first step is to heal the gut. Acne, psoriasis, and eczema are all signs of inflammation in the body. Heal the gut, and heal your skin. How do we heal the gut and eat foods that will make our skin glow? See below.

• Remove inflammatory foods (eat whole, real foods. Limit processed foods, refined carbs, sugar, and too much gluten, dairy, and alcohol).
• Consider a probiotic (that contains prebiotics – See my post on supplements here)
• Eat a diet that consists of plenty of vegetables, fruits, healthy monounsaturated fats and clean protein.
• Drink plenty of water
• Eat fermented foods that feed good bacteria to your gut. (Sheep or raw yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, sourdough in moderation).
• Prioritize sleep. Nothing makes you look more rested than actual rest!
• De-stress. Stress does a number on our health, body, and skin. Practice stress management often like yoga, walking in nature, journaling, or working with a holistic health coach or counselor.

My Daily Skincare Routine for Aging Gracefully

Now let’s dive into my daily skincare routine for aging gracefully. First off, I start my morning off with a BIG glass of lemon water or electrolytes. Start the day hydrated, even before that coffee or tea! Below is my step-by-step guide to my skincare routine. All the products I use daily are clean and non-toxic, yet highly effective. I use Beautycounter’s Countertime Anti-Aging Skincare line that contains a plant-derived Retinatural Complex. This collection is designed to visibly firm, brighten, and plump the skin.

What is Retinatural Complex?

A combination of two of the most powerhouse plant-derived ingredients available. Bakuchiol has been shown to provide skin-care results that are comparable to retinol—without harmful side effects such as skin irritation and increased sun sensitivity—and Swiss Alpine rose boosts the skin’s antioxidant defense.

Morning

• Wash my face with my Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil
• Apply Countertime Mineral Boost Hydrating Essence to dampen & prep my skin
• Apply Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum or Vitamin C Serum. I alternate these serums.
• Apply Countertime Antioxidant Soft Cream
• Apply Ultra Renewal Eye Cream

Then I let my skincare sit for about 10 minutes while I get the kids ready for school and make my morning tea or coffee.

Evening

• Clean & remove makeup with my Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil with a washcloth & wipe the day away.
• Dampen skin with Countertime Mineral Boost Hydrating Essence
• Apply my thick, super-hydrating Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream
• Apply thick body butter to feet & hands.
• Apply lip balm.

And off to bed I go, all greased up. 😉

*Beautycounter is currently going through a rebranding process. You can shop these products here until Dec 2nd and then I’ll update the links when they come back. www.beautycounter.com/CHARITYSMITH

Retinol

Ok, let’s chat about Retinol for a second. Bad news first. “A 2012 study by U.S. government scientists suggests that retinyl palmitate, a form of vitamin A, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions when applied to the skin in sunlight (NTP 2012). ” Therefore, I do not advise anyone to use any form of retinol during the daytime. Check your sunscreens, lotions, lip balms, etc…

The GOOD NEWS. Retinol used at night doesn’t seem to be problematic and it is known to have powerful anti-aging skincare benefits. When retinol is used at night, it needs to be washed off the next morning and sunscreen must be applied the next day because it makes the skin more sensitive to the sun.

Clean Beauty has discovered a plant-based ingredient, a safe version of retinol, called Bakuchiol. The ingredient, Bakuchiol is in the skincare line I mentioned above, which I use daily. I love it and I’ve seen incredible results with that entire skincare line. However, as I’m nearing 40, I’m wanting something I can add in addition to my skincare line that is a little stronger and produces impressive results.

This Skincare Product Changed My Skin!

I kind of hate before and after photos because people can edit all kinds of things in and out of the photo or change the lighting, etc… to get the results they want. However, I was so impressed with my results, I just had to compare the two & show y’all!
Note: I don’t do Botox or fillers and there is no filter or editing applied to either of these photos. The picture on the left is bare-faced before I started the product. The picture on the right is after only 3 uses, roughly 2 weeks. I had applied tinted lip balm and mascara earlier that morning before my yoga class. Nothing else on my face.

As I mentioned above, my daily clean beauty skincare routine really does the trick for me. Lightens brightens and tightens. I’m happy with the results, but I wanted to incorporate a powerful treatment product to make my skin even more glowing. Let me tell ya, this did the trick! And I only used it three times!!

So what is it? Before I divulge, I must mention this product is not considered “clean” but if you are looking for an occasional anti-aging treatment product, and you too are trying to “age-gracefully,” I can definitely recommend this product.

I know many people that use retinol nightly. I’m not at that point yet. I may use it 1-2 times per week if that. It did the trick for me in just three uses.

Tips

• Start slow
  I used it two nights in a row and while no real side effects happened, I could tell my skin was a little sensitive the next few days. So I backed off for a few days then applied one more time. I would maybe apply 1-2 times per week starting out and spread the days out.
• Only apply at night
  Remember retinol is a carcinogen in the sun.
• Moisturize
  After cleansing my face at night, I apply the retinol serum, let it set for about 10 minutes, then apply my heavy nighttime moisturizer. Some say you can mix the retinol with your moisturizer if you prefer that as well.
• Wear safe sunscreen the next day & well.. every day!
• If you have sensitive skin go very slow and perhaps mix it with your moisturizer. I know someone with very sensitive skin that uses this product and does just fine with it. But take it slow.

Sunscreen

Self-Tanner

While we are talking about skincare, I use self-tanner through the spring and fall months to fake a good tan. 😉 I love the Beauty By Earth brand. Their products are clean, perform beautifully, are a Texas-based company, and they give you a beautiful bronze glow without the orange tint. They have self-tanner for the face and the body. Lotion or mouse option for the body and serum, drops or lotion for the face. I’ve tried them all and love all their products. It’s really a personal preference, but you can’t go wrong with any of their products. I even use their Sea Salt Hair Spray to add some natural waves to my hair.

Use Code: “BEAUTYBYEARTH” to save 10% on your order.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my skincare routine for aging gracefully. I strive to use clean products as often as I can, limiting exposure to harmful ingredients that affect hormones. While that is my goal, I’m not opposed to the occasional treatment as needed as I try to age gracefully. If you have any questions about any products, feel free to reach out. And remember, our skin is a reflection of what is going on in our gut. Heal the gut and you’ll have glowing, radiant skin from the inside out. If you need guidance with your health, nutrition, and fitness, reach out.

Here are a few more resources you may find helpful.
My Fall Makeup Routine
Links to all my skincare and makeup products.