Naturalish Anti Aging Skin Care
My Natural(ish) approach to daily skin care takes less than 5 minutes (makeup included) and is very specific in terms of goals. As a reminder, I am not a โbeauty bloggerโ, but a provider with years of clinical experience and I stretch products for months. I donโt take time to get facials, injections, or laser treatments. I am a person who spends 20 minutes getting ready (shower, face, and clothes).
Table of Contents
- Clinical Experience
- My Morning Routine
Clinical Experience
I have clinical experience that helps me understand active ingredients in products, and I see which natural products work, and where the natural products need some help. I also focus on health, and only splurge on things that really work. I donโt wear foundation. There are a couple of really pricey products that I love, but I try to be very practical with my spending on all things cosmetic. I prefer natural products, but after many years of provider knowledge about what works and what doesnโt, I am not 100% natural. I have very sensitive, acne prone skin with some scarring and fine lines. It can be hard to find an affordable way to address all of these things. One of my favorite tricks is to rotate products so I can step up the skin care routine without spending much. I spend less than many women I know because I am not experimenting with products, services, etc. I will list my favorite products. You can rotate (like me), pick the least expensive, or most expensive versions of each product.
First, especially since I rarely wear foundation, I go easy on the cleansing to avoid stripping the microbiome and protective layer on the skin.
My Morning Routine
- I usually like to use Baby Soap on a Silicone Face Scrubber. It does the job, lasts a long time, and keeps the cost of cleansing very low so I can buy some of my other favorites. I like the silicone scrubber more than the high end facial brushes because they require maintenance and basically do the same thing.
- After cleansing, I apply one pump of 4 different products in a square. Hyaluronic acid, moisture, retinol, and sunscreen (morning only). I leave a little spot in the middle for a few drops of vitamin C. This is not the traditional application order, but remember, I like fast and easy and it still works.
- First, the Hyaluronic Acid. It reduces the appearance of fine lines, pitting, and scarring. About 30 minutes after application, you can see the difference. Alina Vitamin C Skin Serum has plenty of HA, green tea, and vitamin C. All of these ingredients are usually MUCH more expensive in other products. It is light, clean, and the results are visible. People love it. On the other end of the pricing spectrum, you can try Skin Medica HA Serum. To be fair, you will get even more results from this one (at four times the cost) and also contribute to ongoing collagen building. SkinMedica is a line that I like to rotate in occasionally rather than using daily to reduce cost. That said, if you donโt mind spending a premium, itโs the best. At least 2-3 nights per week, instead of the whole routine, I only use a quarter sized application of the Cerave Moisturizer. It has HA, ceramide barrier, and plenty of moisture. This product is very affordable, comes in a big tube, and makes everything else last a long time.
- In the morning, I always add tinted sunscreen. My favorite is Neutrogena Tinted Sunscreen / BB Cream. It doesnโt make me break out no matter how many times I apply it, and my super fair skin has never gotten a sunburn with this product on (even in the topics). If you want to step it up, or are going to be outside and want a nice combination of fresh looking, well protected skin, try Skin Medica Tinted Sunscreen. I like this product, but for day to day use, I am equally happy with both.
- I always use a moisturizer, but the Cerave HA with ceramide is too heavy for daytime. I usually use Oil of Olay Regenerist. If you can handle the price tag, you can rotate it with this magic TNS Serum. It contains growth factors to regenerate the skin, and it works. It has visible anti-aging benefits, and your friends will ask you what you are doing, but it is pretty pricey. If you really want to know if it is worth the price tag, try a bottle and use it every day until it is gone. The patients that I see who use this serum seem to have ageless skin. I personally struggle to justify the cost, so I stick with the less expensive one even though I can see that itโs the best..
- Last, I use a retinoid twice daily. You can get it by prescription, but if you donโt have a prescription, you can try an over-the- counter product like Skin Medica Retinol. Skin Medica is a high end line. The prescription works better than anything. If you donโt want to spend a lot, I still suggest you use something as it is arguably the best thing you can do to to reduce spots, fine lines, and maintain / build collagen. Tretinoin (the prescription) is prescribed to treat and prevent acne. So if you canโt get a script and donโt want to spend a lot on an expensive product, try this one Cerave Retinol.
- Once I have a little square of products dispensed on my finger, I put a few drops of vitamin C in the middle. CEO Glow is one of my favorite clean products, but like other vitamin C products, itโs expensive. Just a couple of drops go a long way, so the product lasts a long time. Long enough to make it worth it.
- You can also try Skin Medica Vitamin C Serum. They are slightly different. If you just use 2-3 drops at night, it will last a long time. If you rotate products, and sometimes use a thick layer of the Cerave Moisturizer at night, the more expensive ones will last a long time. Youโll end up spending less on make-up and other things to cover up your skin. For the price of a facial, you can also use a Facial light to reduce redness and build collagen.
- I donโt take the time to do this, but I have used it in the past to treat breakouts and the results are visible. Light therapy is a great way to accomplish multiple goals. The bright light in the morning for 15 minutes while you snooze will give you a โlight boxโ effect which may help seasonal depression. Light exposure in the morning also helps normalize our sleep / wake cycle by encouraging an energizing boost of cortisol in the morning. A morning cortisol spike encourages a drop in melatonin in the morning so melatonin can spike at night in the dark.
- After the basic skin care, you can do a couple of things to keep your routine natural(ish) but still have some fun extras. The application of Castor Oil to your brows,lashes, and nails can help them grow. A bottle of castor oil is inexpensive, lasts a long time, and has tons of health and cosmetic benefits.
- I like to keep Refillable Oil Pens at my desk and with my skin care products. You can use the brushes to apply the oil to your lashes and brows before bed. By morning, the oil will have absorbed, and any remaining mascara or eyeliner will easily wipe away and your lashes will be ready to go bare or have a slick application of mascara.
- If you like the lash extension trend but donโt want to spend the time and money, this is an easy alternative. While castor oil can stand alone for naturally longer brows and lashes, if you want more dramatic natural(ish) lashes, I suggest trying something like Latisse or a Lash Growth Serum in the morning 2-3 days. Even if you splurge and get the Latisse, it will last a long time, and even longer if you are alternating it with castor Oil.
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