Cheap washcloths? Check ✓
Hygrometer? Check. ✓
Sunscreen? Check. ✓
I’m not sure how helpful my skincare notes will be since I don’t really do a lot, but I’m consistent so that makes a difference. Anyway, here I go with my first skincare notes:
MORNING: First thing I do after brushing my teeth is apply lip balm and spray my face with a facial spray. The cool blast helps me wake up and provides a little immediate moisture while I have my green tea.
Ready to start the day, I wash my face using an unscented cream cleanser and a warm (cheap) washcloth. For years I used Cetaphil cleanser but they changed the formula and now I use Avene because it’s similar and unscented. I am bothered by perfumes and scents – an allergy I think – so all my home cleaning and laundry products are “free and clear.” (Windex makes me gag but that’s for another time! 🤢) Anyway, back to the face. I let the cleanser “melt’ for a minute and then run a washcloth under warm, not hot water. At 79, my skin is thinner and drier and hot water strips the skin’s natural oils. I wipe off the cleanser with the washcloth and let the skin dry for a minute.
Cheap washcloths are my preference. Mine come in a stack at Target and they are anything but soft and that’s the point. Every time I wash my face, I get a very gentle exfoliating from these “grainy” washcloths. After many many uses, they soften up so I buy a new stack and keep the old, soft ones for cleaning.
When my face is dry, I apply a serum and let it set for a couple of minutes. I follow that with a moisturizer on my face and neck. I wait a bit for the moisturizer to absorb and follow with sunscreen on my face, neck, and the back of my hands.
THROUGHOUT THE DAY: There is water and lip balm everywhere – at my desk, in the bathroom, in the kitchen, by the sofa, and in my car. My skin benefits greatly from sipping water all day long. I drink before I get thirsty because if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. At 79, our lips get dry easily so I apply lip balm whenever needed.
NIGHTTIME: My face washing is the same, using the cleanser and washcloth, but about every 3rd day, I use a gentle scrub instead of the cleanser. Mature skin doesn’t need harsh grainy scrubs so I use a very fine, gentle exfoliating scrub, using that warm washcloth to remove it. Once the skin is dry, I apply a serum, let it set for a couple of minutes and follow with a moisturizer.
BRANDS I LIKE: Avene, EltaMD (sunscreen), Laroche-Posay, Dr. Dennis Gross, SkinCeuticals, SkinMedica, Rilastil, and Natura Bissa ⬅ Sticker Shock on this one! 💰💰 (I never do paid endorsements – just sharing here in case someone is interested.)
HUMIDITY: I run humidifiers in the winter. Even in California, when the heat comes on, it dries the air and that is bad for your skin. (Dry air also increases your chances of getting sick but that’s for another time.) We have two humidifiers that need constant filling and occasional cleaning but I do the work because it’s worth it. I keep hygrometers around and can see that with the humidifier tanks running constantly, the humidity stays above 40%. If you get sparks when you touch things, your air it too dry – and so is your skin and cuticles, too. When I’m someplace else where the air is really dry, I use lots of hand cream and I put Vaseline in my nose.👃
NO MAKEUP: I don’t wear makeup. That may be why my skin glows because the pores don’t get clogged up with foundation and the skin can breathe. I had to wear lots of makeup on TV with even more touchups between shows, and I couldn’t wait to wash it off as soon as I could. It felt like a heavy mask but now I’m free so… no makeup!
NO FACIALS: I stopped doing facials years ago after I got better at my skincare. The last time I did my own facial (about 15 years ago) I did not see any improvement because my skin was in such good condition already.
6 THINGS TO AVOID FOR BEAUTIFUL SKIN: Smoking, alcohol, hot water, the sun, dehydration, and sleep deprivation.
HONORABLE MENTION: With everything above being important, I still believe my diet… what I’m eating/drinking and not eating/drinking… is the biggest contributor to my healthy skin.
Well I hope this is helpful.🙂 Once when my sister was visiting, I convinced her one night to stop wearing (matte!) makeup and just scrub and moisturize, and the next morning at breakfast, her skin was glowing! I remember it to this day. It was an immediate improvement that even I wasn’t expecting. We were both surprised. ❤️ I hope you find yourself pleasantly surprised, too.
I was glad to see your honorable mention – l was wondering about that! Not everyone has the time or resources to carry out your regime but much of it is affordable and your recipes are delicious 😋
That’s me… good memory!
I will email you privately.
I’ve been waiting for this post! Great info on your skincare routine! Thanks for sharing the details and products you use- those brands are pricey for me, but I’m glad you are able to use them and that you are getting great results. I think brands and products are so subjective-we are all so different and need different things. I was never able to find a good sunscreen when I was younger-I think they’ve made great improvements there. I cleanse, apply eye cream, which I know some people don’t believe in, moisturizer and sunscreen on face and neck. I too like to exfoliate with a washcloth- I do this on Sunday and Thursday. Totally agree on what we eat/don’t eat, smoking, alcohol, sun, stress, exercise, and sleep all affect our skin’s condition. Thanks again for sharing!
I left London in 1966 and have been in BC since 1978.
Was your last name Milne? (something line that?)
I have many fond memories of your sister Liz and had to smile at your comment about her matte foundation, (& dark eyeliner).
We were teenagers but I can picture it still. I’m sorry you lost her.
Thank you so much. Are you still in London?
I loved this post and enjoyed reading your routine. You say you don’t really do a lot, but you use several excellent and very high end products! 🙂 I use many of these myself. I am 61 and think my skin looks great also because I am super careful with sun (EltaMD 46!) and take good care of it. Admittedly, I do use a lot of products day and evening and do wear makeup but am so pleased with the results that I continue to purchase the whole lot! I love purchasing all my skincare from LovelySkin – best company and best sales. I recently added the newer SkinCeuticals P-TIOX to my routine and just love it. Like Botox in a bottle! My other favorites are Skin Medica TNS Advanced + Serum, their excellent retinol complex .25, and Oggi 20% vitamin C serum, which I converted to from SkinCeuticals brand – so effective for so much less money. For those women who suffer from thinning brows, I love the Revitabrow advanced eyebrow conditioner. Amazing regrowth if you are consistent – but not cheap. And don’t forget your neck and décolleté and back of hands!
I recently bought a few hygrometers a couple of weeks ago and have been monitoring the terrible dry air in our CT home as it’s been a brutal winter. My current level is about 17%, so horrible. I finally had time to research the best humidifiers on NYT Wirecutter and mine is arriving today. Hoping this helps, especially in our bedroom.
Terrie, thank you for all the great things you added to my post. I was nervous about sharing the brands I use because they are pricey but it’s important to me to be open about it. I agree that EltaMD makes terrific sunscreen (I use UV Sheer SPA 50+). I will definitely check out that P-TIOX because I think the skin benefits from occasionally switching up products. As for TNS, my favorite is the Recovery Complex. And the Relastil product I use is called Resleep and it’s my favorite night cream. I know that Natura Bisse is very expensive and I never take for granted how fortunate I have been to be able to splurge on a product like this. Thank you again for all the great tips and I hope this motivates others to share their own skincare with us. ❤️
Jenny, thank you for sharing so much details of your skin care. I’m approaching 70 and have not been too good with my skin especially for not using sunblock but I will start using it and will try to follow your routine and let you know how it goes. Love your recipes lots!
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