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“Healthy skin begins the moment you start to take care of yourself.” —Anonymous
Healthy, natural, as well as radiant skin is something we can include as one of the most statement-making accessories in our exterior presentation. The questions begin though when we don’t know what is worth investing in and how much is too much and just unnecessary.
Alongside the food we eat, the exercise we regularly partake in and the healthy management of stress in our lives, how we care for our skin regarding the products we use and the practices we take regarding protection and hydration can have a powerful effect on our visage that we present to the world each and everyday for the rest of our lives. And thus how we feel when we go about her daily routine.
Over the past few years I have been focused on two goals when it comes to my own skincare regime: ensuring I am investing and purchasing products that deliver on their promises, and only using the products I need for the results I want. In other words a simple approach, but no simpler, and a dependable results so I know my money is being well spent on this regular and on-going personal expenditure.
Exploring products either to save money or improve the results, I have stepped away from items I once used to see if it would be worth doing so. In some instances, as I will share, I have found new products I love, but I have also confirmed the first product was worth using and paying for as the results stood out from their competitors even if I had to pay a bit more.
Below I am sharing what I have promised I would share, my detailed skincare routine that after much experimenting as well as conferencing with experts in the skincare profession. Be sure to tune in to the audio edition as along with sharing the products (as listed below), I also share why I use them and where to find them for the most savings.
~Be sure to listen to the audio version as I share detailed reasons and findings of why I use the products listed below and how I came to decide on each one.
Daily
1.Hydrate with conscious fluid intake choices
It will no doubt be known that drinking water frequently and regularly throughout our days is a simple, yet powerfully beneficial effect for our skin. From having a full water bottle in my vehicle at all times, bringing a glass of water to bed each night, or drinking water as my drink of choice along with tea throughout the day has become a habit I don’t even think about anymore. And it was upon living in Bend, Oregon, high desert country, that I immediately noticed that if I didn’t stay hydrated, my throat and thus skin felt scratchy, so it has been a priority to always have water with me.
2. Humidifier at night
While utilized throughout the winter and sometimes during the summer, turning on a humidifier at night makes a noticeable difference due to the dry climate where I live. Now, this will not be something everyone will need as it will depend on the moisture in the air where you live, but if you too live in a dry climate, this simple addition will make a positive difference, and you will immediately see it in your skin when you wake up – a bit more plump and radiant. A lovely way to begin the day. 🙂
3. Wearing hats and sunglasses (primarily hats) when outside (gardening and walking)
Something I should have begun doing long ago, but now thankfully I am, is wearing a hat whenever I am outside. As someone who is typically outside in the morning or evening as to avoid the direct sunlight, I still wear a baseball cap when walking the dogs, a straw or grass wide-brimmed hat when I am pottering in the garden, and when I head to the farmers’ market which is open during the middle of the day, I make sure to grab my Panama straw hat with a 6-7″ brim.
My hats now have become a fun accessory that not only is needed for functionality and protecting my skin and eyes but share a bit of my style and personality as well.
Of course, I still apply sunscreen even if I am wearing a hat, but if you are new to hat-wearing, it really can be a fun new way to play with your style.
Daily Morning Skincare Routine
1.Micellar water or Savon Olive de Marseille
Upon waking up in the morning, the first skincare task I tend to is wiping my face, neck and décolletage with micellar water. And because I cleansed well my face before going to bed at night, this gentle refresh is all that I choose to do. I know many skincare experts recommend cleansing twice, but now there has been much pushback on this approach, stating that it is either unnecessary or even too harsh, stripping the skin of necessary oils it needs. Either way, the best decision is what your skin needs, and this will change as we grow older and also how we care for our skin with the other approaches we apply and practice. One idea is to ask your esthetician what they would recommend for your skin if you see them regularly and they know your skin well. As someone who used to cleanse twice, I have found I no longer need to do so, and this gentle approach in the morning works best.
The micellar water I have used for about seven years is Bioderma’s which is also a makeup remover and quite gentle. If I am not taking a shower in the morning, I will use this. If I am taking a shower, I will use the least expensive product in my skincare routine – Savon Olive de Marseille, an all-natural soap from France that is the only soap I use (no more body washes) and it cleanses well my skin without drying it. I have using it since I learned about the qualities of this soap about five years ago, and will purchase a handful of the cube soaps all at once that will last a few years (shipped from France), and the shipping is more than the soaps themselves. Highly worth the wait for them to arrive and your skin will thank you.
Learn more about how I use this classic all-natural French cleansing staple and the shop I purchase mine from.
Made with 100% vegetable-based ingredients and at least 72% olive oil, all natural ingredients (sodium olivate – aqua – glycerin – sodium chloride – sodium hydroxide).
2. Serum for hydration
Searching for a product with Hyaluronic Acid and hyaluronic acid in varying weights (high and low) as this allows the slow-release hydration provided in HA to penetrate to different levels of your dermis, I began using Dr. Sturm’s Super Anti-Aging Serum and immediately loved it, but the price is a bit steep. So after using it for a year, I decided to try other serums that promised the same results and claimed to have varying weights of HA.
After about 18 months, I discovered, Dr. Sturm’s serum indeed was worth its price tag, and when I set up an auto-replenishment subscription, I am able to save a little money with each purchase.
Applying before my moisturizer after I cleanse my face in the morning, I only use a small drop and apply only in the morning as I don’t need all day hydration at night (the humidifier helps with this), but do throughout the day. This means it takes about three months to go through a 30 ml bottle (as seen below).
As is shared in more detail in the audio version of this episode as well as in this detailed post, hyaluronic acid reduces visible signs of irritation, nourishes skin immediately but continually throughout the day as it slowly releases moisture, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
3. Moisturize
Having learned about La Mer’s original creme decades ago, I had always been curious if the chatter and praise was worth it. However, as I shared originally back in 2017 after I first tried this moisturizer, it really does do wonders for the skin. I will note that it is most beneficial for dry skin, and as I live in a very dry climate, I needed exactly what it was offering.
Comprised of La Mer’s “Youth Generating Miracle Broth™ this cell-renewing elixir floods skin with energy is crafted with a blend of sea kelp, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, Miracle Broth™ undergoes 3–4 months of fermentation and exposure to light and sound waves, maximizing its energetic potential.”
Now I share all of that from the brand’s website, but the key is what does it give and provide my skin? And each time I have stepped away from this product trying to save money, my skin doesn’t look nearly as youthful, hydrated or radiant. It just doesn’t. So I return and have been regularly using it in the morning and the evening (due to our dry climate), and my skin looks as good as I hope it can.
The good news is that you can often find it on sale somewhere. Whether on ECosmetics or BlueMercury and sometimes at Nordstrom during their anniversary sales, so you really don’t have to pay full price ever. I haven’t for the past couple of years.
La Mer Creme de La Mer (original)
4. Sunscreen
As someone who had a tough time with clear skin during my teenage years, I became very hesitant to apply thick products that would likely clog my pores, and often that was the only form in which the sunscreen would be available. Of course, I know much more about skincare now, and thankfully being able to find quality products that will perform as we need without the side-effects we don’t want (break-outs) is much easier.
Specifically claiming to be a sunscreen to protect acne prone skin with its light-weight formula, EltaMD UV Clear feels super light on the skin, and after having used for nearly two years, I now always have it handy as my go-to sunscreen both here at home and when I travel. I have used others that I still love and continue recommend (La Roche Posey’s for example), but EltaMD’s, in comparison feels the best on my skin, and I have yet to have a breakout even after wearing it outside where I will work up a sweat (gardening or running). The cost is about $50, and this one bottle will last all summer and about six months or so in full, so not a bad price for the quality of protection and length of use available with each purchase.
EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen, SPF 46
Daily Night Skincare Routine
1. Cleansing with Cleansing Balm
Collagen is the natural protein that supports the body’s connective tissues as well as our skin, muscles and bones, and it begins to decrease as early as our mid-twenties. So unless we regenerate it or add it to our body, we begin to see the effects in sagging skin, stiff joints and loss of muscle mass.
As it pertains to skincare, there is not a cream or lotion containing collagen that has been proven to actually be able to penetrate below the skin (where it needs to go). Rather, you would want to take collagen supplements or regenerate collagen by gently damaging the skin (as will be discussed in the last item on today’s list), so that it is encouraged to generate more collagen to repair itself. As well, applying products with hyaluronic acid (as shared in the anti-aging serum above) will help promote collagen production.
Other modes of stimulating collagen production are retinol (see below the product I use), light therapy, vitamin C, and ginseng as well as aloe vera gel to heal scars.
I share all of this because the product I use (shown just above) for cleansing in the evening has on its label Pro Collagen, but there is no collagen in this product. Rather this claim, when you look closely at the ingredients it does use, removes the pollutants from the skin that could potentially, unnecessarily, reduce collagen, and thus it is named “pro collagen”.
If you have found a product with collagen (in a cream or lotion), often it can cause the price to become quite expensive, and also could harm the skin more than help, so investigate carefully. But the good news is that there are other ways of creating more collagen, and the last item on my list is the one I highly recommend tuning into the audio version for as I walk you through how it regenerates collagen for noticeable effects (positive) on the skin.
2. Micellar Water (to remove eye makeup)
3. Retinol serum (3-4 times a week, so every other night)
Be sure to tune in to the audio version as we will talk about what retinol is, the various percentages of retinol to look for in a product and what it does for the skin’s renewal.
4. Moisturizer
As shared above, I use the same moisturizer for day as at night due to the dry climate in Bend, Oregon: La Mer Creme de la Mer.
After trying many different eye creams over the years, and having begun using La Mer’s Eye Concentrate about five years ago, and even trying to see if other products could produce the same results (so I stopped using this eye cream and experimented with other, less expensive brands), I returned to the Eye Concentrate because it really does care for the delicate skin around the eyes better than any product I have tried.
The good news is that this small jar lasts about six months when applied once a day in the evening.
6. Lip Balm
A vegan product that provided oodles of hydration for the lips. I have found it works for a long duration throughout the day and is why I apply it on my lips before I go to bed to keep them moisturized through the night (although in Bend, with our dry climate, I may have to reapply in the morning). Tatcha’s Lip Mask also smooths and softens lips reducing or eliminating any dryness or flakiness. Quite a good size of a jar, one will last about 7-9 months depending upon how much I use it. The texture of this product feels good to the touch and is easy (not sticky) to apply.
Weekly
Scrub/Exfoliate or Peel
The benefit of seeing regularly an esthetician that knows your skin, something we will talk about with the next point below for seasonal/monthly skincare, is that they will know what your skin needs. Case in point, once I began using the cleansing balm for my facial cleanser at night, I stopped using my daily exfoliant. My esthetician immediately noted I need to incorporate some sort of exfoliant, but just not as regularly, so once a week.
I began, with her suggestion, using iS Clinical’s Active Peel System, and only once a week (the package recommends every other day, and that wasn’t necessary for my skin needs). This active peel “helps to improve the appearance of skin tone and texture, resulting in a smooth, hydrated, and more youthful-looking complexion”.
Super simple to use, the first wipe is applied over your clean skin, and left on for three minutes, and then removed with the second wipe which is not then cleaned off but left to remain. You can learn all about the process and ingredients being used with each wipe here on the page for iS Clinical Active Peel Treatment.
My skin immediately feels softer and smoother. I will share that after the first time I used it my skin was a bit pink, but that went away in a couple of hours. Each use thereafter, the pinkness only lasted for about 30 minutes to an hour, but I have highly sensitive skin.
The other exfoliant I do use, and have for over a decade, but now more sparingly, is Éminence’s Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant which I mix into my Marseille Soap cleanser when I take a shower. This is only once or twice a week.
Monthly or Seasonally
Professional Facial
As the budget allows, investing in a regular facial with an aesthetician you trust ensures you are taking the best care of your skin to suit its needs. Tune in to the episode to discover all that my own journey with my aesthetician has taught me.
Yearly or Bi-Yearly
Clear + Brilliant Laser Treatment
A long discussion is shared in the audio version sharing why I chose to try this procedure and now recommend it, my experience, the benefits and how often this skincare procedure is part of my skincare routine.
If you have any questions about anything that was discussed in this episode, please do share in the comments’ section below and I am happy to answer.
POSTS/EPISODES from the Archives You Might Enjoy
Petite Plaisir
Lonely Planet, Netflix
Watch the Trailer:
~Explore all of The Simple Sophisticate podcast episodes here.
Thanks for the list, Shannon! I’m close in age to you (47) and recently added marine collagen to my daily routine and I’ve really noticed a difference in my skin, hair and nails as well. The brand I use is called Landish, it may only be available in Canada, but a good collagen supplement is now essential for me. Mine dissolves completely in my coffee without any taste and I actually notice a difference in my joints if I miss a day. But I find my skin is plumper, fine lines are less noticeable and my hair is coming in thicker and my nails are practically indestructible.
Allison, thank you very much for sharing your collagen supplement. What a wonderful idea and thank you for sharing the noticeable differences. 🙂 That is wonderful to hear!
I have been thinking of switching my daily collagen supplement to a marine-based one, thanks for sharing yours!
I recommend making an appointment with an aesthetician for a consultation and facial. Take your current skin care products and makeup with you to the initial appointment so they can review your current routine. They will be able to recommend products to help achieve your skin goals, and your current makeup. My mom started taking me to her facial appointments as a teenager. She had a monthly appointment, and I am so grateful she stressed skin care and added me to her appointment.
I do use Orgain Collagen Peptides daily, and in my opinion it makes a difference. Orgain Collagen Peptides is Bobby Approved. For those of you not familiar with the app, the app tells the user if the product is clean–free of GMO’s and not bioengineered. The app is free and there is an iPhone and Android app.
I watch my diet and rarely indulge in sugar or processed foods. As Shannon stated you are what you eat. I drink water throughout the day, and no alcohol. I cannot stress the importance of exercise. Get out and enjoy nature and the abundance of federal, national, state, and local parks. Join a gym and lift heavy stuff. Find activities that appeal to you, and make them a priority.
Valerie,
Thank you for sharing all of this and such great tips and advice. Sharing your supplement for collagen is appreciated as well as is the info on Bobby Approved. All of what you shared is sage advice and a reminder of how much is in our control in our daily approach to living. Thank you again for your comment. 😌
I currently use Orgain Collagen Peptides as well added to my daily berry-kefir smoothie and am considering switching to a marine-based one–although Orgain is fantastic. Thanks for the intro to the Bobby Approved app, I check everything through the EWG site, but it is soooo thorough with myriad product reviews, it would be nice to find something a bit more direct, love how it works.
Smart choice with the collagen peptides. More effective as I mentioned. It ‘s a journey of discovery finding the right products for our skin as everyone’s needs is different. Also reviewing our skincare ia crucial as it changes as we go through our stages of ife. What worked in our 20’s won’t work later on😄.
Stay beautiful ma chère.
Bisou💕
Bonjour, Shannon! I, too, am enjoying the benefits of La Mer cream. J’adore Vintner’s Daughter serum though. Daily (!!) sunscreen is the absolute since I was 23 – even living in Seattle. Now that I’m nearly 72 I can see the benefits. Thanks for the update on your regime!
Janet,
Thank you very much for your comment and sharing what works best for you. As someone who has met you in person, I have to share for those who are reading your comment, your skin is beautiful and radiant, truly. It is immediately evident that you have taken care of your whole being – inside and out – thoughtfully. I have heard many recommend Vintner’s Daughter and have yet to try it, so I appreciate your testimonial. 🙂
I loved this episode. My evening skin care routine is the 10 mins of absolute calm in my day and the benefits extend beyond skin care for me. Like many women my own self care was often squeezed in around everyone else’s needs, but taking 10 unrushed minutes to myself every evening has become something I look forward to even at the end of a very long day.
I couldn’t agree with you more! I love my “me” time in the bathroom. My skincare routine involves makeup removal, face washed, toner, serum, night cream and eye cream. I mostly use Caudalie products and the eye cream has a wonderful metal tip that you can massage around your eyes and it helps with puffiness. It’s my little end of day wind down before I get into bed to read for a bit. Another thing I found that has helped my skin and hair is sleeping on a silk pillow case. It’s cause less breakage in my hair and no more morning pillow creases.
Silk pillowcases are beautiful and surprisingly cool in my hot climate.
I’ve been using Lancôme cleansers and toners and they are perfect for my post-50 skin. And smell divine. A little goes a long way so worth the investment.
I love silk pillowcases! My sister gifted me with a Blissy pillowcase for Christmas, and it has done wonders for my hair, which is curly, and my skin.
Elizabeth isn’t it so relaxing to have that me time to treat our skin ? I do a daily face massage( yoga for the face) and again before bed. I just set myself up to drift off.
Kameela
Dear Shannon, thank you for the recommendations. I have noticed the difference on my skincare needs as I age. I’m quite tempted to try the creme de la mer but wondered if it might irritate my sensitive skin. My current routine involves L’Occitane products but I feel like my skin is becoming drier and as a 50 something I’d like my skin to look plumper. I do have a monthly facial which I think is a worthwhile investment and keeps my skin in good shape. Lots of food for thought.
Nicola,
As someone who has VERY sensitive skin, I can assure with confidence that La Mer is wonderful and you will notice a softness and hydration of your skin which causes a decrease in fine lines with regular use. You have beautiful skin having had the opportunity to meet you in person, and it is evident you take thoughtful care of it. Having that monthly facial really does make a difference, doesn’t it? 🙂
An idea might be to try La Mer in a small quantity – they have .5 oz jars, and see how that lasts. It will last you about two weeks or so if you use it morning and night.
Bonjour, Shannon, and friends! I’ve paid quite a bit of attention to your skincare regime and product choices for a few years now. I, too, have sensitive skin, which has become much more sensitive as I’ve aged. In fact, I developed eczema on my face and neck about three years ago after never having never experienced it before. I have to be very careful; even the Elemis products irritated. After experimenting and noting results, I use mostly CeraVe products for cleansing (non-foaming) and moisturizing. I use their moisturizing cream with hyaluronic acid and ceramides both morning and evening. It’s very rich, and that’s what I need at my age (56). I alternate serums from The Ordinary (the price point is fantastic for my budget) and also Kiehls. I really like the latter’s Midnight Recovery line. (My daughter and I treated ourselves to facials at the Kiehls in Covent Garden on our last trip to the UK–so lovely!) I’ve decided to give Dt. Stum’s hyaluronic acid serum a try after your recommendation. By choosing less expensive options that work well for my skin, I can splurge judiciously. I’m enjoying reading everyone’s comments. Bonne journee!
I completely agree about La Mer products! I got a sample kit from the Nordstrom anniversary sale in July and my skin looks so much more radiant. I use the Treatment Lotion, pressing into my skin after cleansing, the Lifting Serum, Creme de la Mer (original), and the Neck and Decollete Creme which comes with a brush.
I really feel as if La Mer helps, and I’m 73, so I can use the help!
FYI At my 50 year high school reunion, the classmate with the most beautiful skin said she’s worked for Estee Lauder for 30 years and the products work. She glowed, but for me La Mer is the best since the results are almost immediate.
I also use Tretinoin occasionally for those pesky dark spots and of course sunscreen.
Cannon, Thank you so much for sharing this! I would agree, there products are high quality. I have used the repair serum to heal scars and the healing was immediate and complete. And did you know that Estée Lauder owns La Mer? It’s one of their most profitable lines, so you and your classmate both know of what you speak. Tickled to read all of this good news and for sharing about Tretinoin. Thank you!
Love this post, thank you Shannon for sharing your finds and routines, your skin is gorgeous. At 67, after decades of very little sunscreen and,even though I quit 30 years ago, smoking for a couple of decades, my chickens, as they say, have come home to roost. Currently I am using Sunday Riley’s A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum and I can report fantastic results–still much to work on!–but it is very easy on my very sensitive skin. I follow up with their C.E.O. vitamin C cream. My dilemma is finding a sunscreen that does not break me out,(oh that still-oily t-zone), a more emollient, but lightweight, daytime eye cream, a lightweight day lotion, and something to get rid of those smoker lines above my lips. EltaMD hopefully will work, I’ve gone through so many. Elemis works a dream in removing eye make-up, but I do find I need to cleanse afterwards. Much good advice to ponder and I love reading everyone else’s routines and suggestions!
Shannon what an orderly skincare cabinet. I love the Tatcha’s Kissu lip mask. So cute. I’m very religious about my skincare routine but do not spend a fortune on products. I enjoy making my own skincare products with natural oils and hydrating essential oils which target my skin needs. After I plunge my face in cold water to boost circulation I use my facial oil ( have shared the recipe with Michelle so she can comment on it) and religiously massage my face in the morning for at least twenty minutes. I use a jade roller for my eye area. I use the same oil at night with a drop of moisturiser. The scent of the oil helos me to drift off to sleep If I didn’t use my own facial oil I would happily choose Emna Hardie’s ( an Engish company based in Peterborough) brilliance facial oil at a good price point. My mother taught me from a young age not to wash my face too much as it strips the natural oils. I use Caudalie’s vinoperfect serum for dark spots and vinoperfect instant brightening moisturiser to which I add Paula’s choice pro- collagen peptide booster – just a drop . Peptides can penetrate the skin and send signals to the cells to produce more collagen and elastin by entering a repair mode. Whole collagen is difficult to digest/ absorb as the body only uses a small amount compared to a collagen peptide supplement. In the winter I switch to the very ridiculously affordable – about 15 euros for 75 mls. Weleda’s skin food. It creates a good barrier against the harsh elements. I akways have one in my handbag.It’s a well kept secret of many celebrities. It lasts for ages. Can be used on the face and the rest of the body. I love products that double up.
We can use all the best products in the world but if we do not eat healthily , drink enough water then creams or serums won’t be as effective. I like to indulge in coconut water for its intense hydration and Vit C( I grew up on a coconut plantation so I have been drinking it most of my life). Try and avoid added stress Stress hormones break down collagen and elastin in the skin so best to try and manage stress triggers. Avoid smoking, or being near it. A good night’s sleep is essential . Turn down the thermostat during the colder months. It’s very drying for the skin. Shorten the warm shower and switch to cold at the end. I start with a minute or two of cold then warm and finish with cold. It’s so energising. Exercise and being out in the fresh air. Cheeks always
look blushed naturally when outdoors.
Here are some of my natural beauty essentials. Castor oil( for my eye serum, and joints), coconut oil for moisturising, Jojoba and argan oil, sweet almond oil, olive oil, Vit E oil plus a few more.Rosewater ( home distilled in the summer,) Witch hazel for cleansing mixed with sweet almond oil. Aloe vera, vegetable glycerin, and shea butter and a selection of essential oils. I raid my kitchen cupboard for oatmeal, honey and turmeric and the fridge for yoghurt and fruit bowl to make my weekly mask. If it’s good enough to eat it’s good enough to apply to the skin. Don’t forget to smile it lights up the face
Bonne fin de semaine.
Kameela😊
You always give such brilliant advice on skincare, Kameela ma soeur. A big green tub of Weleda has been an essential for skin care since boarding school days, and now that I’ve aged, during the winter, I can use it lightly as a nighttime moisturizer. My hands especially love it. Yes, honey yogurt oatmeal cleansers and masks! And fruits. I just really need to be more consistent. And thanks for the reminder of drinking coconut water, hydration of course is key, but it contains such an amazing array of beneficial nutrients. Caudalie you recommended to me, ages ago, and I should have listened to my much wiser sister.😘 I also like spritzing Thermal water after cleansing, before applying products, it seems to balance and calm my skin. And yes, a brilliant smile, ( with a nice red lip, bien sur!), is the best cosmetic you can have. Bonne fin de semaine! Gros bisous 💕
Avec plaisir ma soeur. I love the alchemy of making my own products. My first degree is Chemistry!
How can I have forgotten the red lip? Thank you for the reminder😃. Spritzing is a great way to feel refreshed and lock in moisture.
Bon weekend💕
Gros bisous
Loved, loved, LOVED this episode! I have my first laser appointment in January, winter to stay out of the sun, and it was so great to hear your experience. I also added a retinal into my routine two months back and been so pleased! Thanks for sharing!
Emily,
Thank you for tuning in and so tickled you found this episode helpful. If you have further questions leading up to your appointment, don’t hesitate to reach out, and of course, your best resource will be the practitioners, so don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need. I must admit, there were slight nerves for my first one but once I realized how it worked, the next time it was a breeze. It’s just the unknown, so hopefully I have assuaged some wonderings. The key thing is to be ready to rest and lay low for a couple of days, but you will be so happy with the results. It is worth it and happy to hear you are seeing the retinol work so well! 🙂
Thank you for your comment.