Dear friends. I've done a complete 360 degree turn on my skincare and makeup routine. I've turned my back on "active" ingredients. My skin looks far better as a result.
I was using a lot of "actives," products with ingredients like retinol, AHAs and peptides. These are said to improve the appearance of mature skin, but what they do is exfoliate. They are fine if you're in your 40s and early 50s. But my belief is, they are too harsh once we're past menopause.
So here's what I'm doing instead.
I've had misgivings before about all the "actives" that we're encouraged to use, particularly in terms of layering products. A lot of it really is marketing nonsense, because some actives really can't penetrate below the surface of the skin. And they have a drying effect, which is the worst thing for our skin as we get older.
I noticed that far from improving the appearance, the products seemed to be making it worse. Wrinkles were more noticeable and my skin was looking dry and dull!
GENTLE IS BETTER FOR SKINCARE OVER 60
I have gone back to gentle products with no actives. I've seen a big improvement in skin surface, smoothness and radiance. There's also a bonus of no pilling, those awful "crumbs" that appear when you've used products containing silicone that fight each other.
At night time I alternate between The Ordinary's Hyaluronic 2% + B5, and Aveeno Calm and Restore Re-Hydrating Night Cream. Neither of them have high-end prices. For daytime I'm using Clinique Moisture Surge moisturizer and a brilliant new SPF Primer from ARK Skincare.
NEW ARK SKIN PROTECTOR SPF PRIMER
I normally resent having to wear SPF. The mineral versions leave white marks and are impossible to blend in, and the others sometimes interfere with my other products and cause pilling. Or they just don't seem to work!
ARK is a British brand who use wholly organic ingredients, and their products are very good. Their Skin Proector SPF30 has a lower SPF than I would normally use (30), but that's good because it encourages me to reapply, which I wouldn't normally do unless I was on a beach.
I'm having their SPF Primer a pleasure to use because it really is like a usual skincare product. It has the pleasant light eucalyptus scent, and doesn't make my skin dry or flaky. It's full of luscious ingredients like hyaluronic acid.
I'm not one for doing videos, I personally get fed up with people wanting my attention all the time, but I did do a quick Reel because I rate this product so highly.
For additional plumpness and smoothness, I spray on Lisa Eldridge Skin and Makeup Enhancing Face Mist after I've applied whatever makeup I'm using. It provides more moisture, sets your makeup and has a lovely light fragrance.
IT'S TRUE, WE NEED LESS MAKEUP AS WE AGE
I used to scoff at claims that as we get older, we need less makeup. But I'm finding it's true. I usually use concealer and eyebrow pencil and maybe a little blush during the day. I've found that by lunchtime the products have flaked off or have collected in the lines and wrinkles. This is in spite of using high-end products and trying different combinations.
Foundation seems to be a no no. But I've found a lighter skin tint - Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint- that works far better. It's now sold in Space NK as well as Liberty and Selfridges, as well as online. You might be using a CC or BB cream for the same effect.
I'm still a big fan of eye makeup when I'm going Out Out. Look Fabulous Forever, who specialise in makeup for older women, kindly sent me their two new No Shimmer Eye Shades, Khaki and Dark Taupe.
