Dear friends. Time for a beauty update, as I've changed my routine as winter approaches, and have been trying a few new products. Unless indicated, I bought them myself, and these are my honest thoughts. I've also covered some of the energy and cell rejuvenating supplements I use.
First, my usual disclaimer, which is not to expect any radical improvements from using skincare products, no matter how enticing the marketing messages - how pro-ageing or pro-menopause they are.
I accept that at my age, only surgery or lavish use of "tweakments" will reverse the signs of ageing. Neither are on my shopping list.
Those curious looking LED masks that social media influencers like to wear, looking like a BAFTA award? Useless apparently, according to research.
But good skincare, and a consistent routine, can improve our skin, making it look more radiant and luminous, and reducing - slightly - pigmentation. More on that in a moment.
A few months ago I went off "actives" in skincare products - the likes of retinol, AHas, peptides and so on. My skin had become a bit sensitive to them, and resistant too. I kept to a very simple regime for a few months, with Aveeno becoming my moisturiser, and I was able to reintroduce actives. These, ladies, are the products that will make your skin more luminous and radiant.
First up: I've been using Dr Sister's Dark Spot Vanish for more than 6 months. My assessment is that for small spots of recent pigmentation, it does work. I was horrified this year when I started to see more brown spots on my cheeks, the legacy of teenage years spent sunbathing without proper SPFs. Dark Spot Vanish has eliminated them.
The best proof is the picture at the bottom. You can see a brown patch on my cheek. Well, this appeared about a year ago, and it's been totally eliminated by Dark Spot Vanish.
The product hasn't made much of a dent in my two long-term brown patches. I've had one on my left cheek for probably 20 years. It usually improves anyway in winter but always comes back with a vengeance in summer, in spite of using an SPF50 every day.
These patches are extremely annoying to me because they're exactly where I want to apply blusher, one of the best products for older women in terms of giving us a glow.
A real gamechanger for making your skin clearer, smoother and simply better is Vitamin C. An Is This Mutton reader, Di, emailed to say she had noticed a huge difference using Vitamin C plus Niacinamide (a refining serum).
New Serums from Dr Sister
As it happens, I've been trying some new serums from Dr Sister. These were gifted. I did some research about how to use serums because I remember reading somewhere that they can't all be used at the same time.
Morning Routine
I've just started added Dr Sister's Niacinamide Serum to my routine, thanks to Di, letting it sink in before applying their Hyaluronic Acid hydrating serum followed by Dr Sister Younger You skin cream (not gifted). A terrible name but I've been using it for a year and like it. A hyaluronic acid is a great thing to use - it's a humectant that binds and retains water in the skin, keeping it hydrated and plump. After the cream I use an SPF50 (also by Dr Sister, not gifted). It's important to carry on using SPF50 in the colder months because the sun is still there, even if we can't see it.
Evening Routine
In the evening, my routine is cleansing with Caudalie Almond Cleansing Milk, applying the Dark Spot Vanish to problem areas, and then using two other serums from Dr Sister, on alternate nights. I highly recommend the Vitamin C serum. Vitamin C applied to the skin can encourage new collagen to grow. It also helps maintain the collagen you do have and protects the precious protein from damage.
It has definitely brightened my skin since I started using it.
The other serum I use is Dr Sister's Multi Peptide Smoothing Serum. Peptides are another way of encouraging collage production. They work well with Vitamin C serums. You shouldn't mix them with AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) because their acidic pH is undesirable for peptides. I let the peptide serum soak in and then apply a cheapo night cream from Aveeno.
Make-Up Needed a Rethink
If I'm just pootling around, going for a walk or going to the shops, I don't wear a lot of make-up, just a little concealer, applying it with a brush, and possibly a little blusher. That's it, apart from lip salve.
If I'm going out, or taking photos, I'll add a few more products. I've been using the same foundation for several years, on the recommendation of Penny from Frugal Fashion Shopper. I like to use Clarins Everlasting Youth Fluid, shade Honey, in the winter. It gives more coverage, although still looks fresh and natural. I can't bear the mask look of some foundations.
I used to wonder why older women said they hardly ever used make-up. Now I know why. After age 60 I noticed make-up was gathering in lines and wrinkles after a few hours. The trick is being very sparing, and using good quality brushes to apply it.
What I do now is apply foundation with a brush. I use Lisa Eldridge's No 1 seamless blend brush. I apply a little foundation to the back of my hand and then transfer it to the brush. The brush is great for blending it in, avoiding those tell-tale tide marks. Below: covering the pesky pigmentation and dark under-eye circles.
A lipstick in a flattering shade is a great finishing touch. Below: I treated myself to the new Rouge Experience Refillable lipstick from Lisa Eldridge. in shade Audrey. It's described as an iconic, late 1950s/early 1960s salmon-pink. I even had my initials added to the beautiful tube. A birthday present to myself!
Having Trouble Sleeping?
I find the very act of applying This Works Deep Sleep Body Cocoon before bed helps to relax me - it must be the delicious lavender scent. Anyway, the psychology of it certainly helps when I'm finding it hard to sleep.
Keeping Cells In Good Shape
Morning Routine
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