The No-B.S. List of Everything I’m Doing for My Skin at 40
Products I swear by, in-office treatments, and thoughts on injectables
I’m halfway through the first year of my forties, and while I won’t claim to have it all figured out, I can say that my skincare is extremely dialed in. This year, I’ve felt more challenged than ever to prioritize what’s most important and let go of the rest, and this has certainly been my approach to my skin. “Less but better” is my mantra (for everything, in fact), and I’m finding that staying super consistent with just a handful of products has given me the best results I’ve experienced in years.
So, thought I’d pull together a list of what’s working for my skin right now. Read on for:
The exact products I’m using (and in what order)
3 at-home tools I use weekly
The in-office treatments I get, including my current approach to Botox
My skincare lineup
The following are extremely results-driven products that I’ve used until empty and ordered replacements. I use these (in order) both morning and night, except where noted:
Cetaphil Cleanser. I love a splurge-y skincare product (as you’ll see) but cleanser is not one of them. Since there’s not much opportunity for active ingredients to sink in, I prefer a gentle, non-irritating classic like this one. It gets the job done and I can save my beauty budget for the more effective products.
True Botanicals Ginger Turmeric Cleansing Balm. That said, I can’t quit this cleansing balm that feels like a spa every time I put it on my face. I use it (at night only) to remove my makeup. I massage it into my skin for about a minute, then do a second cleanse afterward with Cetaphil.
U Beauty Resurfacing Compound. This replaces so many different serums I used to use—it’s my retinol, vitamin C, antioxidants, and hydroxy acids all in one, and encourages cell turnover without irritation.
SkinCeuticals P-TIOX. This new peptide serum has been proven in clinical trials to reduce lines and give a glass-skin radiance. Interesting fact: it was actually made to complement neurotoxin injections if you’re already getting them—but it’s also effective on its own for “needle-free wrinkle correction.”
U Beauty SUPER Hydrator. For morning—it’s the nourishing but totally nongreasy lotion my combination skin loves. The hyaluronic acid melts into the skin for all-day moisture and bounce.
iNNBEAUTY Extreme Cream. For night—this is such a good anti-aging treatment. It firms everything up and lifts the skin, while also repairing the skin barrier. I slather it over my face and neck before bed.
True Botanicals At-Home Facialist Peel. 1-2x per week, I put this all over my face and let it do its work while I soak in the bath. There’s a little tingle from the AHA, BHA, PHA, and THX combo that gives a professional-grade exfoliation. My skin feels brighter and smoother after, and I follow it up with my weekly dermaplane session, which leads me to…
The skincare tools I swear by
Dermaflash Luxe+. I’ve been a die-hard enthusiast of this product for years—I genuinely don’t know why everyone’s not using it. It gets rid of peach fuzz, as well as any dead skin that’s hanging around to unclog pores, giving that glass-skin radiance.
ZIIP Halo. I’ve used the ZIIP for a while, but it wasn’t until I turned 40 that it became an almost daily part of my routine. I usually use it for 5 - 10 minutes during my morning routine, while I’m reading for the ultimate habit stack. I really believe that it gives a lifted, tighter, more toned facial structure. Microcurrent stimulates the muscles to relax and contract, so it’s like a mini workout for your face.
The Skinny Confidential Ice Roller. After I ZIIP, I pull my ice roller out of the freezer and roll my entire face to flush out any stagnation, reduce swelling, and get the fascia moving. It tightens everything up.
Let’s talk in-office treatments
First: what you do at the dermatologist depends on your goals and your beauty budget, and it can range from absolutely nothing (yes you can have amazing skin without doing anything in-office) all the way up to regular facials, peels, lasers, injections, etc. I like to focus on what will give me the biggest bang for my buck (and my time), so I always talk with my derm about what treatment will give my skin the most improvement.
On average, I’ll get 2 - 3 treatments per year, which might be a chemical peel, a laser treatment, or microneedling with radio frequency. Each of these serves a different purpose so I’m treating various signs of aging: discoloration (sun spots, melasma, etc.), fine lines/wrinkles, sagging/drooping, and skin texture. My goal is not to “prevent” aging (not possible), it’s to maintain healthy tone, texture, and collagen levels. Often, I think people tell themselves they’ll just go “fix” their skin with injectables, but no amount of Botox or filler is going to repair skin that’s lost elasticity or a healthy texture.
I’ve started getting Microtox (tiny amounts of Botox) in a few places to help relax the appearance of fine lines and subtly lift one of my brows to give more symmetry. I think that a few eye crinkles and fine lines are absolutely beautiful, so my goal is a natural softness that helps me feel awake and energized, without any type of frozen effect.
Injectables are such a personal decision, and I support whatever makes people feel like the most confident versions of themselves. That said, I think there’s an overuse of injectables these days, largely because of what we’re all exposed to on social media. It makes me a little sad when I see people get so much filler that they start to look eerily similar to other people with similar filler. It’s our uniqueness that makes us beautiful and anything that masks our authenticity also dims our light.
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I’m grateful to live in a time with such incredible skincare and treatments, but I also never want to forget that there’s nothing more beautiful than a woman who’s fully confident in who she is. Curiosity, kindness, and a lighthearted spirit are more attractive than anything money can buy. To me, this is aging gracefully—instead of striving for what used to be, to embrace the now with boldness and confidence, and an inner light that shines brighter every year.