We've put together the most effective anti-aging skincare routine for you to follow day and night. This simple skincare routine can act as a strong foundation for beautiful, healthy-looking skin.
But, "where do I even start?” Rather than encourage you to fall down a rabbit hole of Google searches or look for inconsistent answers from friends, we've put together the most effective anti-aging skincare routine for you to follow day and night.
While we'd always recommend consulting with a dermatologist for specific issues or targeted concerns, following this simple skincare routine can act as a strong foundation for beautiful, fresh and (most importantly) healthy-looking skin. It doesn't matter if you're just getting into anti-aging preventative products in your early 20s or looking to treat existing signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines — using basic products like a good moisturizer, sunscreen, retinol, and eye cream is the key to unlocking younger-looking skin.
A good routine can help your skin look and feel great — but it doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Here are the basic steps recommended.
In the morning
“Typically I think of our morning routine as protecting our skin and our nighttime routine as repairing it,” Dr. Khetarpal says.
She recommends starting with these 3 products in the a.m.:
- Cleanser: Even if your face feels clean in the morning, she recommends washing it with a gentle, non-medicated cleanser, which will clean the skin without leaving it too dry. Always using a facial cleansing brush is better than clean your face with your fingers.
- Antioxidant cream, serum, or oil: You’re looking for something that contains antioxidants such as vitamins C that hydrates, brightens and stimulates collagen in the skin.
They also offer protection from molecules in our environment (called free radicals) that can damage the skin.
- Sunscreen: Use a product with at least SPF 30 to protect your skin from ultraviolet radiation. The cream you put on in the previous step — or the concealer or foundation you’re going to put on next — might already contain this.
If it doesn’t, apply a separate facial sunscreen. “I recommend a sunscreen with either iron oxide, zinc oxide, or titanium dioxide,” Dr. Khetarpal says.
After these steps, you’re all set to put on makeup, if that’s your thing.
In the evening
At night, you’re focused on cleaning and repairing your skin. Here’s how you can do that:
- Makeup remover: “Most cleansers aren’t going to take off all of our makeup, so it’s not a bad idea to do a makeup remover first,” Dr. Khetarpal says. Several products can remove makeup, including wipes, micellar water, or balms.
- Cleanser: You can use the gentle cleanser you use in the morning or a different one that’s more targeted toward your skin type.
Acne-prone skin might do well with a face wash that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, Dr. Khetarpal says.
Someone who’s in their 30s or 40s might opt for something with an alpha hydroxy acid, such as glycolic acid, that brightens the skin and can help with pigmentation.
- Toner (optional): If you don’t use a makeup remover before washing your face, wiping with a toner afterward can pick up any additional dirt and makeup that your cleanser didn’t get.
Dr. Khetarpal recommends this option for people who tend to have more oily skin. “Some toners are alcohol-based and can strip the natural oils from your skin and lead to dryness or irritation,” she says.
- Night cream: As a final step in your nightly routine, apply a vitamin A-based cream to help build new collagen, and keep the skin looking young.
Dr. Khetarpal recommends one that contains tretinoin, retinol, or adapalene. If it dries out your skin at all, you can add a moisturizer that contains ceramide or hyaluronic acid on top.
Adding tools to your skincare routine
If you are starting using anti-aging tools you can start with a facial roller like the LUCE Beauty Booster. Because of its shape and cooling properties, it works to promote lymphatic drainage and reduce bloat in your face, which creates a more sculpted look.
If you prefer to a tool that will work on your face muscles, you can choose the LUCE 4T Therapy, that offers 4 types on therapies at once: Microcurrent, red LED light, heat therapy and sonic vibrations, with 5 minutes per day you can achieve great results.
It’s not just about what you put on your face
It’s important to remember that no product on any shelf is going to give you fabulous, glowing skin if you don’t take care of it from the inside out.
Like the rest of your body, your skin won’t be at its best if you aren’t getting enough sleep (yes, beauty sleep is a real thing), managing your stress, and eating a healthy, well-rounded diet.
