We've put together the most effective anti-aging skincare routine for you to follow both day and night. This simple skincare routine can act as a strong foundation for beautiful, healthy-looking skin.
All of the skincare options we have available today can be thought of as both a blessing and a curse: Sure, you have seemingly endless possibilities for how to take care of your skin, but with that usually comes the feeling of “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 both 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.
Rise and shine, skincare enthusiast! It’s a new day, and a new chance to get the glowing, younger-looking skin you’ve been after. Luckily you don’t need an arsenal of luxury items or a separate savings account for anti-aging treatments; just the right lineup of effective products. After a good night’s sleep (preferably one that didn’t include the “sleep wrinkles” that come from pressing your face against a pillow), here’s the anti-aging skincare routine to start your morning off right.
You may have gone to bed with clean skin, but 8 hours of accumulated skin oil means it’s time for a little TLC. The right face wash will leave skin optimally balanced — make sure to pick a cleansing cream that’s gentle and non-drying, using cool water in the morning to invigorate your skin for the day. And if you have skin that’s oily or acne-prone, you’ll also want to use a toner. Once your skin is clean, apply a small amount of toner on to a cotton ball, and gently wipe your face. Making this a necessary part of your anti-aging skincare routine morning and night after cleansing helps remove excess oil and tighten your pores, revealing smoother looking skin.
Now it’s time to give your skin the specialized anti-aging attention it craves with anti-aging serums. Two of our favorite choices are Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C serums. Their powers help boost the effectiveness of your daily moisturizer. A Vitamin C booster is a powerhouse for anti-aging: not only does it help treat and prevent wrinkles, but this concentrate also helps to improve the appearance of dark spots, uneven skin tone and enlarged pores. Your complexion will look brighter, more radiant and more even.
For targeted and prolonged hydration, a hydrating serum with Hyaluronic Acid is a great choice. Since dehydration is a major factor in skin looking older (if you need more motivation to drink plenty of water), Hyaluronic Acid locks in moisture while treating fine lines and dull skin. Hyaluronic Acid has the dual benefit of both providing instant plumpness, as well as long-term benefit of locked-in moisture. In either case, just remember that when applying any anti-aging serum, be sure to pat (don’t rub) it into your skin.
Sometimes your skin needs a little extra boost of targeted nourishment, especially during the colder months, and that’s where a hydrating face oil comes in. Simply apply a few drops of moisturizing face oil after your serums, morning or night, as needed. The /skin regimen/ nourishing 10.0 Tulsi Booster has the added benefit of being powered by Tulsi (or “Holy Basil”), an Indian herb known to restore moisture and add antioxidant protection. Tulsi oil also has adaptogenic properties, meaning it helps to safeguard your body against the effects of stress, eliminating toxins and inflammation in the skin.
Most people focus on an anti-aging skincare routine that targets the face, but delicate areas such as your neck, hands, and eyes are also very susceptible to early signs of aging. Kick fine lines to the curb by applying a revitalizing eye lift cream as a part of your morning skincare routine. A moisturizing eye cream works to fight crow’s feet, puffiness, and dark circles, gently lifting the delicate skin around your eyes with a light texture. To use, apply a small amount of the eye cream under your eyes and on the eyelids, and gently tap until completely absorbed. For anyone who spends a lot of time working in front of a computer screen, try applying some eye cream as a midday pick-me-up to fight eye strain and fatigue.
Next, we moisturize. An anti-aging daily face moisturizer helps to smooth fine lines, firm skin and lock in moisture as a key part of your morning skincare routine. To use, apply the moisturizer to your face and neck after any serums and cleansers. Start from the center and massage outwards — when in doubt, go out and up to fight against the natural pull of gravity. If you can find a little extra time in the morning, take this opportunity to treat yourself to a mini facial massage. There’s no easier way to guarantee a good day than a little at-home spa treatment.
You don’t need to have a 5-hour beach day ahead of you to justify applying some SPF. Regardless of the time of year, the benefits of applying sunscreenas the last step in your everyday anti-aging skincare routine are numerous. Exposure to UVA and UVB rays can mean sun damage, which is one of the main culprits of early signs of aging. So, to ensure your skin is protected against the elements, apply a light facial sunscreen after your moisturizer and face the environment with confidence (and younger-looking skin).
If you're someone who uses foundation after your skincare routine, it can also be beneficial to look for one that has SPF protection built-in – in the off chance you forget to apply your sunscreen during the skincare steps, you know your face is protected.
You may have left the house with glowing, beautiful skin, but exposure to pollutants, harsh weather and the build-up of natural oils throughout the day mean that it’s time to do a revised version of your morning anti-aging skincare routine. Having a nighttime skincare ritual not only ensures that your skin will be hitting the pillow clean and refreshed, but also creates a relaxing and pampering experience to unwind after a stressful day.
While we’ll be adding some new anti-aging tools into the mix, most of the products you’ll be using at night will be the same as those in your morning routine; this makes it easy to remember and less of an investment. We see many sweet dreams ahead.
Ready to remove a day’s worth of oil build-up, make-up, and pollution? Start off your nighttime skincare routine by washing your face with a gentle cleanser. Apply a cream cleanser with lukewarm water to your skin, massaging in a circular motion until you’ve created a gentle foam. While cool water helps to revitalize you in the morning, warm water at night is a soothing way to unwind while taking care of your skin. And just like in the morning, those with oily or acne-prone skin should follow this step with some toner to restore the optimal balance of their skin. If you wear a lot of makeup during the day, or if your skin feels a little grimier than usual, it might be necessary to double cleanse before moving onto the next step: exfoliation.
Now that your skin is prepped, it’s time for an even deeper clean. Aging slows down cellular turnover, which means your skin can’t be replenished as quickly as it once was. Slower cellular turnover can result in dead skin cells making your complexion look uneven, dull and dry. The act of exfoliation gently removes pollutants and dead skin cells, leaving you with a brighter (and more youthful-looking) complexion. Exfoliating a few times a week not only helps to unclog pores and even out your skin tone but also primes your skin to better absorb any serums or moisturizers you’ll be adding after. Gently massage the exfoliant into your skin, making sure to avoid the delicate eye area.
Applying Hyaluronic Acid serum keeps your skin moisturized and plump during the day, so now it’s time to continue it during your beauty sleep. Add a few drops to your face and neck after cleansing, concentrating the serum in areas where you have the most noticeable fine lines and wrinkles, and gently pat into your skin until its completely absorbed. If you're looking for a proper anti-aging routine, adding in a natural retinol serum is an absolute must. Recommended to visibly fight wrinkles and other skin imperfections, retinol corrects signs of aging while also improving the firmness of the skin. This concentrated retinol booster from /skin regimen/ combines different vitamins and extracts for the most intensive, results-driven experience possible. Tissue regeneration is stimulated, while the effects of aging and stress are counteracted.
After cleansing, apply a few drops of retinol serum to your neck and face, patting into your skin for maximum absorption. It’s important to note that retinol serum should be applied at night for two reasons: it increases your skin’s sensitivity to UV rays, and sunlight itself can decrease the effectiveness of the product. But in the off chance that you went a little heavy on the sun exposure during the day, retinol is actually a great treatment to help renew skin after potential damage.
Eye cream is just as important at night as it is during your morning skincare routine. Show your eyes some love (and fight the signs of aging) after a day in front of a computer screen, squinting to see things far away, or just being exposed to environmental pollutants. Application is the same — pat the eye cream under your eyes and directly on your eyelids, until completely absorbed.
Sebum production decreases with age — those with oily skin might view this fact and sigh with relief, but the bad news is that overly dry skin also tends to age faster. Make sure you’re sticking to a proper moisturizing routine in the morning and at night to prevent the premature aging of skin. Instead of your usual moisturizer, swap in an intensive overnight mask: this will give your skin an extra boost of moisture while helping to further protect the barrier of your skin against outside stressors and signs of aging. What’s better than waking up to more beautiful skin?
Even though it can be hard to find extra time to dedicate to yourself during the day, making an anti-aging skincare routine is a necessary part of your daily schedule and will be well worth it. The combined power of cleanser, toners, anti-aging serums, retinol, eye cream, sunscreen and moisturizer help to both nourish your skin with nutrients and moisture, while also fighting signs of aging and protecting against future environmental damage. Using these products as a part of little daily rituals can help to both invigorate you in the morning, as well as helping you to take a personal moment and unwind after a hectic day.
Just remember to take care of yourself from the inside out: stay hydrated, get enough sleep, fuel your body with delicious and nutritious foods, and take care of your skin with an anti-aging skincare routine, and you'll be well on your way to beautiful and younger-looking skin, no matter your age.
