Evening Skin Care Routine for Women Over 50

Sometimes I get asked about my skincare routine, so I thought that today I would share my evening skincare routine with you.


(This post contains some affiliate links which were added to make it easier for you to find the items. If you click on the links and make a purchase, it doesn't cost more, but I will receive a small commission. You are free to use the links or not. If you do, I thank you!)

First, let me tell you a little about my skin (just in case you haven't heard me complain talk about it before): I'm 54, so I have mature skin. I have a few fine lines around my eyes (from laughing every day!), a couple of lines between my eyes (from frowning when I find laundry 2 feet from the laundry basket), deepened nasolabial folds (I guess this is from the laughing, too), and some areas of enlarged pores on the sides of my nose, on my forehead between my eyes, and on my cheeks right by my nose (this is just genetics and a big thank you from Father Time). As if that doesn't provide enough fun times, I also have sensitive skin that can get oily in the T-zone, but have dry patches elsewhere - and I am prone to clogged pores and breakouts. During seasons when allergens that I'm sensitive to are present in the environment, I can also get patches of eczema on my face and neck. It does make finding skincare products tricky - especially when I like to try new products and review them on the blog! I admit to being a little envious of those who can just use anything they want on their skin without having any negative reactions! (You can read more about my skin here.)

All of that boils down to this: I have to be very careful about the products I use on my face and neck. Fragrance is a big no-no, and my skin also responds negatively to things like glycolic and lactic acid. I also don't want to clog my pores. Once my pores become clogged, it's difficult to unclog them (since I can't use acids), and then the involved skin becomes reddened and will stay discolored for a fairly long period of time.

If you read my blog regularly (thank you!), you know that I try a lot of different products despite all of these issues. But the products I'm going to list for you today are the ones that are in my regular routine. They're my favorite products - the ones that I use the most, the ones I always come back to, the ones I can count on to make my skin look it's best.

1) The first product I use at night is Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water Makeup Remover (13.5 oz. $7.99). This is the most awesome makeup remover ever, and if you haven't tried it, you need to get some! It even removes waterproof makeup easily. I reviewed it not long ago (you can read my review here), and I just love how well it works. Plus it's inexpensive and you get a large amount! I use this with exfoliating cotton pads to remove my makeup. There are two versions - the one with the blue cap is the waterproof version.


2) Next, I wash my face with the Pure & Pretty Clarifying Cleanser (4 oz. $12-$13) from I Feel Pretty Products (this is my company) and a konjac sponge. I started making cleanser and other products about 15 years ago because my daughter had such sensitive skin we couldn't find any drugstore products she could use on her face. Friends started asking for the products, and eventually it just made sense to turn it into a business. This cleanser doesn't contain any surfactants, so it's not drying - and it only foams if you put it in a foamer bottle. (The bottle pictured below has the old label on it - I haven't had a chance to photograph the bottles with the new labels and new backgrounds!) I love konjac sponges for keeping my face gently exfoliated. I was using the boscia sponges, but if you can't catch them on sale, they're $15 each. I just found a konjac sponge 4 pack on Amazon that looks identical, and it was just $12.95 for all four. So I'm anxious to try them to see how they compare.


3) Immediately after I cleanse, I apply Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 1% BHA Lotion Exfoliant (3.3 oz. $26). A lot of people don't know this, but the pH of your cleanser, and the pH of your BHA make a big difference in how well your BHA works. If your cleanser has a pH of 5.5 or less, you can apply your BHA immediately after cleansing and still get maximum exfoliating benefits. If your cleanser has a pH of more than 5.5, it's best to wait 30 minutes after cleansing before applying the BHA. It doesn't "hurt" to apply it sooner, but you just won't get the maximum benefits from it. (The pH of the IFP cleanser is about 5.5.) The pH of your BHA product affects how much free acid is available. Most drugstore products have higher pH levels, so even if they say they have 2% BHA, they may only have 1% acid available. Paula's Choice has a good pH for BHA (as do the IFP BHA and AHA products - no longer available), so you get the amount of acid listed on the bottle. My skin is very sensitive to BHA and AHA, so I have to use the lowest amount available in a lotion base. For some reason, it loves the 1% Paula's Choice product, so I stick with that.


4) Even at my age, I still tend to get a few breakouts on my chin. But if I use Paula's Choice Clear Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment (2.25 oz. $17) every night, it keeps them in check. I only use the tiniest amount (you wouldn't think it would be enough to make a difference!), so the tube lasts forever. It contains 2.5% benzoyl peroxide, but I never have an issue with flakiness.


5)  For my anti-aging treatment, I apply I'll Get You Lines, My Pretty (0.33 oz. $16.50) (Sorry! No longer available!) to my forehead, undereye area, nasolabial folds, above my upper lip, and my neck. Just a drop or two to those areas absorbs quickly and completely. This product contains Matrixyl 3000 and other actives that encourage collagen production, help prevent collagen loss, and tighten the skin. There is no added fragrance. (Again, the bottle pictured below has the old label on it - I'm hoping to get the new photos finished soon.)


6) If I had to choose only one facial product, this would be the one - Pretty Pearlfection Cream (0.5 oz. $10, 1.7 oz. $28). This is another IFP product, and it's the one I credit with keeping my skin clear, and reducing redness. I actually just did a reformulation of the product. I didn't change the basic formula, but just changed the consistency to make it a little thinner, and now it comes in an airless pump instead of a wide-mouth jar. (You know I hate those wide-mouth jars!) It's a moisturizer, but so much more. Pearl powder can help reduce redness, increase healing, absorb oil, and improve skin texture. The product also contains silk powder and some great oils that are both moisturizing and antioxidants. The photo below actually does show the new labels with the new logos and the new backgrounds I plan to use!


7) This is a newer product that I've added to my routine, but I love it because it gives my skin a different type of moisture - CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion (3 oz. $12). I really love the ceramides in this! I reviewed it recently (you can read my review here), and I'm almost ready to buy a second bottle. I use it on the back of my hands, too!


8) The CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream (1.7 oz. $13) is the last step in my nighttime skin routine. I wait to apply this right before I go to bed, because it is a thicker, richer cream, and I don't like having it on my face when I'm awake! But I do love how my skin feels when I wake up in the morning. I just reviewed this (you can read the review here), and I'll be repurchasing this soon, too. Even though my skin is breakout prone and this is a heavier cream, I haven't had any issues with clogged pores or breakouts. Just lots of moisture!


Other than my facial exercises, that is my evening skincare routine! I know it sounds like a lot, but it's really not, and I can whip through it in just a few minutes.

I'm not sure if you noticed, but all of the products I use are reasonably priced. I've tried many products in different price ranges, but these are the ones that I've found work the best for me. You may have also noticed that there is not a product that is specifically for eyes. It's not for lack of trying them! I've found that using the above products works just as well (if not better) than any product that is specifically for the eye area. So I just save myself some money and use the same products all over my face.

I hope you found some of this information helpful - and even though I'm over 50, there's really no reason why this information and these products can't be used by someone in their 40's or even in their 30's.

I'll be covering my morning routine soon, so I hope you'll be back for that!

FYI, May 2017: I have changed a few things in my skincare routine since this post was published in June 2016. I will be doing an updated version of this post soon!