Anti-aging Morning Skincare Routine (2017)

Last June, I wrote a post about my Morning Skin Care Routine for Women Over 50. Since then, I have changed several products in my morning routine, so I wanted to share an updated post.


(This post may contain affiliate links which were added to make it easier for you to find the items. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). You are free to use the links or not - if you do, I thank you!)

As some of you know, mature skin offers a whole new set of issues, and sometimes those issues combine with the same ones you had when you were younger. That's just wrong - am I right?! You can read all about my own particular set of skin care issues here, but briefly, I have combination, sensitive skin that is breakout prone. I have a few fine lines, and have recently been struggling with undereye issues (puffiness, dark circles, sunken tear troughs). Menopause has brought on insomnia, which has never been as issue for me in the past, so it's giving me dark circles, which is also a new experience. I was diagnosed with rosacea (subtype 2) in March 2018.


1) The first step in my morning routine is cleansing. There was a time when I only rinsed my face with warm water in the mornings. Since I use heavier moisturizing products at night now, I like to use a mild cleanser in the mornings to remove any residual products and start with a "clean slate".

I have about three cleansers that I routinely reach for in the morning, but if I'm testing new cleansers, morning is usually when I will first try them out. My favorite cleansers for morning are:

• Pure & Pretty Clarifying Cleanser from I Feel Pretty - which is my company, and I make the cleanser myself ($12-13 for 8 oz.; becomes 16 oz. if used in a foamer bottle)
• Tarte Frxxxtion Stick Exfoliating Cleanser ($22 for 1 oz.) 
• CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser ($12 for 16 oz.) 

Lately, my skin has been a bit flaky from tretinoin (Retin A), so I reach for the CeraVe cleanser more often because it's so hydrating. However, I don't usually use the CeraVe cleanser when I have a sunless tan because for some reason, it seems to remove the tan. (Update April 2018: Since my rosacea diagnosis, I have been using the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser in the morning to help combat the dryness I get from the prescription cleanser I use at night.)


2) The first thing I do after cleansing is apply the 20% Vitamin C+E+Ferulic Acid Serum from Timeless. I do purchase mine from Amazon but I want to caution you to check out the feedback for the sellers. Apparently, there are some who sell fake products. I always use Amazon Prime for quick, free shipping, but I read the feedback for the specific seller, even if it is shipped by Amazon. (I've ordered from "Tommy Health" and "AsavvySavers", and Amazon handles the shipping for their orders.) Purchased from Timeless, the price is $25 for 1 oz.; on Amazon, I usually pay around $15-17.

I leave my face damp after cleansing, then apply several drops of the serum to my face, neck, decollete, and the back of my hands. It absorbs almost instantly. Another Vitamin C serum that I like is from Mad Hippie, so that's another option.


3) Immediately after applying the Vitamin C serum, I apply the "Buffet" multi-peptide serum from The Ordinary. I use about 3-4 drops, applied with damp hands to my face, neck, decollete, and any excess goes on the back of my hands.

This is another serum that absorbs quickly, so you can move immediately on to the next product. It does leave a very light tackiness to my skin, but I have no problem applying products over it. It comes in a 1 oz. clear/frosted glass bottle with a dropper top for $14.80. I purchase mine directly from Deciem, and they offer free shipping with a $25 order.


4) Next I apply Pretty Pearlfection Cream ($28 for 1.7 oz. in an airless pump bottle), which is another product I make and sell at I Feel Pretty. I've used it for years, and I really feel that it plays a huge part in keeping my breakouts to a minimum. You can read more about the product and ingredients here.


5) Next up is some spot treatment from First Aid Beauty Anti-Redness Serum. I apply a tiny amount to any breakouts. If my skin is clear, I just apply to any red areas and my chin and jawline, which is where my breakouts tend to occur. I find that using this and the Pearlfection Cream twice daily keeps my breakouts to a minimum, and will sometimes make them disappear overnight. I love that you only need to use a small amount of this product. It comes in a 1.7 oz. airless pump (love!) for $36, which may sound a little pricey - but my last bottle lasted 10 months, so I feel like I get my money's worth. I'm a little distressed to learn that you can get it on Amazon for about half that price - and I just bought a new bottle at Sephora!


6) Moisturizer is next, and I use CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion (about $8 for 3 oz.). I know it might seem weird to use a PM moisturizer in the morning, but I have a good reason. The only difference between the two moisturizers (AM and PM) is that the AM version contains sunscreen. I prefer to use a separate sunscreen, so I buy the PM version. This moisturizer contains ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide so it's great for skin. It's lightweight and absorbs quickly and easily - and most importantly, it plays well with my sunscreen and other skincare products.


7) With all of my recent undereye issues, my next step is CeraVe Eye Repair Cream. As I mentioned in my updated Evening Skincare post, I have never really used a product specifically for the undereye area - I just use whatever I use on the rest of my face. My undereye area is also extremely sensitive, so it doesn't like most eye products.

This cream is lightweight, but it provides hydration that I feel my eye area needs. I "think" my dark circles have lightened a little in the past few months since starting this product, but that may be wishful thinking on my part or due to other factors. It comes in a 0.5 oz. tube for under $10. I've been using it twice daily for three months, and I have at least 1/3 left.


8) And the last step in my morning anti-aging skincare routine is always, always, always sunscreen. If  you're not going to wear sunscreen, then you might as well save your money and not buy any other anti-aging products, because the sun is just going to undo any good they do! I did a post recently about my favorite sunscreens, so you can check that for details. For my face, I like Australian Gold Botanical SPF 50 Tinted Face Mineral Lotion ($12 for 3 oz.) and Paula's Choice Resist Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 ($32 for 2 oz.). For my body, I've been using Australian Gold Botanical Mineral Lotion SPF 30, Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport Ultra-Light Sunscreen SPF 30 ($8 for 8 oz.) (SPF 50 for the beach or prolonged time outside), and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer® Dry-Touch SPF 70 (8-$10 for 3 oz.) - depending upon how much sun exposure I'll get that day.

Eight steps! You know I'm serious about anti-aging skincare, right? Those steps take less than 10 minutes, so it's not as bad as it may seem.
(Note: These products are part of my usual routine - but I also test new products quite frequently. If what I'm testing takes the place of one my usual products, I will stop using my usual product until the testing is over.)

What's in your anti-aging skincare routine? Tell me about it - I'm always on the lookout for new products to try! Let me know in the comments!