'There are 5 overnight skincare secrets I swear by for glowy skin over 50.'

As we age and invariably face the changes that happen in our skin, we sometimes start the search for the elusive products that can bring back our glow. Quite often it can be to the detriment of our skin, and we can invest a lot of money in the search for the perfect unicorn.

We're told to drink more water, be mindful and stress less, and make sure we get at least eight hours of sleep (something which I've rarely been able to manage due to lifelong insomnia). I have been guilty of grasping every product I could find that promised to turn back time and slap it on my face.

Gah.

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Over the last 12 months I have been on quite a journey after extreme allergic reactions to products last year (you may have seen this article where I repaired my skin). Now, I find myself with the best skin I have had in years. It's plump, juicy and glowy and I honestly feel like it's never looked better.

Let me tell you, as someone who is about to turn 54 soon, that's no mean feat. For context, I have never done injectables and I don't do salon treatments. I mean, I'm not against either of them. For injectables, it's just been a "wait and see" mentality and for salon services, honestly — I just do not have the time in my calendar and I do enough at home anyway.

After a lot of searching, I have worked out that healthy, glowing skin really comes down to a few key things I do as part of my overnight routine.

And I'm no gatekeeper, my friends, so let's jump into it.

1. Hydration is key.

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Sounds simple, yeah? But do you really look for hydration in your products? Or are you looking for a fancy beauty buzzword?

No matter your skin type, our skin loses its ability to retain moisture as we age. If your skin is oily, remember that's your skin "type". Dehydrated skin is a "condition" and has nothing to do with your type. Every product I use has to hydrate my skin. I want to plump up my skin as much as possible and get as much moisture in there as I can.

From my first to last step, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

Some of my favourites include products like Mukti Hydrating Cleansing Lotion, $72, Let's Be Frank Be Soothed Toning Cleanser, $45 and ALIVIO Facial Hydrator Serum, $69.95.

2. Gentle exfoliation daily.

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Before you freak out and worry about over-exfoliating and actually drying out your skin or damaging the barrier, I'm not talking about a physical or chemical exfoliation skincare product.

What?! I know it sounds like I am talking nonsense.

I'm talking about these:

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Microfibre cloths. I'd recommend grabbing a pack of them from the cleaning aisle at the supermarket because you want a clean one each day AND they are super cheap. I use these ones from Woolworths (they're $3.80) religiously to wipe off my cleanser — the fibres provide a gentle exfoliation of the skin each and every day without damaging your barrier.

I still use an actual exfoliant but usually only once or twice a week at the most. 

3. Pick a serum to tackle your main concerns.

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For me, I like to use vitamin C in the morning (to address dull skin) and always have some form of retinol product factored into my routine. I have a deep bond with the brand E.S.K. Skincare for this — as the differences these ingredients have made for my skin has been significant. So much so that I only now use them a couple of times a week to maintain.

My attention now is on two particular ingredients that really amp up my glow — and honestly, if you're struggling with dull skin, this might be for you.

What are they, you ask? Well, my friend, look for seaweed or hemp products.

Let's start with seaweed.

Seaweed does wonders for ageing skin by promoting tissue regeneration, increasing skin elasticity and microcirculation, and it is a powerful antioxidant. A natural anti-inflammatory, it is packed full of vitamins and minerals. Also, seaweed and human plasma are almost identical. Weird, I know, but this ingredient will work for all skin types to boost hydration, firmness and really nourish.

One of my faves is Harmony Harvest Seaweed Serum, $130.

Now to hemp seed oil.

Rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that are essential for maintaining healthy skin, it is also non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores. It can help to hydrate the skin (see, I mean it when I say it's all about hydration for me!), reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and balance the skin's oil production.  

I like Hey Bud Glow Addict Hemp Seed Face Oil, $48.

Both seaweed and hemp seed oil help to promote skin health overall and are great for all skin types and conditions. 

4. Massage your face.

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This is easy and costs nothing. Now, I could explain how to gua sha your face or how to do lymphatic drainage — but it's not for everyone. What I would recommend, however, is spending a few minutes doing your evening skincare to really massage your products in — particularly a good face oil. Don't just slap that product on and move on to the next (which I might add, is pretty much what I do each morning).

Give your face a bit of self-care to really get the benefits of all that goodness you are applying. You only need three or four drops. Start by rubbing your hands together and not only pressing the product into your skin but spending time massaging your face in the key areas of concern.

For me, it's between my eyebrows around my orbital bones, under my cheekbones and under my jawline. A good face oil is not just for dry, dehydrated skin. In fact, it can help balance any skin type and that massage can really help with fine lines, wrinkles and that elasticity problem we are constantly battling.

5. Do your evening skincare early.

The last thing we want is to do all the good things and then worry about it rubbing it all off onto our pillow. I want my skincare to sink into my skin.

Once dinner is done, I am off to clean my face and get all the goodness happening. This means it has time to actually penetrate into my skin and by the time I am headed for bed it's already doing its thing and I don't have a pillow that ends up with a better routine than I do.

Have you tried any of the above products? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

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