'I'm a beauty writer over 50. Here's the skincare routine I recommend to everyone my age.'

So you’ve never had a skincare routine, you’re getting older and your skin is suddenly changing. 

You want to do something but may be thinking, "Is it too late?" 

Let me tell you, it’s never too late to start. Anything we do now will help moving forward. 

If you're at the point where you want to look and feel better, particularly with the changes our skin goes through once we reach a certain age, then let me help you build a simple, basic daily routine that won’t bamboozle your brain and overwhelm you.

Watch: While you're here... watch Mamamia's beauty editor try the viral 10-pump foundation hack. Post continues below.

One of the biggest concerns, as we head into menopause, is dry, flaky skin and loss of elasticity. 

This easy routine is designed to help nourish your skin to turn it from a dry creek bed into a well-irrigated landscape (terrible analogy but it paints the picture). 

Now just remember, this is a starting point for a skincare novice. Before long you’ll be asking me what else you can add. 

Keep it simple.

The main thing we want to do is to start building consistency and creating a simple routine you'll actually want to stick to. 

This involves three simple steps – cleanse, hydrate and moisture. 

We'll do more down the track, but for the first six to eight weeks, let's focus on this.

1. Cleanse.

Image: Supplied.

If your skin feels dry or sensitive, then look at using a cleansing balm. 

These are not only great at breaking down makeup but tend to be super hydrating and leave your skin glowing. 

Start off by warming up the product between your fingers, then rub it all over your face for a good couple of minutes. 

Then, if you wet your hands, the balm will usually emulsify into an oil or milky product. Use a wet cloth to remove it. 

My recommendations: The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter, ($12), and Sunday Riley Blue Moon Clean Rinse Cleansing Balm, ($50).

2. Hydrate.

More specifically, use a serum. 

Now this is the stage where a lot of us can get overwhelmed. All the ingredients that make you feel like you need a science degree to understand. 

If you haven't investigated them before, it can sometimes make you feel like throwing in the towel before you have even begun. So, let’s make it a bit easier. 

We need something to soften the skin and trap in moisture. That’s what a humectant does, and that is what we are looking for at this stage. 

The buzzwords you want to look for are hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides and peptides. There are more but this is all you need to know for now. 

The trick to using these serums is to apply them to a damp face. You want it to trap moisture in the skin. This product will also help to plump up fine lines and wrinkles. 

My recommendations: Cetaphil Optimal Hydration 48hr Activation Serum, ($32.99), and E.S.K. Repair+ Serum, ($95).

3. Moisture.

Image: Supplied.

At this stage, we really want to strengthen our skin barrier, lock in moisture, and improve the overall look and feel of the skin. For me, it’s all about ceramides. 

Ceramides occur naturally in the body and can be lost due to dryness, environmental factors, ageing, and skin damage. A loss of natural ceramides can be a reason why we experience an increase in dryness. (Psst... they're non-comedogenic ingredients, so they won’t clog your pores).

Grab yourself a ceramide moisturiser and give yourself some love by working it into your face, neck and chest. Our facial skincare should finish at our nipples, ladies - because the skin on our chests and necks age too.

My recommendations: CeraVe Moisturising Cream, ($21.99), and Sunday Riley ICE Ceramide Moisturising Cream, ($108).

Extra product to add to your routine.

Once you have settled into doing these steps on the daily, you can look at incorporating further products to target any other specific needs. 

But don’t feel the need to skip straight to doing everything all at once. 

Get used to the basics first and remember, you really should only add one new product at a time and give your skin a chance to get used to it before adding or swapping anything else.

4. Exfoliator.

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These work by helping your skin to shed dead skin cells and remove dullness, flaky patches, clogged pores and fine lines. 

It will also help your products penetrate deeper into your skin and make them more effective. 

It can leave your skin a little dry, which is why I haven’t added it as part of your daily routine. 

When ready, start by adding it to your routine a couple of times a week and build up from there as needed. As we age, glycolic acid works better on the skin as it helps to stimulate collagen production and exfoliate the skin.

My recommendations: Revolution Skincare 5% Glycolic Acid Toner, ($16), and Alpha-H Liquid Gold Exfoliating Treatment with 5% Glycolic Acid, ($74.95).

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I could bang on endlessly about various products to add to your routine but let's leave it here for now as I want you to embrace a bit of self-care and look after your skin while not feeling like it’s too complicated at this stage. 

What I will leave you with is the most important thing you can do for your skin and it’s a non-negotiable for everyone – wear SPF every day. EVERY. DAMN. DAY. 

Not only will doing this significantly reduce any further sun damage, but it might also just save your life. 

Are you in your 50s and have some skincare tips of your own? Got some products you want to share? Drop them in the comment section below. Go on!

Feature image: Supplied.