As we get older, our skin changes. Particularly past the age of 50, our skin usually ends up with less of a glow due to things like hormonal shifts. It's also typically drier, and it thins out due to loss of collagen and volume.
I'm a skincare lover, and have been since I was first introduced in my early teens. I have endeavoured to look after my skin most of my life and I think I get enough questions regarding what products I use, that it seems to have paid off.
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If you're a simple cleanse and moisturise kind of person, then here are five products to consider adding to your beauty cupboard to improve your skincare routine.
Yes, a toner!
Now, you would think it's one of those products you don’t really need - and you're right.
However, hear me out.
A gentle toner will not only add extra moisture and help balance your pH levels, but it also acts as a carrier for the products you are about to put on your face.
Watch: Here are seven ways to improve your skin while sleeping. Story continues below.
The good news? You don't have to spend a lot of money on this one.
The one I swear by and recommend to everyone is the Byphasse Soft Toner Lotion - which will set you back $4.99 for 500ml from Chemist Warehouse.
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Now, heading on to a product that I do actually suggest investing a bit more in...
We all know that vitamin C helps with pigmentation and dark spots, but did you know it also works to stimulate collagen and tackles sagginess and elasticity? Seriously - this will help with fine lines and wrinkles on top of anything else you're using.
While you can find some more affordable options, I always prefer to invest money in my serums and save elsewhere.
This is due to a couple of reasons - including the fact that the higher quality of ingredients tends to lead to better and faster overall results.
The trick with finding your Holy Grail vitamin C serum is to test a few different brands to find what works for you.
I'm currently using the Sunday Riley C.E.O Glow Vitamin C & Turmeric Facial Oil.
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I've tried a lot of vitamin C products, and this is the one I find works best for me - I keep coming back to it.
These are excellent for all skin types - NOT JUST DRY SKIN.
That’s right. Face oils are full of antioxidants, are hydrating and help lock in moisture. If you do not have this step in your routine, you might be surprised at the difference it makes in helping to plump up fine lines and wrinkles.
I bounce around facial oils and don’t have a preference - the important thing is that I use one EVERY morning and night.
I'm currently using the Weleda Firming Facial Oil - Pomegranate ($46.95), which is made up of eight organic oils.
It feels just as good as it sounds and absorbs beautifully.
In case you haven’t twigged, I'm all about adding hydration.
To be clear, my skin type is pretty normal, and what I am trying to ensure is that your skin type ends up the same - and because we are older, we also want it plush and plump.
If you don’t know what ceramides are, they're the building blocks of your skin - lipids and fatty acids that will help your skin retain moisture and make it plump and juicy.
Sounds good, yeah?
There are so, so many products on the market with ceramides nowadays, that you will easily trip over one - but in my beauty cupboard currently, I have the Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide Face Cream Moisturiser (purchased half-price, of course) from Chemist Warehouse.
In particular, sleeping masks. If you feel like your skin looks 'tired', a face mask could be your best friend.
I have a whole stash of both sheet and cream masks and use them multiple times a week. If short on time, you can just add an extra thick layer of your favourite night moisturiser and leave it on for 15 mins before wiping the excess off.
We are told not to skip our “beauty sleep” for a reason, and that's because it’s when our body does its best cell rejuvenation.
Sleep masks have a higher concentration of active ingredients as opposed to night creams - which is why you wake up feeling so soft and silky.
I like to mask a couple of times a week at least to give my skin an extra boost. A firm favourite is the Dear Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask. This one feels like a spa treatment at home, leaving me smooth and hydrated.
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So, there you have it! A few products I highly suggest adding to your routine if they're not there already.
You'll notice I did't include retinol here, but that’s because while it is widely considered the gold standard for wrinkles, this tends to be a product I dip in and out of regularly.
Lastly, while it’s not a product, massage your face. Do it regularly.
This will help with fluid build-up and tone. It aids blood flow and cell turnover and it costs you nothing but a little bit of time and self-care.
Trust me, your skin will love you for it.
Beauty should be a democracy, and we want to know what products you slap on your face, slather on your body and comb through your hair, day in and day out.
Click the link below to vote for the products that have made the BIGGEST difference to your face. And hair. And body. You get the drill.
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