Up until I was in my 20’s my skin was no hassle and looked great. In my 20’s, I started getting cystic acne. It wasn’t the worst case that I had ever seen, but it wasn’t invisible either. I hadn’t had skin issues before, and I wasn’t sure where to turn. I tried all the over-the-counter products that I could find, with little success. I visited a dermatologist who told me that my acne was hormonal. She suggested I should get on birth control and use salicylic acid. This helped but it also dried my skin and left me feeling patchy.
Nothing worked as well as I hoped.
I continued this trend well into my 30’s, when I started dealing with the start of wrinkles combined with acne. All the usual products gave me the same results I had in my 20’s. Dry skin with patchiness and uneven texture. Using high end products, over the counter products and prescription products didn’t fix my issues. I still couldn’t find what I was looking for, even when I started alternating days on the type of skin care I used. On one day, I would treat acne, the next day I would treat wrinkles. Even though, I was on birth control, I still broke out whenever that time of the month came around.
By my mid 30’s, I found a good rotation of products that helped. I wasn’t wrinkle or acne free, but it was manageable. Then came the hormonal rollercoaster of midlife.
Hormone hell
In my late 30’s, my hormones seemed to randomly change each day. After a few years, I was given the news that I was in perimenopause. Throughout the years, I developed new symptoms that took over a lot of my time and research. Yet, I still had skin issues, acne, wrinkles and combination skin.
I tried going to dermatologists, cosmetic surgeons, and aesthetics companies. Every time I went, I was sold (or almost sold) new products. Some worked, some did nothing, but I still wasn’t satisfied. I wasn’t ready for something as serious as surgery, and I was too squeamish for Botox or lasers. I decided to learn a lot more about skin care for aging skin on my own.
Changing MidLife Skin
For me, my aging skin, combined with hormonal changes, also gave me a new challenge. I now had sensitive skin. I tried using over the counter retinol, which seemed to work ok, but nothing miraculous. I went to an aesthetician who prescribed a much stronger retinol. I immediately turned red all over my face. My neck, however, became a red, scaly mess. I compared myself to a lizard shedding its skin. It also felt itchy, hot and uncomfortable. It might be a great product for some, but my skin couldn’t handle it.
I became worried about trying new products as the scaly, lizard skin came back a few more times. A few times were accidents, when I combined products that did not play well together and a few times I was just trying new products.
Enter in Korean Skincare
For me, Korean skincare, was a game changer. I played around with a few different products. The first few I tried, snail mucin in particular, didn’t irritate my skin, but I also didn’t notice a huge difference in my problem areas. I investigated different skin care products, read about what other “mature” women were using for aging skin and finally found a few products and steps that worked for me.
Double Cleansing at Night
Korean Skin care usually starts with double cleansing helped immensely. Double cleansing is exactly what it sounds like. You cleanse your face twice, but with two different products. The first cleanse is an oil cleanse. I personally use and like, ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil. You wet your skin, use a few pumps of oil and rub it on your face and rinse off. This stuff is amazing at getting mascara off, although you can look a little like a raccoon at first wash. The next cleanse helps to get any remaining product off your face and gets any remaining oil off as well. I use CeraVe Renewing Salicylic Acid Cleanser for my second cleanse.
The double cleanse works well for aging skin because you aren’t just stripping away moisture. The oil in the first cleanser is a great skin care tool and the second cleanse keeps your skin for feeling greasy. The combination is a great skincare tool. But it’s only the first tool.
After the Cleanse
Afterwards, I put on a micro essence, a serum, some gentle retinol and finally a thick skin cream. I played around with a few different essences and serums and if I’m being 100% honest, I haven’t noticed much of a difference from those products, but I continue to use them. For my skin, the cleansing and a heavy night cream are the game changers.
If I clean my skin with the products above and use a thick skin cream, my skin glows, my acne is under control and my wrinkles look less noticeable. People have commented and asked me what has changed, and I gladly tell them to start double cleansing and to use a great hydrating night cream.
You Can’t Turn Back Time
Now, I don’t want to pretend, it’s as simple as double cleansing at night and a few swipes of product. Your diet, hydration, sunscreen use, and environment impact your skin immensely. If you were a smoker when you were younger, or like to binge on junk food, your skin might need more help than what I’m discussing. In general, this is a good place to start.
I always use sunscreen during the day. Face, neck, shoulders, chest exposed by clothing, arms and hands are covered in a good quality sunscreen. I can’t fix the damage I did from when I was younger, but I can prevent additional damage and hopefully prevent skin cancer as well.
Daytime Prep
My morning routine looks less intense, but takes more time, as you need to let each product dry, prior to putting on the next product.
- I cleanse my skin with a micellar water
- I use a high-quality moisturizer with sunscreen
- Then I, add on a skin primer for large pores
- And, finally, I use a moisture rich foundation that sits well with these products
Helpful tip: if you’re using a water-based moisturizer, use a water-based primer, same if it’s oil based. Match your bases for best blending.
Additional Products
While I have a similar morning routine. I do add in a few products a few times a week as needed. These are products that either can make your skin sensitive if used every day or products that just aren’t needed daily.
- Medicube Zero Pore Pads 2.0
- Dr Melaxin Peel Shot Glow White Rice Peeling Ampoule
- MEDIHEAL Teatree Trouble Facial Toner Pads with Tea Tree & Lactobacillus
What Works for me May Not Be Best for You
You have to be realistic. These are just products that go on top of, and hopeful, into your skin. More serious skin concerns won’t be fixed with swipe of products. But it’s a start to caring for your skin to make sure your skin is cleansed, hydrated and moisturized.
This routine is what works for me, but it doesn’t mean that it will work for you, or that it is the best routine for you. I have oily to combination skin that is uneven, acne prone and with large pores. Most of these products address my concerns and that is why they work for my skincare routine.
For your best skin, you need to first identify your skin concerns and what you want to realistically achieve. Meet with a professional to see if your concerns can be addressed topically or will require more in-depth procedures.
Taking care of your skin in midlife is self-care and you deserve it!