Somehow, in the blink of an eye, I’m 43 (allegedly). Aging is a weird thing. I’m grateful for this gift of getting older, but I’m not lying when I say that it can be a shocking dose of reality from time to time. I remember one evening, about six years ago, I saw Jeff Goldblum perform his then-regular jazz show in my neighborhood. He came to our table and commented on the macaroni and cheese I was sharing with my co-worker. "Ahhh, mac and cheese. That was another life…” I wasn’t sure what he meant by then, but now I sure do. You can’t eat the same way in your 40s as you did when you were younger! I’m learning how to navigate all that gut stuff these days, but one thing I have under control in my wiser age? My skin.
If you want some beauty advice from me, a 43-year-old (again, allegedly) beauty editor, I’ll start off by telling you all the things you’ve heard time and again. Staying hydrated, eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and not smoking (my skin was the worst when I used to smoke over a decade ago)—all played out advice, yes, but all true. Now that we have the boring stuff out of the way, my two other tips are getting regular facials (as much as you can) and simplifying your beauty routine.
I’m lucky to be able to get regular (and interesting, sometimes really out-there) facials in my line of work, and it’s taught me that regular facials are super important. I like to think of them as a deep cleaning reboot for my skin. I love a good facial that comes with a serious facial massage, like the ones at Joanna Vargas Spa and Face Gym. Recently, I had the most incredible facial at The Peninsula Spa from Margy's Monte-Carlo, a Swiss skincare line. The products aren’t available online in the U.S. yet, but I can’t wait for it to be because the gommage scrub is amazing. A couple of months ago, I was blessed to get the celebrity-loved Instafacial from thee Jason Diamond, MD, and am still reaping the benefits. (I’ve been using his amazing line religiously at home.) My skin is truly in the best shape it’s ever been.
Aside from facials, my other big rule? Don’t use too many products. It’s a crazy concept considering how many of them I have to test as an editor. However, my day-to-day skincare routine consists of maybe two or three products at a time (plus sunscreen). While my colleagues in the beauty-editor world (and skincare-obsessed friends) swear by a strict diet that requires frequent retinol and acid use, I use those types of products sparingly. What you’ll see below are products I always go back to but don’t necessarily use simultaneously. I think this approach is key. I also believe that it’s fine to switch things out once in a while, especially seasonally.
I was just introduced to this new K-beauty brand and am already a fan of the sunscreen and have been alternating it with my go-to (True Botanicals Skin Barrier Sun Shield SPF 30). It absorbs nicely and wears well under makeup. The brand’s hero ingredient is Centella asiatica extract sourced from Madagascar. While Centella asiatica is moisturizing and known for wound healing and reducing inflammation, Madagascar Centella asiatica, in particular, has seven times more soothing actives.
Alastin’s A-Luminate serum has been my 2023 life-changer. Using it almost every day for two months significantly lightened sun spots on my face. The serum, which contains the brand’s proprietary PATH-3 Technology, tranexamic acid, and niacinamide is effective yet gentle, unlike other brightening products I’ve tried that stung or felt "spicy.” Since then, I’ve become a fan of Alastin’s other products, like the Resurface Skin Polish and SilkShield All Mineral Sunscreen. However, on some nights, I’d only apply the Aluminate serum and that was it. It’s proof that sometimes you don’t need a ton of products to see results—all you need is consistency, baby.
I used to be scared of oil in any form, but that all changed when my skin started to become dry! Oil cleansers have saved my life. My favorite is from the Philippine skincare brand Pili Ani; it’s so gentle and hydrating. The pili nut is such a gift to the world. It has the most vitamin E out of all nuts and is filled with antioxidants. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT, sleep on this brand.
After oil cleansers, I’ll turn to a good cleansing balm for removing makeup, like Naturium’s Purple Ginseng Cleansing Balm. I keep this one at my parents’ house to have on hand whenever I visit (which is often because I’m a momma’s girl).
There are days when I don’t wear makeup, just sunscreen. That’s when I’ll opt for a regular, non-oil cleanser that keeps my skin feeling fresh and not stripped. This year, I fell in love with YTTP’s Superfood Cleanser. It has skin-loving nutrients like spinach, kale, and green tea. How did I go so long without it?
This has been the year of The Outset for me. I’ve been fangirling for it since the get-go. I’d go as far as to say that it’s the one brand that I most recommended offline to friends who ask me what they should use. What I love about the Outset is how simple it is: It has clean, effective, no-nonsense ingredients and a straightforward regimen. The brand’s ethos embodies exactly how I’ve viewed my skincare routine in recent years. Easy-peasy but makes my skin look damn good.
I ADORE this serum from Darphin Paris, which contains a triple-flower blend and peptides that make my skin plump and radiant. This is another one of those products where I’ll just use it solo. I go to sleep and my skin looks plump and hydrated in the morning, even after sleeping in my bedroom’s dry, nighttime air.
When it comes to drugstore beauty, La Roche-Posay is my favorite. The legendary Cicaplast line has this new lip balm, which uses the brand’s famous Prebiotic Thermal Water, plus vitamin B5, and shea butter. Lipcare is a part of skincare, especially when all that collagen is slipping away from us year after year!
Another part of my 40-plus beauty routine is taking care of my hands. During winter, my fingers and hands get so dry, that they’ll get flaky and itchy. I straight up look like Nosferatu coming around the corner. Herbitual is made for me.
I’m not a big beauty-supplement person, but that’s because the only ones I really like are from Sourse. Yes, the fact that they’re chocolate makes it easy, but these also contain ceramides that help keep my skin firm, supple, and glowy.
As my skin has gotten drier in the past few years, I’ve required slightly thicker creams than the gel moisturizers I’ve been used to. The iconic Magic Cream is the perfect consistency and keeps my skin nourished when it needs extra love. It also wears well in the morning underneath my makeup.
Bodycare is big. After all, I don’t want to look like a California Raisin below my neck. (Is that reference too ancient?) I love applying this body lotion after a shower. It’s hydrating and so easy to apply thanks to the kukui nut seed oil, as well as niacinamide, which fights wrinkles, pigmentation, and oxidative stress.
