I'm 46 and a Champion for Aging Unapologetically—This Is My Self-Care Routine

It's no secret that we love a good morning routine. We've come to learn, however, that the rituals we do to wind down before bed are just as important. Whether you take 10 minutes or a few hours, it's precious time that you have set aside at the end of the day to take care of yourself. Our series Weekend Wind-Down highlights the nightly routines of the people we admire.

Danish photographer Denise Boomkens is working to shatter beauty standards that often idolize and fetishize youthfulness and anti-aging. She created AndBloom, a digital community and self-described "happy place for women over 40" that is filled with inspiration and thoughtful stories to champion getting older with compassion. And while Boomkens is a beauty-product enthusiast, she makes sure to prioritize and encourage embracing signs of aging with a positive mindset.

Keep scrolling to see her nighttime self-care routine, including her full skincare lineup.

8 P.M.

I always start my nighttime skincare routine by cleansing my face, which is done in three steps. The first step is a facial wash, and I love using the Comfort Zone Skin Regimen Cleansing Cream. Now that my skin has changed (I'm almost 47), I notice that if I pay extra attention to my skin, it becomes very happy. I used to get away with just cleansing and a moisturizer. Nowadays, I have to do a little more to keep the glow that I want.

I'll follow the first cleanse with a small amount of Mádara Cleansing Milk to remove any excess makeup and impurities. It's very mild and velvety cleansing milk for all skin types, especially for dry, sensitive, mature, and tired skin. 

Lastly, I'll end my cleansing routine with the Pixi Vitamin C Juice Cleanser, which is a lovely, gentle, and brightening cleanser for my skin. 

Next up, I'll apply a layer of HydroPeptide Firma-Bright 20% Vitamin C Booster. It's formulated with antioxidants and boosting peptides to protect skin and improve the appearance of dullness, fine lines, and wrinkles. Even though I try to embrace all signs of aging positively and enjoy getting older and wiser, I still like to take good care of my skin and thus maintain a fresh and healthy glow.

To hydrate the thinner, more delicate area of my neck, I use HydroPeptide Firm-A-Fix Nectar Lifting Neck Décolleté Serum daily. I've noticed that my neck and jawline have become tighter since I've been using it.

My favorite eye cream is by Emepelle, which is a nonhormonal formula designed for women in menopause and perimenopause to help with estrogen loss and skin aging. I've been using it for almost a year, and I've noticed that it helps reduce the appearance of the fine lines around my eyes and under-eye puffiness.

The final step of my skin routine is a thick layer of Mádara Derma Collagen Night Source Sleeping Cream, which has natural ingredients like peptides and hyaluronic acid. I apply it in the evening to a clean face, neck, and décolleté.

8:40 P.M.

When I'm done with my skincare routine, I'll move to the friendliest place in the house, the bedroom. My bedroom is bright and sunny, the vibe is lovely, and the light is beautiful. I can spend hours in my bedroom reading or cuddling with my son in bed. We recently got a puppy, Socks, who sleeps next to me in a basket. The bedroom is the heart of the house for me. 

8:50 P.M.

We don't have a television in the bedroom, yet I'm often checking my phone or iPad in bed. I have my Baxter Blue Light Glasses on hand to help eliminate digital eye strain. They prevent headaches, sore eyes, a constant feeling of fatigue, and poor, disrupted sleep from working on my devices in the evening.

9 P.M.

I prefer reading a book when I'm in bed, and I'm increasingly opting for informational books over novels these days because you can read them in shorter bits. The book I am currently reading is The Monocle Book of Gentle Living, which I received as a gift from two very dear women, and I am pleased because it is a book about slowing down and enjoying life. It helps me think about how to reconnect, make good things happen, to do something I care about.

10 P.M.

Before I turn off the lights, I'll slather my hands with Mádara Infusion Vert Repairing Multi-Layer Hand Cream, which helps to nurture and hydrate my dry hands and strengthen my nails, and my lips with Weleda Skin Food Lip Butter. Both are indispensable before going to sleep.

Up next, Why This Celebrity Esthetician Starts Her Evening Routine at 4 P.M.