Why I'm Happy That I Chose This Simple Skincare Routine In My 40s & Didn't Have Injectables
As a Beauty Editor approaching 50, I have often felt pressured to try botox and fillers. Here's why I'm happy that I didn't
This week, I had renowned dermatologist Dr. Sam Bunting on my podcast, Smiling Gives You Wrinkles. I invited her on to talk about adult acne, as she is an expert on the topic, but we also chatted about what makes up a good skincare routine in your forties and fifties.
Like me, and also like the majority of dermatologists, she is a big fan of a ‘less is more’ approach with skincare. Despite testing hundreds of different types of products during my 40s, people are surprised to hear that I only have four simple steps in my routine. No eye cream. No separate neck cream. No essences or trending waters. Just cleanser, moisturiser, SPF and an active.
🎞️ WATCH THIS EXCLUSIVE PODCAST CLIP WITH DR. SAM BUNTING EXPLAINING THE POWER OF A SIMPLE 4 STEP SKINCARE ROUTINE
I have also personally chosen not to go down the Botox or filler route. I have nothing against anyone that does, it’s just not for me and I have my reasons.
One of them being, was when I turned 40, I was approached by Boots, the British drugstore chain, to work on a no-retouching campaign for their in-store magazine. That meant, we could not use any kind of retouching pen on images. If a model turned up with a spot, we could only use concealer to hide it. Just like in a real life. One time, we had a model turn up to a shoot with a bad stye in her eye. We had to just get on with it and figure it out. We played with the crop and some props - sunglasses were used from what I remember - and she looked great!
I worked on this campaign with Boots for over 5 years, and directed over 100 unretouched shoots for them.
I spent my days looking at unedited raw files of women’s faces and I saw the beauty in the tiny lines around the eyes and the real texture of a forehead. I realized then that perfection was a lie we were selling - and I didn’t want to buy it for myself.
Having Botox felt like a betrayal to my work. Sounds dramatic and some could argue extreme, but I’m passionate about inspiring women not to feel the pressure to “fix” the very things I was championing in others. So how could I fix them myself?
I honestly feel like it’s my purpose now to show midlife women that it’s OK not to bow to the pressure to fix the wrinkles, the droops, the age spots. I realise that this is going to get harder as I age and it will be interesting to see how I feel about my face in 5 years time. But what I do know is that my skin will be in great condition thanks to this routine that I have perfected in my forties.
Best 4-Step Skincare Routine for Women Over 40 & 50
So here I am - 10 years after my first unretouched shoot for Boots, and still passionate about showing realness in faces. Of course I still want skin to look good - I just want it to look the best it can for my age. And I want to look like me.
These 4 skincare steps are dermatologist-approved and have helped me keep my skin in its best condition over the last 10 years.
These are the steps that I’ve carried out daily and consistently. And these are the steps that I’ll be continuing into my 50s too!
1. Start With Cleansing: The Most Important Step for Mature Skin
It sounds obvious, but clean skin = healthy skin. And cleansing is not just about hygiene; it’s about prepping the skin for everything that follows.
As Sam explains in my podcast: “I always say if you get cleansing wrong, it’s hard to get skincare right because cleansing can take so much of that natural barrier function away—stripping our skin, leaving it tight and dry, and allowing things to get in that shouldn’t really be getting in.”
Personally, as long as I cleanse properly at night, I only splash my face with water in the morning and then give it a gentle scrub and rinse with an old-fashioned flannel. My “proper” cleanse comes at night to wash the day away. I love a balm cleanser. Sam isn’t a huge fan as she says they can clog the skin, but personally, I haven’t had that problem. As long as I rinse thoroughly and use a face cloth to ensure there isn’t an oily layer left behind, my skin is left clean but really soft.
3 balm cleansers I have on rotation:
2. Treat: The Best Active Ingredients for Menopause and Aging Skin
This is the step where you use “actives”- products with ingredients like Retinoids, Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, or Peptides. These are the products that correct issues like dryness, pigmentation, dullness, fine lines, and loss of collagen.
The actives most commonly found in my regime:
Retinal: which is basically a stronger, faster-acting form of Retinol. It boosts collagen and improves skin thickness. I use this at night.
Vitamin C: This brightens skin and fights damage from external aggressors like pollution and UV. Living in Florida, I need this! It supercharges your SPF by fighting free radicals.
My picks: Murad Vit-C Glycolic Brightening Serum which is also lightly exfoliating and CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum.
Hyaluronic Acid: This binds moisture to the surface to plump skin.
My picks: Clarins Double Serum or, for a budget-friendly option, The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum.
Peptides: I’m a huge fan - these are the building blocks of the skin and help with firmness.
My pick: Medik8 Advanced Liquid Peptides Serum.
Ceramides: Crucial for strengthening the skin barrier and locking in moisture. This is why I love CeraVe - all of their products are rich in ceramides.
AHAs/BHAs: these exfoliate dead skin cells to improve texture, boost radiance, and clear pores. I use one whenever my skin looks dull.
My pick: Alpha-H Liquid Gold. Apply it like a toner on dry skin after cleansing.
📝 Right now I’m using a Vitamin C in the morning and a Retinal at night. The other actives will pop in and out of my routine depending on what my skin needs and how it’s behaving. Any questions? Please ask in the comments below :-)
3. Moisturise 40+ Skin for Locking in Actives and Supporting The Skin Barrier
Most people moisturise because it makes skin feel soft, but it also locks in those important actives you applied in the previous step. It’s like a blanket to keep your skin safe. I love almost any moisturiser by CeraVe - I promise they don’t pay me to talk about them (although I wish they would, ha ha!) - because they are packed with those essential hydrating ceramides.
4. Protect With SPF As 80% Of How We Age is Down to UV
SPF is the most vital step. Living in Florida, I wear SPF 50 every single day.
My favorites right now:
So, that’s it! Have you noticed anything missing? In my next post, I’ll explain why eye cream isn’t part of my “Daily 4”...