Once we hit our 40s and beyond, our skin starts to reveal the story of our life—smiles, stress, sun exposure, and everything in between! There is no denying that our skin needs a little extra care to look and feel its best as we age. Today, I am sharing my Pro-Aging Nighttime Skincare Routine.
I must say though, despite my skin not being nearly as taut as it used to be, the overall texture and surface of my skin looks better and brighter than it did in my 20’s. I think this is because we know so much more than we did years ago about ingredients, how to layer products, and I actually wash my face daily. Which I definitely did NOT do in the 90’s or even early 2000’s.
The truth is, the products you use at night are just as important as what you use during the day. Nighttime is when your skin naturally goes into repair mode (no sun exposure), making it the perfect time to feed it with powerful, targeted ingredients!
That paired with sleeping on a good silk pillowcase of course. If you don’t sleep on one yet, try the highly rated 19 Momme LilySilk pillowcases, $27. I can’t/won’t sleep on a regular cotton pillow case anymore!
I also personally enjoy the nighttime skincare process way more than the daytime. This is because the routine and process of using these products helps me to wind down for the evening!
If you’re wondering which ingredients really make a difference for me and my 47 year old normal to dry, non-sensitive skin, here are the critical pro-aging superheroes I use in my nighttime routine below.
*Consider this skincare inspiration, not a prescription. If you’re unsure about a product, your dermatologist should always have the final say!*
Putting It All Together
- Double Cleanse– Remove makeup and impurities.
- Toner – A deeper clean.
- Exfoliate (2-3 nights a week, omitting retinol when using this step)
- Treat – with Retinol or Niacinamide or Vitamin C – Apply to dry skin.
- Moisturizer/night cream – Seal everything in.
DOUBLE CLEANSING – Wash Away The Day
The first cleanse (usually an oil or balm) melts away makeup and sunscreen, while the second (a gentle cream or gel) deeply cleanses without stripping moisture. This two-step method ensures the skin is fresh, balanced, and better able to absorb anti-aging treatments applied afterward.
Why do this: Double cleansing is especially important for women who wear makeup and have mature skin because it tends to hold onto more buildup—makeup, SPF, and daily grime—that a single cleanse can leave behind.
Top product suggestions:
- Elemis Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm, $72. Cleansing balms do not get any better than this one! I love the fragrance of the original and the black cherry but they do offer a fragrance-free version as well. Been using this product for years, nothing compares for how smooth and supple it leaves the skin after removing your makeup with it!
- Palmer’s Skin Cleansing Oil, $10. Perfect for those on a budget but still want to try the double cleansing process. Start with this, it’s incredible! I switch out amongst these first two.
- Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser, $39 + e.l.f. Holy Hydration Clean Freak daily cleanser, $11. I also switch out between these two of my fave cleansers!
TONER – A Deeper Clean Step
Our skin is naturally acidic, but that can change after cleansing due to the nature of whatever soap or cleanser you use. So using a toner can help restore this balance and return your skin to its normal PH levels quickly while also further removing any impurities left after cleansing.
Why use it: The basic function of toner is to prep skin for the serums and creams that you apply after, and restore the balance of the skin’s pH levels.
Top Product:
- Pixi Beauty Collagen Tonic, $15. I love this stuff. The Acacia collagen & peptides volumizes & boosts elasticity to help with fine lines, while the coconut water soothes, hydrates, & conditions. My skin never feels fully clean until I’ve used this toner.
AHA’s + BHA’s – The Gentle Exfoliators
Dead skin cells pile up faster as we age, making skin look dull. Enter AHAs, like glycolic or lactic acid and BHA’s like salicylic acid. These chemical exfoliants gently dissolve dead skin, revealing fresher, brighter skin underneath. Using an AHA or BHA toner or serum a couple of times a week can help your other products work even better.
Why use them: Slough off dead skin cells to reveal fresh, brighter skin, clear out pore, and boost absorption. I like pairing them with a cotton round or reusable cotton pad.
Top products:
- Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid treatment, $85. This is a leave on treatment that I use once a week on dry skin.
- Naturium BHA liquid exfoliant, $18. A fave celeb makeup artist of mine showed this in a Youtube video once and I’ve repurchased a few times already to use on myself and to prep my clients skin before I do their makeup.
- Paula’s Choice 2% BHA liquid exfoliant, $36. This is the original and iconic liquid exfoliant everyone knows and loves!
TREAT — Retinols, Niacinamide, Peptides, and Vitamin C, Oh My!
There are so many ways to treat, I know! But let’s easily break down each one of these options that help in slowing down Father Time on the face.
Retinol and Retinal (a form of Vitamin A) is often called the “gold standard” in skincare and considered by dermatologists to be THE #1 age-fighting ingredient —and for good reason.
Why use it: Retinol accelerates cell turnover, smooths fine lines, tackles uneven texture, and stimulates collagen.
*Start slow with a low-strength formula 1-2 nights a week to avoid irritation, then increase frequency as your skin adjusts. It is okay to use every single night for most effectiveness, which is what I do now.
Top products:
- Paula’s Choice Pro Retinaldehyde Dual Retinoid Treatment, $68 is one of the most highly rated retinal products, with a 5 star rating on Sephora! It delivers derm-level results for clear, luminous skin with minimal chance of irritation—no prescription needed. I’m almost out of this bottle and need to repurchase!
- For a drugstore pick, the Ordinary Retinol 0.5% Serum, $9 is highly rated as well and very effective for those on a budget and more suited for more sensitive skin types.
When it comes to Niacinamide, it is a multitalented ingredient that, no matter your skin type or concern, we can all gain something from this B3 vitamin.
Why use it: Besides its ability to be well-tolerated by most, it helps with a multitude of issues like oil production, enlarged pores, skin brightness, and helps maintain the skin barrier, which is easily compromised as we age.
Top products:
- L’Oreal Bright Reveal Niacinamide Dark Spot serum, $32. This serum helps to reduce the appearance of imperfections like post acne marks, age spots, and sun spots.
- Clarins Double Serum, $95 – Excellent for mature skin with its age defying concentrate, is a 2-in-1 serum that is powered by 22 youth-boosting plant extracts +peptides. Also contains turmeric, which is a proven anti-inflammatory and purifier so it helps congested skin, which is glow-inducing! I personally swear by this product and wouldn’t want to go without it.
Vitamin C is another one of those pro-aging treatments that most dermatologists will recommend you incorporate into your skincare routine if you’re over 40. The most important function of a Vitamin C skincare product is its ability to neutralize free radicals (from sun, pollution, and stress) that break down collagen and accelerate aging.
Why use it: Vitamin C provides environmental protection, lightens lines, firms skin and brightens your complexion.
Top products :
- Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Acid, $185. This very popular high potent form of vitamin C is known for giving incredible results and working quickly. It’s a higher price tag for such a tiny bottle, but I’d give it the label “tiny but mighty!”
- Want a more affordable vitamin C? Try this top rated TruSkin one, $21, from Amazon Choice.
Moisturizer – The Deep Hydrator
We are almost done! You should lock in your nighttime skincare treatments with a heavier moisturizer because it seals in all the active ingredients you’ve just applied, helping them work more effectively overnight.
Why use it: Mature skin loses moisture more easily, and a rich cream prevents overnight dehydration so you wake up with plumper, smoother skin.
Top products:
- Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Dream Face Cream, $62. Formulated to treat signs of fatigue and aging, this cream gets almost 5 stars on Sephora and has a silky, lightweight consistency that layers well with other nighttime serums. Do note, it has a lovely smell to it, so if you want fragrance free, not going to be for you!
- Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream, $37. This anti-aging moisturizer’s formula has zero fragrance, is non-greasy, and absorbs quickly into the surface of the skin with intense hydration power!
Last Minute Tips:
- Be sure to take ALL of these steps and products down the neck. Our necks show aging quicker than anything, and so many women just forget or ignore this area. Your neck is an extension of your face!
- Use a skincare brush. I know it might sound extra, but once you start using one, you’ll understand the why. I even love that this one from Anisa Beauty, $22, you can use the end handle to scoop your products out of jars then apply directly to the face!
- Don’t forget the lips at night. They are attached to the face and lack oil glands, so they need extra love and hydration heading into the fall and winter! The latest and greatest lip product for me is the Lanolips Overnight Lip Mask, $18. Its faint honey and vanilla scent is so inviting!
- A stretchy headband is always a necessity when doing my nighttime routine to get all of my hair out of the way and soak up the water. There are a bunch of cute ones I linked here on my LTK post.
- It’s hard to find cute short silky nightgowns in a floral print, but Etsy offers some great ones for cheap here, $15.
Building a powerful anti-aging skincare routine doesn’t require dozens of products—just targeted, science-backed ingredients. If you’re starting from scratch, just add in one or two of these well-vetted products, use them consistently at night, and wake up to smoother, firmer, and more radiant skin!
If you’d like to hear about my daytime skin care routine, let me know in the comment section. And if you’re totally ready to welcome fall into your beauty routine, check out last week’s post on 5 Ways To Shake Up Your Beauty Routine This Fall.
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