Up until recently I have been a minimalist when it comes to skincare. Some of that comes from ignorance: my mother never used anything on her face but bath soap and water, and grew up and lived most of her life in Southern California and loved being in the sun. Let’s just say she got A LOT of wrinkles as she aged (but didn’t care). She never taught me anything about skincare, so what I know I have learned on my own over the years. Although I didn’t get on the sunscreen bandwagon until I was in my early 40s (I had no idea about all the damage the sun could inflict before that), I’ve used a daily facial moisturizer and body lotion since my early 20s, and have washed my face twice each day with a skin-friendly cream or soap. My routine never required anything but a minimal amount of time and product.
Well, at age 74 I have earned some wrinkles but thankfully nowhere near as many as my mother did. Most of them are a result of the time I spent in the sun when I was young, when my skin care of choice was baby oil, cocoa butter, or Bain de Soleil. These were not good choices for a young girl with very fair skin, but who knew back then?
Last month I watched The Thursday Murder Club movie with my granddaughter, and noticed both Helen Mirren and Celia Imrie had quite a few wrinkles, actually lots of them. Helen Mirren is six years older than me, and Celia Imrie is the same age as I am and both are absolutely beautiful, but their wrinkles were noticeable (to me, anyway). Afterward the movie I went running to the bathroom mirror to check out my face and was somewhat surprised to see that thankfully I wasn’t even close when it came to wrinkles on my face. I have lines on my forehead (“worry lines”) that I’ve had for ages, inherited from my father, but they’re actually less noticeable than they were 10 years ago. I also have crows feet (who doesn’t at my age), and the beginnings of some jowls near my mouth that add a few lines, but not as many as I thought. I messaged my daughters to ask what they thought and got good reviews: wrinkles, yes but not many.
So, I researched if there was anything I could do at my age not to get rid of the lines on my face but at least halt their progression. I was looking for simple skincare routines and products that wouldn’t cost a fortune and that might keep my skin where it’s at now for a few more years. I read about lotions and creams and brands, about drinking more water, about sunscreen and staying out of the sun, about wearing hats. And then I jumped into the skincare rabbit hole.
I am now using moisturizing serums twice a day, a hyaluronic acid one for day, a retinol one at night, both dupes purchased at Trader Joe’s that have gotten great reviews. During the day I also use an eye cream from TJ’s, a moisturizer from Muji, and Bioré SPF 50 sunscreen on top. I bought the Bioré when I was in Japan – it’s very light and easy to apply. At night I apply a night cream over the serum, another Trader Joe’s product. For cleansing I use Neutrogena microcellular cloths (from Costco) and a moisturizing cleanser from Muji. My body lotion is Trader Joe’s Brazil Nut body butter.
Is all this worth it or is it all too much? Everything about my face looks the same now, but results (if there will be any) can take four to twelve weeks. Do I really want to see a difference? Not really – I just don’t want to see any new lines appearing. Is this something I want to spend money on? For now, yes, although not extravagantly. Trader Joe’s dupes receive high scores, and so far it’s stayed affordable to add them into my daily routine. Are there more products I’d like to try? Maybe, but I don’t need them so am not buying.
By the way, did I forget to mention I am vain?
I think we need a before and after photo 😀
They would look the same!
I think this all sounds very reasonable and minimalist! I would think about adding a vitamin C and vitamin E combo serum in the morning under sunscreen if these ingredients aren’t already included in your moisturizer or serums, and maybe an exfoliating peel (BHA or AHA – after you get used to the retinol) once a week. These can help brighten skin from previous sun damage. And don’t forget the neck and chest! You look fabulous already – for me, it’s never about trying to look younger – I just want to look like a less tired version of myself!
Lots more info for me to absorb and learn! My goal right now is consistency and remembering to stick with it all. So far so good. But, I can see kicking things up a bit in the future. I would like to hold where I am now, not go back. And yes, definitely not look tired!!
My mother has vitiligo, so she started using sunblock long before it was really popular to prevent the pigmented parts of her skin from tanning. Luckily none of us got that particular autoimmune issue, although we have others. 🙂 I didn’t think much about it and used the baby oil and Bain de Soleil, although I never got much of a tan no matter how hard I tried. I did, however, get a couple of really lovely sunburns.
Another thing my mom really preached was washing and moisturizing your face every morning. She claimed my grandmother never stopped using Pond’s Cold Cream every morning even in the Depression. So my mom had a local Avon lady who kept her supplied with Avon Rich Moisture Cream, her standard.
I did inherit really dry skin and lots of sensitivities. So most current aging treatments irritate my skin. The only eye cream I’ve found that doesn’t react is Clinique All About Eyes. That and a good moisturizer is about it.
I did not tan either but religiously slathered on the baby oil, etc. i usually came home with a wicked sunburn. I got some REALLY bad ones which of course is the reason skin cancer spots have been popping up in the last few years. In my 30s I actually began getting tan instead of burning, but in 1979 a doctor (in Key West, of all places) told me I should stop going out in the sun for good. For some reason I listened to, and it wasn’t until we went to Hawaii in 2014 that I did any sunbathing, etc. and only then with tons of sunscreen, a hat, an umbrella, etc. Never tanned again though.
My moms’s face was VERY wrinkled at my age – I am grateful my skin is nowhere near as bad as hers was. My dad never really wrinkled at all – I feel like I inherited his skin but then abused it when I was young.
Vain? Absolutely not! You are caring for your skin which is very important at our age. My skin is very sensitive, so I’m not able to use all the active ingredients that you are using, but moisturizer twice a day and sunscreen. I laugh at myself because I’m using about 10% of the cosmetics that I used compared to my twenties when I didn’t actually need them. Wrinkles? Yes, but I earned them, and I’m glad to have lived long enough to get them.
All I did in my twenties was moisturize – so simple. And no sunscreen either.
I feel that I’ve earned my wrinkles too, but I honestly don’t want any more! Since TJs sells affordable and well-recieved dupes, I decided to try some different ones and see if they make a difference. Thankfully I do not suffer from sensitive skin (except around my eyes – I have to be careful there). I’m seeing my dermotologist here for the last time next month and am going to ask him what he suggests – hopefully I’m on the right track, but maybe he will suggest some changes. I’m not sure I see any changes for the better yet but Brett says my skin looks better so fingers are crossed it’s all working as planned.
I found your new blog!! So glad to hear you are doing well as I read through your posts!
Oh Cindy, it’s lovely to hear from you! I’m so glad you’re here. Everything is up in the air for us right now except that we will be leaving Tennessee on September 8, and heading back to Portland OR.