Beauty
11 Comments

Current Skincare Favorites: I’m-40-Years-Old Edition.

By: Jen Shoop

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

THE OUTSET MOISTURIZER // TULA EYE CREAM // DR. DENNIS DAILY PEEL // MOTHER SCIENCE MOISTURIZER // DORE MICELLAR WATER

I’m obsessed with my current skincare regimen. Some of my skincare concerns while researching and crafting my current lineup were: 1) adding more moisture (my skin was so dry), 2) treating dark spots, and 3) reducing the appearance of fine lines. I’m so happy with my current regimen, as I’m actually seeing results on all three. On the moisture front: all makeup lays so much better on deeply hydrated skin, and I find myself newly emboldened to wear absolutely nothing on my face (besides the moisturizers/serums) when taking the kids to school! Amazing what well-hydrated skin can do for you. Below, the products I’ve been loving:

In the morning:

+CurrentBody LED Red Light Therapy Mask. 10 minutes, every day. I am blown away by this tool. I find that for me it’s been incredibly effective at a) reducing fine lines around my eyes and undereyes — I haven’t seen as much of a change in forehead, but maybe that’s because I have deeper-set wrinkles up there? For fine lines, this is it, ladies. I am so incredibly impressed. Once I noticed how effective it was, I convinced Mr. Magpie to use it, and now he does it 10 minutes every day or every other day, and he also swears he’s seen a change in his eye area. b) repairing skin when angry/upset/blemished/etc. We’ve all been there with a blemish that’s red and angry — this erases all signs so quickly. and c) overall lucidity of skin. I don’t know if “lucidity” is the right word, but skin overall just looks clearer, more even? Like clouds have parted.

+The Outset Antioxidant Cleanser. I know there are folks who say you shouldn’t cleanse your skin in the morning (I mean, how dirty can it be after you’ve just been sleeping?) but I really crave that morning reset, and this cleanser is very gentle. Also — trivial joy! — but I love using this terry headband while applying skincare in A.M. and P.M.!

+Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil. An old standby for vitamin c, which I think is the key to achieving instant glow in your skin — I’ve often likened it to “turning the lights on” in your skin. I love this and Goop’s formula and alternate between the two. In the winter, I like the added hydration this oil offers. I think Mad Hippie’s $27 formula is pretty damn good if you’re looking for something less expensive.

+Omorovizca Miracle Oil. I have found that applying a facial oil is the only way I can really deeply hydrate my face during these winter months. I love this formula because it glides into skin so beautifully, but I’ve also used and loved Vintner’s Daughter Serum for this step. I find the Omorovizca the tiniest bit easier to absorb into skin.

+The Outset Nourishing Squalane Moisturizer. Lightweight, gentle divine. I really love this line of delicate products from The Outset. This particular moisturizer is just a tad less heavy-duty than the InnBeauty one I loved and used just prior. Both excellent. I think if you want something a touch lighter, go with Outset. I could happily use either.

+Tula Power Swipe Eye Cream. Candidly, I don’t think it’s the best eye cream I’ve ever used in terms of long-lasting hydration (UBeauty is my favorite — 20% off with JENSHOOP), but it gets the job done, brightens the eye area (not like erasing dark circles, but there’s a noticeable sheen/brightness), and most importantly — is so winningly easy to apply?! You apply like chapstick. I’ve talked with a few of you about this and I have no idea why it just feels so compelling to be able to slick it on!

+The Outset Lip Oasis. Hydrated, perfect lips!

+If I have extra time, I will also apply these concentrated vitamin pads. I apply right after the vitamin c layer and will slowly rub the pad all over my face and then leave it adhered to my forehead or cheek while I brush my teeth for added application! However, most mornings, I skip this step.

In the evening:

+Elemis Makeup Melting Balm (20% off with JEN20). The most relaxing way to dissolve the day. It’s like a cue to begin to wind down for bed. I remove with a hot towel.

+The Outset Antioxidant Cleanser.

+Dore Micellar Water to remove any residual makeup (undereyes mainly).

+Dr. Dennis Gross Universal Daily Peel. Per a Magpie reader’s rec, I cut these in half and split with Landon! We apply these every other night, but I’m tempted to do it daily. Makes such a big impact.

+Remedy for Dark Spots. Just started using this and only apply to specific areas with dark spot issues. I only use this on days I’m not using the Dr. Dennis Gross pads. Otherwise, I feel like it’s too much exfoliation.

+Omorovizca Miracle Oil.

+Mother Science Molecular Genesis Moisturizer. This really hydrates and locks everything in.

+The Outset Lip Oasis.

As needed:

+Jillian Dempsey Eye Patches (15% off with JENSHOOP). If I’ve had a bad night of sleep, these erase the damage. UNBELIEVABLE.

+Goop Microderm Instant Exfoliator. If I need a quick skin reset before a night out or when I just feel like I look blah. Takes two minutes and skin is soft and baby-fresh. This is both a chemical and physical exfoliator.

+Clarins Depuffing Mask. My holy grail product. I didn’t even know my skin occasionally looks puffy before I tried this. It chisels away your features and leaves skin so soft and regenerated. I use this when I have a good hour to myself. It really works best if you can leave on for like 30 minutes.

+Clarins Cryo Flash Mask. I just have this intuition for when I need this — when my skin is feeling inflamed, red, irritated in anyway. I love the cooling effect.

What about you? Any favorites to share?

P.S. What do you keep in your guest bed room? (Incredible comments!)

P.P.S. Still not over how incredible the Dyson AirWrap is. Like, truly changed everything.

P.P.P.S. On shortcuts.

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *.

11 thoughts on “Current Skincare Favorites: I’m-40-Years-Old Edition.

  1. Jen and Magpies – just found the Mad Hippie Vitamin C serum at a 2-pack at Costco for a steal! like, half as much as amazon? Run don’t walk as they say 🙂 Thanks for recommending, Jen. I never can bring myself to splurge on skincare but this is a great bang for you buck product! xo.

  2. Obsessed with my LED mask (technically my husband’s)! I’m 32. I do 10 minutes on my face and 10 minutes on my abdomen for stretch marks. I also get professional red light therapy on my abdomen. It’s really clear how much better I’ve healed this pregnancy than the one previous, I normally get thick dark purple scarring. It’s helping to flatten and fade some old scars too when I remember to do it! Anecdotally, I think it’s helped me with the winter blues.

    My core skincare is Caudalie vinoperfect serum and CosRx squalane, and that’s been gold for me for 8 years now. I always come back to it. I recently started using ISDIN sunscreen. I’ve been mineral-only and physical barrier sunscreen always, but I decided to try the second gen chemical sunscreens here in Europe because I was so put off by the texture of even my favorite sunscreen that I was going out bare faced too often! It goes on like a nice moisturizer, I found it from my friend Frances’s Substack, Tour de Frances. I am loving it so far. And the Gucci tinted balms are incredibly moisturizing and way better than they have any right to be. I use that as lip treatment and lipstick both.

    1. So interesting on the LED therapy for your abdomen – I hadn’t even thought of that. I also agree on the mental wellness benefits. I swear I feel more balanced, easier when I’m good about doing this. I think it could also be just the act of stopping to put the mask on — doing something very obvious for yourself in the midst of the morning/evening flow.

      Thanks for sharing!

      xx

  3. So many of these have been on my radar to test but my sensitive, rosacea-prone skin can only handle but so much change at a time. I’ve been eyeing the Innbeauty moisturizer since you first mentioned but want to finish up my current moisturizer first. And the Elemis balm is on my to buy list as my holy grail cleansing balm has been discontinued. I used the last of my stockpile last week.

    After a particularly rough rosacea flare up a few years ago I have pared down my skincare to the simplest it’s been in decades! Gentle cleanser( in evening only) immediately followed by the Cosrx snail mucin power essence, moisturizer, and a tiny bit of jojoba oil patted in. My skin seems happy with this right now but I’d love to be able to add in a mask or some kind of treatment. Maybe the cryo flash mask?

    1. Love hearing about your skincare routine! I’ve never tried the snail mucin — what are your thoughts on that?!

      Cryo flash mask is so delightful…but I almost wonder if you need to find more of a gentle hydrating mask so as not to aggravate your skin? One I LOVE is this Chantecaille:

      https://go.shopmy.us/p-12813161

      Landon and I used this as nighttime moisturizer for awhile…it is so divine, gentle, hydrating!

      xx

      1. Thank you for the mask recommendation! I love that it can be used as an overnight too.

        It feels weird to say but I like the snail mucin! I really have noticed a difference in my skin, it feels hydrated, less red, my make up goes on nicely. I never jumped on the snail train when it was popular a few years ago, it just didn’t seem like me but when I saw a two pack at Costco (!!!) a few weeks ago, I thought why the heck not? For $20 I will come out ahead either way. If I like it, what a steal! If not, it cost less than buying it at Ulta. It took me a few tries to get used to it and figure out how best to use it. Reddit came through with good tips – slightly damp skin or mist with some water or toner, just one pump, rub in then pat in, apply moisturizer over top before it fully dries/soaks in to your skin.

  4. I am an “over-40” also obsesseand d with Vitamin C! I wanted to share something I’ve recently learned that might help someone make a decision about which product to use– there are two methods of delivery for Vitamin C, L-Asorbic Acid or Tetrahexyldecyl (THD) Ascorbate. I have rosacea, and I’ve learned that while I can handle it in the summer, in the dry frigid winter L-Asorbic Acid really irritates my cheeks and causes my rosacea to flare, When I stick to THD Ascorbate, my skin looks amazing! My favorite with the THD is Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30, and I’m excited to see the Biossance Oil uses THD as well, since so many people love it!! The SkinCeuticals CE Feurlic uses L-Asorbic Acid, so I will be saving that for the summer!

Previous Article

Next Article