I am resolving to be better at sharing my detailed skincare routine every season. Right now, it’s cold out (yes, even in Charleston, there is snow in tomorrow’s forecast!), so my top priority is hydration—and, of course, anti-aging concerns. I turned 43 a few months ago and have skin that runs quite dry, regardless of the season. My other big concerns are fine lines, dullness, and (sometimes) rough texture.
A handful of pertinent codes:
- GRACEATWOOD gets you 20% off at U Beauty if you are new.
- GRACE-15 for 15% off at YSE Beauty
- GRACEA10 for 10% off at Versed
- GRACE20 for 20% off when you spend $100 or more at INNBeauty (Extreme Cream is the next best thing to Augustinus Bader’s Rich Cream!)
- GRACE20 for 20% off at The Outset
Morning, First Thing:
I don’t do much first thing in the morning as my evening skincare routine is more elaborate, and I will do a post-workout skincare routine after I work out. This part is really just about hydration. I splash my face with water, pat on a little rose water (more for the ritual than anything!), and apply a thick moisturizer that doesn’t have a lot of active ingredients. I am not particular about this sort of moisturizer as it won’t be on my face for very long. Right now, it is the new one from Ilia!
Morning, Post Workout:
I like to use a super gentle, creamy cleanser. Sometimes, I’ll do the MBR 3-in-1 cleanser as a mask–letting it sit on my face while I have coffee, etc. If I am not using that, I love Maelove’s creamy cleanser or The Outset’s micellar cleanser in the shower. To be honest, I am not super loyal to any cleanser, but I like to use something creamy and gentle.
When I get out of the shower, I like to put on my robe and sit with my LED mask for five or ten minutes, depending on how the day is looking. I have found that with continued use, my skin is a lot brighter and glowy from using LED. The long-term benefit of using an LED mask is that, with time, it encourages the production of collagen, plumping up fine lines, etc.
After that, I will apply a few drops of Skinceuticals CE Ferulic. This was a new addition to my routine in the last year or so, and I find it makes a huge difference in terms of brightening (it also helps build collagen). If you are on a budget, I would highly recommend this (under $20!) Vitamin C Serum. This brand makes great products, mostly under $20.
Then, I apply eye cream (I like the Sarah Creal one for daytime, as it has a little tint) and neck cream (this one from U Beauty is a game-changer!), followed by a few pumps of Augustinus Bader’s rich cream.
Lastly (of course!) sunscreen. This is my favorite.
Evening:
I love a double cleanse if there is time. Usually, a balm or cream cleanser, followed by a gel or foaming cleanser. I have been testing out Versed’s new cleansing balm (Use code GRACEA10), and I really love it. It smells exactly like Noxzema, which is so nostalgic to me! After using a cleansing balm, I like a light gel cleanser. This one is awesome. Versed has a set with both products that I’d recommend: just $31 for the two. I like this cleanser a lot too (after the balm). Maybe every other night I will use P50 toner.
Then, a serum. This really depends on how my skin is feeling. I have been loving Skinceuticals’ P-Tiox most nights, but sometimes (usually two nights a week), I’ll do a retinol (I really love the new Goop one!). If my skin is feeling rough, I’ll use Biossance’s lactic acid. Lastly, if my skin is feeling extra dry or sensitive, I love this collagen prep serum (Use code GRACE20). I let whatever serum I applied absorb (a few minutes), apply eye cream (I LOVE Augustinus Bader’s new-ish rich eye cream) and neck cream (U Beauty again).
Then, a few pumps of the rich cream. If my skin is feeling really dry I’ll top that off with a few drops of face oil. And then, bed!
As needed:
If my skin is looking dull or feels rough, U Beauty’s new peel is the best I’ve tried. It is incredible how quick and effective it is. In 10-15 minutes, my skin is so smooth. Fine lines have (temporarily!) vanished. You just GLOW!
I love this lip mask when my lips are super dry. (Use code GRACE-15)
If I have a big event or a shoot, I love to use these jawline masks and Sisley’s Black Rose face mask everywhere that is not covered by the chin mask. These are my current favorite undereye masks. The three of these products combined are kind of my “holy trinity, bring me back to life” combo.
Tata Harper’s resurfacing mask tightens everything up and makes skin GLOW. If there is time, I like doing this before the holy trinity (so sit with this for 15 min, rinse off, then put on a jawline mask, undereye masks, and the Black Rose). High maintenance, but it WORKS!
I love and hate Biologique Recherche’s Masque Vivant. It smells terrible, and it’s expensive, but it is so incredibly effective. It gets your skin really clean. It deep cleans my pores and leaves my skin super glowy.
Maybe once a week, I’ll sleep in this overnight collagen mask. It’s amazing. I don’t love sleeping in it and usually find myself ripping it off around 4 am, but I find the trick is to put it on an hour before I go to bed so that it really sets (sticks to my face!). Leaving it on for so long really injects your skin with a hefty shot of moisture. I find that the results last for days. My skin is plumped up, dewy, and radiant!
Facials, Botox, etc.
I like to have a facial once a month if possible. Sometimes, it is longer than that, but my skin feels its best when I go every month. Here in Charleston, I am a big fan of Anna Brigid’s facials. She starts with the maintenance (brow wax + tint, lash tint, dermaplaning, nose wax!). And then after that, it’s usually some sort of mix of things: a peel, extractions, cryo, microcurrent, cupping, and massage . . . whatever my skin needs. I walk out feeling brand new.
I started getting Botox again. Well, Daxxify, to be specific. Daxxify has an encapsulated peptide to make your skin glow (this may be marketing BS, but one of my girlfriends really loved it, so I tried it) and I love it. I took a two-year break but felt like my face was just feeling a little droopy especially my brows. I don’t get very much — a little in my forehead, between my brows, a couple around my eyes. I see Rebecca at The Repaire Room, and I like her approach–softening fine lines but still allowing movement!
I think that’s it! If you have any questions, feel free to drop ’em in the comments!
Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.
