Clean Anti-Aging Skincare That Works: My Go-To Routine

Completely updated — June 26, 2025

If you’re anything like me, you didn’t give much thought to having a real skincare routine when you were younger. I had no idea I should be choosing a clean anti-aging skincare routine before my skin hit the “mature” stage.

Ugh. Instead, over the years, I pieced together a jumbled routine that looked a little like this:

• Find a cleanser that didn’t seem too harsh.
• Find a moisturizer that seemed to work OK with the cleanser.

Little did I know that wasn’t the way to create a skincare routine—and definitely not one that would actually work for my skin.

Can you relate?

Maybe you’ve got a few products you like… but your routine feels disjointed. Or maybe you’re starting to notice signs of aging and wondering, “What now?“

Or maybe you’re like I was a few years ago—realizing that some of the products you’ve been using might contain harmful or toxic ingredients.

I didn’t know that, either… not until a major health scare sent me down a research rabbit hole I couldn’t ignore.

But friend, creating a clean anti-aging skincare routine that really works doesn’t have to be confusing. It’s totally doable—one simple step at a time.

Let’s get started!.

Update — June 26, 2025: This post has been refreshed with the latest details on the newly relaunched Countertime Collection under the Counter brand, including updated product info, ingredient insights, and my current personal experience. (Spoiler: still loving it and so dang glad it’s back!)

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*This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through my links (at no extra cost to you). As a Counter Brand Partner, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through my links. Please read my full disclosure and affiliate disclosure for more information.

What is Mature Skin?

Mature skin isn’t just about age—it’s about how your skin behaves as time, sun, and life take their toll.

Most people start to see changes in their 30s, but things like:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Crow’s feet
• Sagging or loss of firmness
• Dullness or uneven skin tone
• Dry patches or age spots

…can all show up thanks to UV damage, sleep habits, hormones, diet, even gravity.

I wish someone had told me all of this in my 20s. Right?!

Lifestyle changes (like quitting smoking, wearing reef-safe sunscreen, eating well, etc.) can help. But your skincare routine plays a huge role in how your skin looks and feels.

Once I switched to a clean skincare routine formulated specifically for mature skin—and used it consistently—I started to see real results.

My Favorite Clean Anti-Aging Skincare Routine

I use (and love) the Countertime Collection—Beautycounter’s beloved line, now relaunched under the new Counter brand.

It was specifically created for dry or mature skin—and it shows.

This clean, anti-aging line is:

• EWG VERIFIED
• Formulated without questionable ingredients
• Powered by a retinol alternative that actually works

Did I mention it makes my skin look glowy? Because it really does.

Inspired by Asian beauty rituals, it is like no other product line I’ve tried. The light scent, the textures, the hydration, the way my skin looks and feels afterward—it’s a whole experience.

I’ve seen articles that compare it to the luxe feeling of La Mer, but without the jaw-dropping price.

Full disclosure, I’ve never used La Mer. But a 2 oz jar soft cream runs $390 😳… and it scores poorly on the EWG scale. (So, I won’t ever be trying it, regardless of the cost!)

Countertime, on the other hand, is EWG VERIFIED. No questionable ingredients, full transparency, and a standard you can trust.

I’ll take safer ingredients and proven performance over prestige any day.

What Are the Key Anti-Aging Ingredients in This Routine?

You may wonder how this clean skincare routine can deliver such impressive results without harmful ingredients like retinol.

Countertime’s Secret Sauce…is Retinatural Complex—a powerful plant-based retinol alternative made with bakuchiol and Swiss Alpine rose.

Beautycounter formulated it to give you results like retinol—but without the irritation, sun sensitivity, or long-term skin barrier concerns that often come with it. 

Ah-mazing, right?

Here’s what makes it so special:

• Bakuchiol helps firm and smooth the skin without triggering inflammation.
  
• Swiss Alpine rose is rich in antioxidants that help your skin resist environmental stress
  .
• And—this is rare—every single product in the Countertime Collection contains Retinatural Complex. Not just the serum. Not just the night cream. All of them. 🙌

Most skincare lines put their “hero” ingredient in just one or two formulas. But with Countertime, every product in the line contains this powerhouse ingredient. Yes, please!

That’s a huge reason why Countertime has remained a best-seller—and why it’s worked so well for my skin.

Next, I’ll break down each product and how they fit into a simple, effective routine. I’ll also tell you a little more about the key ingredients that make each one special.

The 4 (Plus 1) Steps in My Routine

Step 1 – Cleanse

The Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil is inspired by Asian beauty rituals and is unlike any cleanser I’ve used before. 

It’s lightweight, removes impurities and makeup (even my mascara!), and doesn’t strip your skin.

It was the first oil cleanser I tried, and I thought it might make my skin feel oily.

But nope. It leaves my skin feeling clean, smooth—not greasy.

This cleanser works a bit differently—here’s how to use it:

• Massage the cleansing oil onto your DRY face with your fingertips.
  
  
• Add a little water to your fingers/hands to form a “milk” and continue to massaging gently.
  
  
• Keep adding water until the oil rinses off completely.
  
  

Easy, right? It took me a minute to get used to, but now it feels like second nature!

👉 Don’t skip this first step. Cleansing—preferably twice daily—is a foundational habit for glowing skin.

The formulation includes Retinatural Complex to soothe and protect, plus vitamin E and essential fatty acids that help maintain your skin’s moisture barrier. 

Step 2 – Prep

An essence is similar to a toner, but it has more benefits for your skin. 

The Countertime Mineral Boost Hydrating Essence adds hydration, vital nutrients, and radiance to your skin. 

I absolutely love this step, because it gives me instant hydration and radiance. Did I mention it smells amazing?!

The best way I can describe this essence is that it feels like a long drink of water for my skin.  You can use this in the morning and at night.  

Step Two is important because it balances and renews your skin and prepares it for the next steps in the routine.

This essence combines Retinatural Complex and mineral-rich sea water to boost radiance and refine pores, and fermented sugars to deeply hydrate and soothe

Step 3 – Treat

Step 3 is the Countertime Retinatural+ Advanced Super Serum (formerly the Tripeptide Radiance Serum)

This serum!  I love that it helps to target existing signs of aging (I’m looking at you, fine lines & wrinkles!).  It also helps to prevent future signs of aging. And it increases my skin’s elasticity and firmness.  Win-win-win! 

Note: I haven’t received the newly reformulated version yet—but I’ll update this section with my personal experience once I do!

The new serum is powered by three retinol alternatives—bakuchiol, sea fennel, and cranberry peptides—to smooth skin and boost elasticity without irritation. 

Step 4 – Protect

The fourth step in your clean anti-aging skincare routine is moisturizer—and these two are designed to work in tandem.

Morning: The Countertime Antioxidant Soft Cream is perfect for daytime use.  This is a lightweight, yet super-hydrating cream, and I use it on my face, neck, and décolletage.  

This cream features Retinatural Complex, fermented sugars, and nasturtium flower extract to hydrate and protect.

Evening:The Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream is your night moisturizer.  It’s great for elasticity and visibly firms the skin. 

This cream is really thick, but it’s not heavy or sticky.

It absorbs well, and I don’t find that it makes my pillowcase icky like others I’ve used in the past.  I usually apply it to my face and neck.

This cream also contains Retinatural Complex and fermented sugars, plus tetrapeptides to visibly firm and smooth the skin.

I tend to have some sensory issues when it comes to lotions and skin products.  If it’s too heavy or even slightly sticky, I won’t like it. At all.

So I was a bit concerned about trying a ‘supreme cream’. I’m happy to say I love how this one hydrates my skin overnight.

BONUS Step 5 -Target

This is the step where I give a little extra love to my undereye area.

I use the Countertime Ultra Renewal Eye Cream to target dark circles and crow’s feet—and it’s made a noticeable difference. 

One jar seriously lasts forever, which is a win in itself.

It blends Retinatural Complex with Persian Silk Tree extract to lift, smooth, and brighten the delicate eye area.

The Power of Consistency

Let’s be real—any skincare routine only works if you actually use it.

I wasn’t consistent at first. I’d skip days. Forget at night. And while I saw some results, I wanted more.

So I made myself a little 30-day habit tracker (yes, like a grown-up sticker chart).

Is that embarrassing? Oh well, it must be the teacher in me🤣

Anyway, it helped me stay on track—and wow, did I start seeing real changes.

Give it 30 days. Your future face will thank you.

What’s Next?

I’ve shared the perfect clean anti-aging skincare routine for my mature skin. This has also been the perfect match for several of my clients looking for anti-aging skincare. 

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