If you’re anything like me, you didn’t give much thought to having a real skincare routine when you were younger. I never knew I should be choosing a skin care routine for mature skin well before my skin got to the “mature” stage.
Ugh. Instead, over the years, I pieced together various products to make a jumbled routine of sorts.
For me, at first, that looked 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 back then, that wasn’t the way to create a skin care routine. And it certainly wasn’t the way to find one that would work synergistically for MY skincare needs. And so I ended up with a mish-mosh of products that didn’t produce the results I was hoping for. Can you relate?
Or maybe you do have a skincare routine. But you’re becoming aware that it may contain harmful or toxic ingredients. I totally get that, because I didn’t also know that there were toxins in a lot of our personal care products until several years ago.
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Your Skin Care Routine Doesn’t Have to Be Confusing
In either of these situations, we can get stuck wondering, “What type of cleanser would be better?” or “Is there a moisturizer that would make all the difference for my skin?”
And, when you’re unsure what to do, it’s very hard to move forward with any confidence.
The good news is, you can easily fix this! You just need to choose a non-toxic skincare regimen that’s right for YOUR skincare needs.
In this post, I’ll define mature skin and explain the 4 key steps to the perfect skincare routine for mature skin. (And I’ll share a bonus step.)
I’ll describe the anti-aging skin care routine I’ve been using and LOVING. It’s Beautycounter’s Countertime Collection. Did I mention I love it?
These skin care products have given me great results–my skin looks the best it ever has! My fine lines and wrinkles are reduced and my skin looks glowy (if I do say so myself!). Not to mention the huge boost in confidence, since I truly feel so much better in my own skin.
You’ll have the roadmap you need to find the perfect skincare routine for your mature skin.
It’s your time! Time to begin reducing fine lines & wrinkles. Time to uncover your youthful appearance again! Ready? Let’s get started!
What is Mature Skin?
Mature skin is often described as skin that is showing some signs of aging. In general, the features of mature skin begin around your 30’s.
I seriously wish I knew this in my 20’s! Right?!
Age is one factor of mature skin, of course. But beyond age are things like gravity, sleep habits, smoking, diet, and sun damage.
There are several characteristics of mature skin. Mature skin often has fine lines and wrinkles. There may be “crow’s feet” around the eyes. Mature skin often looks less supple. Damage from UV rays may make the skin less elastic.
There may be dark spots from hormones, sun damage, or age. Gravity may have caused some sagging. That youthful glow we all want may be gone, and instead, the skin can appear dull. You may have areas of dry skin or uneven skin tone.
Can you relate to any of these issues? I know I can.
You can make some lifestyle changes to try to improve some of the factors related to the appearance of your skin.
Stop smoking. Use reef-safe, non-toxic sunscreen. Use a mask to exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin cells. Incorporate some of these 10 Healthy Habits for Glowing Skin.
But, a big factor will be using a toxin-free skincare routine formulated for your mature skin type. And using it consistently.
I recently learned this myself. A while back I made many lifestyle changes, which did help my skin. Well, at least to a degree.
But, once I switched to a skincare routine that was perfect for my mature skin? That’s when I started to see real results.
And when I started to use it consistently? Well, that was a game-changer!
I’m going to share the perfect skincare routine for my mature skin. It’s the Countertime Collection by Beautycounter.
Your perfect skincare routine might be this exact routine, too. Or it might be slightly different.
I’d love to help you find YOUR perfect skincare routine. Take my skincare quiz and I’ll send you personalized suggestions.
But First, What Should NOT Be in My Skincare Routine for Aging Skin?
Toxic and harmful ingredients should NOT be in your skincare routine. This is extremely important.
There should be NO ingredients that can potentially cause cancer. No endocrine disruptors.
No ingredients that are harmful in any way.
If you know me, you know that’s how I roll. Because I learned (the hard way) that the ingredients in our products matter. Period. Full stop
This is why I love the NEVER LIST. This is a list of over 2,800 toxic and dangerous chemicals that will NEVER be in Beautycounter’s products. I love this list!
So let’s talk about specific ingredients. One to avoid in your skincare products is retinol (and its derivatives, e.g., retinyl palmitate).
Retinol is often associated with anti-aging skincare products. However, due to safety concerns, Beautycounter doesn’t use retinol in any formulations. In fact, retinol and its derivatives are on the NEVER LIST.
You might be wondering why retinol made it on the Never List. I was when I first heard it. I mean, retinol has been all the rage for a long while, and I never heard anything bad about it before.
Although, truthfully I never looked into that particular ingredient. I just assumed it was safe because it was in so many products. That was a big mistake on my part. Check out my post on Non-Toxic Living Myths to learn why.
Okay, so here’s why retinol is on the Never List, in a nutshell. It comes down to research. Retinol can cause sensitivity to sunlight, and skin irritations like peeling, flaking, and redness. There are even concerns about potential cancer-causing properties.
The Environmental Workers Group (EWG) rates retinol and its derivatives at a toxicity level of 9 out of 10. (Head’s up, 10 is the worst possible rating!!)
Per EWG, “Data from an FDA study indicate that retinoid ingredients may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions on sun-exposed skin.” Yeah, let’s not use products with that ingredient. Especially in the sun!
What’s So Special About This Collection?
The Countertime Regimen is my absolute favorite anti-aging solution. It’s specifically formulated for dry or mature skin. It visibly firms, brightens, and plumps the skin.
And I’ve found that it definitely delivers both immediate and longer-term results!
Inspired by Asian beauty rituals, it is like no other product line I’ve tried.
I’ve seen articles that compare it to the luxe feeling of La Mer (without the high price tag). Full disclosure, I’ve never used La Mer. But a quick look on their website shows their 2 oz soft cream alone costs $380. And a look at the EWG website’s rating of La Mer shows me that I won’t ever be trying it, regardless of the cost!
Oh, and did I mention that Beautycounter’s Countertime Collection is EWG VERIFIED™?
That means that it “meets EWG’s strictest standards for your health. This means none of EWG’s chemicals of concern. This means full transparency. This means a mark you can trust. It means EWG approved.”
What Are the Key AntiAging Ingredients in This Routine?
You may wonder how Countertime can deliver these age-defying results without harmful ingredients like retinol.
Well, Beautycounter created Retinatural Complex, which is a plant-derived safer alternative to retinol. It’s made with bakuchiol and Swiss Alpine rose.
The Retinatural Complex delivers similar skin benefits as retinol. But none of the potential side effects. Ah-mazing, right?
And EVERY product in the Countertime collection contains Retinatural Complex. That’s not always the case.
In many other skincare lines, you may find that just one of the products in the line contains the key ingredient.
But with the Countertime collection, every single product has this amazing ingredient!
That’s probably why it’s one of Beautycounter’s best-selling product lines. And I’m sure that’s part of why it works so well!
Each product in the Countertime collection has additional ingredients that have anti-aging effects. I’ll explain more about each of those below.
What Is the Best Skincare Routine for Mature Skin?
The best skincare routine for mature skin, or any skin, is a twice daily 4-step regimen.
You can also add a fifth step to target specific areas of concern. For me, that’s my undereye area.
Now you might be thinking, “With 4 or 5 steps this could take all day.” I thought so too at first!
But it honestly doesn’t take long at all. And let me tell you, the results are absolutely worth every second!
Countertime Collection: Products In This Routine
**Edited on 5/28/24- Beautycounter is currently closed, so these products are not available at this time. See this post for more information.
Step 1 – Cleanse: Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil
Step one in your anti-aging skincare routine is Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil.
This cleansing oil is inspired by Asian beauty rituals. It’s unlike any other cleanser I have ever used. It’s lightweight and will not only remove impurities, it will also remove your makeup. It even removes my mascara!
This cleanser is super gentle and won’t strip the essential lipids from your skin. It contains Retinatural Complex, to deliver those age-defying benefits.
It also has Vitamin E and Essential Fatty Acids, which help maintain the skin’s moisture barrier.
To use, massage the cleansing oil onto your DRY face with your fingertips. Then add a little water to your fingers/hands to form a milk and continue to massage your face. Keep adding water until the oil rinses off.
This was the first time I used a cleansing oil, and I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. I was afraid it might make my skin greasy or oily. I didn’t need to worry.
It left my skin feeling clean and smooth. Don’t skip this first step.
Cleansing, preferably twice daily, is a crucial component of the routine. Read more about the importance and benefits of cleansing in my Habits for Glowing Skin blog post.
Step 2 – Prep: Countertime Mineral Boost Hydrating Essence
The second step is your Countertime Mineral Boost Hydrating Essence. An essence is similar to a toner but it has more benefits for your skin.
This essence adds hydration, vital nutrients, and radiance to your skin. It balances and renews your skin and prepares it for the next steps in the routine. This essence also contains Retinatural Complex.
The Mineral Boost Hydrating Essence contains specially sourced Sea Water which has been proven to boost radiance and minimize the appearance of pores. It even helps to restore the skin’s vital nutrients and minerals.
It also contains Fermented Sugars which help to optimize hydration and help to slow the effects of aging. It is also soothing to the skin.
I absolutely love this step, because it gives me instant hydration and radiance (and it smells amazing!). The best way I can describe it is that it’s like a long drink of water for my skin. You can use this in the morning and at night.
Step 3 -Treat: Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum
The third step is Countertime Tripeptide Radiance Serum, which also contains Retinatural Complex. It also includes Tripeptides and Amino Acids.
These ingredients help boost the firmness of the skin and minimize the appearance of wrinkles and lines. They hydrate the skin and protect it from damage that can be caused by environmental stressors.
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!
You can use it in the morning and evening.
Step 4 -Protect: Countertime Antioxidant Soft Cream (AM) and Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream (PM)
The fourth step in your anti-aging skincare routine is your moisturizer.
There are two different levels of moisturization. There’s a lighter one for the daytime and a deeply hydrating formula to use at night. Both formulations include Retinatural Complex, to deliver age-defying benefits.
Countertime Antioxidant Soft Cream is perfect for use in the morning. This is a lightweight, yet super-hydrating cream. The formula improves your skin’s barrier function and boosts hydration. I use it on my face, neck, and chest.
The soft cream includes the amazing Retinatural Complex, of course. It also has Nasturtium flower extract and Fermented Sugars. These ingredients reinforce the skin barrier, protect and defend the skin from drying, and slow the visible effects of aging.
Countertime Tetrapeptide Supreme Cream is your evening moisturizer. It’s great for elasticity and visibly firms the skin. This cream is named really well because it’s definitely supreme.
It’s 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.
The supreme cream has Retinatual Complex along with Tetrapeptide and Fermented Sugars. These work to increase skin’s elasticity and minimize fine lines.
They also boost the skin’s firmness while smoothing the skin’s surface.
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 little concerned about trying a “supreme cream.” I’m happy to say I have no negatives to report! I love how it hydrates my skin overnight.
BONUS Step 5 -Target: Countertime Ultra Renewal Eye Cream
The fifth (bonus) step is to target areas of concern. Countertime Ultra Renewal Eye Cream is what I use to target my undereye circles and crow’s feet.
This container of cream seems to last forever! And it’s helping to brighten up my undereye area and reduce those pesky crow’s feet.
Putting it All Together: Your Perfect Anti-Aging Skincare Routine
There you have it! The 4 components of your perfect anti-aging skincare routine. Cleanse, prep, treat, and protect with the Countertime line. And a bonus target step.
The products in the regimen were designed to work together. So if you’re serious about seeing optimal skin care results, I suggest the entire set. That’s what I use.
If you’re ready to get started, you have a few choices.
The Countertime Collection (all 5 steps), Countertime Regimen (4 main steps), or you can pick and choose individual pieces.
Consistency Is Key
Keep in mind that consistency is important. Some people who start a new skincare routine start out on the right track but don’t stay consistent.
Then they end up feeling frustrated. They may even start to believe the lie that there is no skincare solution for their mature skin. I can relate to that completely.
When I first started, I wasn’t very consistent. I’d do the regimen some mornings and some evenings. So when I missed a day (or two…or three) I either didn’t notice or thought it wasn’t a big deal. I actually did see some good results, but I wanted more.
The key to really improving your mature skin is to use the products consistently. So I knew that if I wanted to see even better results I would need to start being more consistent.
For me, that looked like being sure to use all four steps at least once a day. I would aim for twice a day, but honestly, that didn’t always happen.
To help build the habit and to hold myself accountable I made a 30-day skincare routine habit tracker. (Kind of like a grown-up sticker chart.) Is that embarrassing? Oh well, it must be the teacher in me. 😉
Using that habit tracker for 30 days helped me to be consistent. It also helped me realize the POWER of consistency when it comes to a skincare routine for mature skin.
Give it 30 days and I bet you’ll be well on your way to more youthful, radiant skin!
What’s Next?
I’ve shared the perfect anti-aging skincare routine for my mature skin. This has also been the perfect match for several of my clients with mature skin. Your perfect skincare routine may also be this exact routine, or it might be slightly different.
I’d love to help you find YOUR perfect skincare routine! If you need more guidance choosing the routine for your skin, take my skincare quiz here.
Once you take the quiz I can make recommendations and even send you samples, if you’d like.
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