My Skincare Lineup

Lauren Hutton, 1980. Age 37.

Getting older has many benefits, but I have to confess that navigating skincare in my 30s has had a long and steep learning curve. First, a big project has been researching and trying new products that help with wrinkles, fine lines, sun damage and hormonal changes. Then learning about toxic chemicals in skincare led me to try to clean up my products, especially those I use every day. 

Patti Hansen, 1993. Age 37.

What is the new reality of my 37-year old face? Some basic questions come up. Can the effects of aging actually be helped by skincare products? What amount of wrinkles am I willing to learn to love? 

Liv Tyler, 2014. Age 37.

Needless to say, I have been trying a lot of new products with varying degrees of success. Over the past month I have started to feel like I finally have some clear recommendations. 

Diane Kruger, 2014. Age 37.

Cleansers
I have read many articles about the benefits of using multiple cleansers to keep skin vibrant. On the advice of several skincare professionals, I have switched to cream cleansers. I also use my Clarisonic several times each week, rather than twice a day. 
In the morning, I use The Organic Pharmacy’s Glamour Food Facial Milk Wash, which is a very gentle cleanser. Since I have removed all my makeup the night before, this cleanser works well as a morning refresher. I follow the cleanser with a gentle and hydrating scrub, Luzern Laboratories Micro-Exfoliant. In the evening, I use Sowd Skincare's Fortifying Cleanser. I love that it includes a makeup remover, saving me an additional evening step.

Toner
I gave up toner for a while, but I think my skin looks better when I use it. I have a bottle of Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist that I am finishing. I spray a bit into my hands and blot it gently on my face after cleansing.

Serum
The anti-aging benefits of Vitamin C serum have convinced me to make it my first step after cleansing, and right now my favorite is Medik8 CE Tetra.
 
After a complimentary facial at Ayla Beauty in San Francisco, I bought two of Luzern Laboratories serums. I was a bit skeptical because I don't believe great skincare has to be expensive, but since I started using the products my skin looks noticeably smoother and brighter. I start with Serum ReHydrate, wait a few minutes and then add Serum Absolut WE3. 

Eye Cream
For eye cream, the best product I've found to combat puffiness and dark circles is Yonka Phyto Contour. I have tried so many different eye creams, and I really notice a difference with this one. It takes a few weeks, but it is worth the wait. It smells like rosemary and can be a bit tingly around the eyes at first. 

Oil - in place of moisturizer
Skin oils are getting a lot of press lately as a replacement for standard facial moisturizers. I like them and there are a lot of non-toxic options. It can be a tricky process to see what works best with your skin type, and oils really vary in their strength and quality. For daily use, my favorite is a few drops of MyHavtorn Organic Facial Oil. If my skin feels extra dry, especially in the evening, I use Earth tu Face Blue Chamomile and Carrot Seed serum. 

Sunscreen
I like to wear sunscreen every day and have recently switched to Luzern Laboratories La Defense SPF 30 sunscreen. It has nearly 20% zinc but manages to be totally transparent, and as a bonus it is filled with a great mix of beneficial ingredients. I shied away from buying it at first because it smells like a Jolly Rancher candy, but the smell fades very quickly. I hardly notice the scent now, even when I first put it on.

Spot treatment
An amazing secret weapon against bad skin, Medik8 Betagel spot treatment works wonders and can be put on several times a day without drying skin out.