My Skincare Routine (at age 40)

I had to overhaul my skincare routine last year when the brand I had been using for years shut down. I’ve been blown away by the change I’ve seen in my skin since switching brands, especially considering I was happy with my skin beforehand. Today, I’m sharing my exact skincare routine at age 40.

Here’s the quick list if you want to see it all at a glance, and you can read more details below, including treatments I use just a couple times a week (like exfoliating, AHA and masks). There are also a couple promo codes at the bottom.

My AM routine

1. DOPE Your Glow Cleanser
2. Corrective Facial Tonic 
3. Vitamin C Serum
4. Corrective Face Serum + Kahai Elixir
5. Regeneration Intense Face Cream
6. Topical Eye Supplement.
7. OneSkin Face SPF 30+

My PM Routine

1. Cleansing Balm
2. Corrective Facial Tonic 
3. Corrective Face Serum + Kahai Elixir
4. Corrective Eye Elixir under the Topical Eye Supplement.
5. Jasmine Face Oil Serum
6. Regeneration Intense Face Cream
7. Olive Tree Therapy Lip Balm (read my review of the lip balm here)

My Skincare Routine at Age 40

My skin wasn’t always glowing. In my early and mid-20’s, I had horrible acne. So horrible that I would call in sick to work because I was embarrassed. Once I learned the right type of products to use and my skin cleared up, I enjoyed skincare SO much more because I was finally able to see a difference. (See my skincare journey in photos here – it’s WILD.)

While this seems like a lot of steps, it takes less than 5 minutes. I’ve seen a big difference in my skin’s appearance and texture since I started consistently following a full skincare routine with all the basic steps. And I never, ever sleep with makeup on! I also use my ZIIP Halo a couple times a week, which I explained in my skincare devices blog post.

My morning skincare routine

1. Cleanser

Oliveda 009 DOPE Your Glow Cleanser – I recently ordered this (I was using Oliveda F71 Corrective Cleansing Gel prior), and I like it even more! It’s SO soothing and hydrating. And the texture is so good. It’s an oil formula that still foams a little bit. I also have this Motif plumping cleanser and Ursa Major Fantastic Face Wash and use one of them after super sweaty workouts for a deeper cleanser.

2. Toner

Next, I use the Oliveda F67 Corrective Facial Tonic as my toner step. It contains hydroxytyrosol (a powerful antioxidant) and camu camu (a vitamin C booster). Since switching to this, my skin has been retaining moisture better.

3. Serums

I layer a few serums in the morning, that I use in this order:

Vitamin C Serum – This is for skin’s overall brightness and evenness. I’ve been using Oliveda F83 HT + Vitamin C Serum. I love the bright red color.

Oliveda F59 Corrective Face Serum + Oliveda Kahai Elixir – The F59 is my anti-aging serum. It’s nicknamed “botox in a bottle”, and while I don’t think I’d go that far (I’ve had botox in the past), I do think it’s wildly effective. (Be sure to read my full review of F59 with before & after photos – it’s crazy!)

I mix the F59 in my hand with the Oliveda Kahai Elixir –the serum helps the elixir’s oil formulation better penetrate the skin. The Elixir is a natural form of retinol that also helps with fine lines, wrinkles, and overall signs of aging.

If you added in just ONE thing to your routine, make it the Oliveda F59 Corrective Face Serum.

4. Moisturizer

For my day cream, I use the Oliveda F74 Regeneration Intense. It’s soothing, super hydrating, improves elasticity and reduces fine lines. The texture is weird but it’s insanely hydrating. It reminds me of the super-pricy Augustinus Bader face cream I used for years, but it’s a fraction of the price (and F74 is more hydrating).

5. Eye cream

I LOVE the One Skin Topical Eye Supplement. The eye cream from OneSkin is seriously so good and I feel like it immediately improves fine lines and darkness, and even more over time. (I love the OS Body Topical Supplement body lotion and OS-01 scalp serum too.)

6. Protect with SPF

I LOVE the OneSkin Face SPF 30+. It’s by far the best clean sunscreen I’ve ever used. Most sunscreens dry out my skin underneath my makeup or leave a white cast that takes forever to absorb in, but this sunscreen is perfect. It’s hydrating, thin enough that it absorbs pretty quickly, and it’s made with ultra-clean ingredients. (If I wear a tinted moisturizer, I wear Crunchi or Olive Rose. I reviewed them both in my Best Tinted Moisturizer blog post.)

My evening skincare routine

Best case scenario, I do my evening skincare regimen about 30-60 minutes before heading to bed. This gives my skin enough time to absorb everything before I put on my sleeping eye mask and put my face on my pillow (stomach sleeper here!). Most nights I change into PJs about an hour before I go to bed and do my skincare routine. Then, Tommy and I watch a show together before I go to bed.

1. Cleanse

Colleen Rothschild Cleansing Balm – I use this to remove my makeup. I’ve tried a lot of cleansing balms and always go back to this one. It’s more hydrating, I like the scent and my skin feels better immediately after using it. I apply this to dry skin, then remove with a wet muslin towel or washcloth. (Read my full Colleen Rothschild cleansing balm review here.)

I like the Oliveda 009 DOPE Your Glow Cleanser for a double cleanse at night.

2. Toner

Oliveda F67 Corrective Facial Tonic as my toner step.

4. Serum

At night, I start by mixing a few drops of Oliveda F87 Corrective Kahai Elixir into my serum. The Oliveda F87 Corrective Kahai Elixir a natural, nut-derived retinol from kahai oil. This is what I recommend to anyone new to retinol or if you have issues using bakuchiol. It reduces fine lines and pore size, improves complexion, contracts pigmentation, AND protects against free radicals. Like I said, I mix it with my serum, which is the Oliveda F59 Corrective Face Serum (“botox in a bottle”).

Then I apply both to my skin.

5. Face Oil

I use the Oliveda F27 Jasmine Face Oil at night under my face cream, and it makes such a difference in how my skin looks and feels by morning. It’s incredibly hydrating and gives me that fresh, glowy look—even after a rough night. I just press a few drops into my skin before bed, and I wake up looking way more rested than I probably am.

6. Face Cream

For my night cream, I use the Oliveda F74 Regeneration Intense Face Cream. I LOVE THIS SO MUCH. The texture is weird but it’s insanely hydrating. It reminds me of Augustinus Badiner but a fraction of the price (and more hydrating).

6. Eye Cream

I use the Oliveda F64 Corrective Eye Elixir under the One Skin Topical Eye Supplement. F64 is the “botox in a bottle” for your eyes. It has a triple hyaluronic acid structure and a ton of antioxidants, so it hydrates and plumps while also giving your eyes a more lifted, radiant look. I massage a drop around my eyes, and then follow with my eye cream.

7. Lip Mask

I love love love the the F75 Olive Tree Therapy Lip Balm. It’s the best lip mask I’ve ever tried and I’ve tried a lot. Not only does it hydrate and my lips have completely stopped peeling since I use it, but they also look plumper and they have a more defined edge when I use it. It’s almost like it instantly improves the fine lines around my lips and decreases redness there. Once you try it, you’ll understand. It’s the best. 

Additional skincare treatments as needed

Oliveda Hyaluronic Serum – When my skin needs an extra boost of hydration.

Oliveda F81 AHA + HT Serum Face – An overnight resurfacing peel. I use this 1x a week for skin texture, fine lines, and my skin’s overall appearance. It’s strong so don’t OD on it.

Oliveda F76 Honey Enzyme Face Mask – Exfoliates the skin but has a warming sensation. I love using this (which says a lot since I usually hate doing masks). I try to use it 1-2x a week. 

Crunchi Polished Exfoliator – This is a more intense exfoliator than I’ve used in years, but I actually really like it. I only use it once a week. (Read my full Crunchi Makeup review here.)

Skincare 101

If you want to learn more about the basics of skincare and how to choose the right products for your skin type, sign up for this free mini skincare routine 101 course – it’s all sent right to your inbox over the course of a few days.

Additionally, I have promo codes for a couple of the brands, and I’m trying to get one for OneSkin as well.

• OLIVEDA: Free shipping on orders $50+ and a free full-sized product when you take this quiz and buy two products. Or read this post on how to save money on Oliveda.
• COLLEEN ROTHSCHILD: Use code TERILYN20 for 20% off

I have normal to dry skin (and it’s VERY dry in the winter), so if you have normal, oily/acne-prone skin or combination skin, this may not be the right routine for you, but if you fill out this Skincare Survey, I will send you personalized recommendations for your skin type.

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments section!