For women over the age of 40, this can be a daunting task, as your daily face washing routine might need a complete overhaul of what you already use. At the very least, your daily face washing regimen should include a cleanser, toner and moisturizer, with serums and masks added as needed. In this article, you will see what every step means and what it does for your face.

Step 1: Cleanser

Think of this step as a car waxing – your cleanser should rid your face of the grime that builds up
over the day and wash away any and all impurities. Your cleanser sets the tone for all your other products and can determine how well makeup goes on your face. Keep in mind, your cleanser shouldn’t make your face feel dry or tight. Depending on what kind of cleanser it is, your face should feel soft and still hydrated. Opt for a gentle that also gets rid of makeup – this will save you some time at the end of the day.

Step 2: Toner

This step of your face washing routine ensures your face is completely clean after cleanser. If you have oily skin, or you want to ensure thick products worn during the day such as makeup or sun screen are off, a toner will help.

4 step face washing routine 2

Step 3: Serum & Masks:

Serums are extras that for the most part should be applied every day. Generally, they are oil-like products that give the face an extra boost. For instance, there are brightening serums, loaded with Vitamin C to give your face a lighter appearance; … To repair and protect the face, look for antioxidant rich in vitamin C or E, or epidermal growth factors to stimulate collagen production. It’s in this step of face washing process that you will want to apply any spot treatments, such as dark spot removers or acne prevention products, unless otherwise stated. This is also when you’ll apply your eye cream, and always, always SPF (no less than 30).

Step 4: Moisturizer:

After everything we’ve discussed, I’m sure you can imagine there are tons of different moisturizers out there. For those over 40, you may want to use a retinoid before you go to sleep, which boosts collagen and elastin preserves, which fends off future sagging. Retinoids can run you $100 or more, but it’s worth it for the great skin care benefits you’ll receive. Not only are retinoids anti-aging, but they have acne reduction properties. You may want to pick a moisturizer with SPF in it already, as sun exposure is one of the leading causes of skin damage.