6 Simple Skin-Care Tweaks to Keep Your Face Healthy and Youthful

As we age, our skin loses elasticity and can start to look dry and tired. To help with this, we consulted with an expert on simple tweaks you can make to your daily skin-care routine that will boost hydration and cell renewal so you’re left feeling like your best, most radiant self every day. Check out the beauty tips below.

1. Always use a cleanser at night.

Cleansing is really important because it not only removes daily grime, it also prevents a build-up of product, which can create a barrier against serums and face creams. This stops all those valuable ingredients from penetrating the skin as easily and means your products can’t work efficiently, so you’re effectively wasting your money.

“Start with a creamy cleansing milk to remove makeup quickly without drying out your skin,” suggests skin-care expert Nicola Simmons. “To maximize results, once or twice a week really massage your cleanser into your skin for about a minute to increase circulation and give your skin a radiance boost. Simply warm in your hands, then spread onto your face and neck, and use circular motions with your fingertips to massage all over. Pay extra attention to dry areas before removing.”

2. Use a toner.

If you’re using a creamy cleanser, this step is important. “Toner will remove any leftover residue and leave the skin feeling fresh and ready for your moisturizer,” explains Simmons. “Toner often gets left out, but it will make the world of difference to your skin-care routine.”

If your toner leaves your skin feeling tight or dry, then it’s probably not the right product for you, so try an alcohol-free version instead. Opt for a gentle, non-drying product that will do the job just as well.

3. Exfoliate regularly.

“Exfoliation is a must for every skin type, but particularly for anyone concerned with aging, because dead skin cells accentuate wrinkles and lead to a dull complexion,” says Simmons. “From around the age of 35, our cell renewal slows down dramatically, so to keep skin luminous and smooth, exfoliate at least once a week. This will also help your other skin-care products work better.”

4. Create some order.

The order in which you use and apply your products can make a big difference. Start by cleansing, then toning, and then apply your eye cream just before your serum and face cream. Serums and face creams are often too heavy for the skin around the delicate eye area. This can cause irritation and puffiness, so applying your eye cream first acts like a barrier against these heavier products. Choose an eye cream that boosts collagen and reduces lines, wrinkles, and dark circles.

5. Make hydration your priority.

At this time of year, your skin may need a little extra hydration to prevent it from feeling tight and dry. “Slower cell renewal also results in dehydration, so keep on top of this with a hydrating product to put the moisture back in the skin and plump out fine lines and wrinkles,” suggests Simmons. “Always treat dehydration before aging, because your anti-aging products won’t work at their best if your skin is dehydrated.” Remember to massage your face cream right down to the base of your neck, and wait a few minutes before applying makeup.

6. Anti-age while you sleep.

“Overnight, skin regenerates faster, and it’s working to rebalance itself. Plus, the skin is also a little warmer so it’s the perfect time to use active ingredients for tackling aging,” explains Simmons. Certain ingredients such as super anti-ager retinol work best at night as they can degrade and lose potency when they are exposed to sunlight.

“Plus, skin-brightening ingredients such as vitamin C are a good choice before bed as they’ll leave you looking like you’ve had a good night’s sleep — even if you haven’t!” Make sure you really massage night cream into the skin, and for an extra treat, use a radiance-boosting face mask weekly. Creams with collagen-boosting retinol palmitate and hyaluronic acid will target wrinkles while you sleep.