I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard…
So I’ve researched the beauty magazines and read what other over-40 bloggers love from the drugstore brands. And of course I’ve conducted my own trials. Now it’s time to make a list…
***Please remember to patch test any new product you try.***
****Product titles are linked to Amazon. Prices there may vary from those listed in the post.****
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C L E A N S E R S
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
This is great for breaking down makeup and oils. One pump produces luxurious bubbles and leaves your skin feeling fresh. It’s a big bottle, so it lasts a very long time. It gives a “squeaky clean” feeling without over-drying. However, if you have very dry skin, you might want to consider the next cleanser on my list.
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
Here we have a creamier cleanser without the bubbles. With hyaluronic acid and ceramides, this cleanses without drying, and increases your moisture barrier. I have this on hand in winter when my skin tends to be drier.
Yes To Coconut Cleansing Balm
(This product was added to the list on July 9, 2019)
This cleansing balm has become very important to my skincare routine. It’s like comfort food for your face. The balm feels like slightly melted coconut oil, but it rinses off much easier than straight up oil.
Here are its many uses…
- It cleans and hydrates my dry, winter skin.
- Have you ever had to scrub to remove your sunscreen? Or maybe you tried to wash it off but you could still feel on your face. This cleansing balm GENTLY removes ALL traces of sunscreen.
- Gently and easily remove makeup, even long wear lip color slides right off! If I’m feeling oil, I will use a sudsy cleanser after removing makeup with the balm.
- Whenever my skin needs some TLC, this is the cleanser I reach for.
It comes with a little sponge that looks like a plain, old kitchen sponge. And you know what? It’s actually pretty great for gentle exfoliation. I’ve thought about buying some kitchen sponges! (If you’re wondering how I clean it, I just pop it in the dishwasher.)
E X F O L I A T O R S
Pixi Glow Tonic
This is a miracle in a bottle! It is my preferred way to keep my skin exfoliated. No dull buildup of dead skin cells on my face, thanks to the glycolic acid in Pixi Glow Tonic. Don’t let the word “acid” scare you, this is gentle. With aloe vera and ginseng, it refines the look of pores and gives you a brighter, fresher look. I use it after cleansing, both AM and PM.
Up & Up Exfoliating Cotton Rounds
(This product was added on July 9, 2019)
Available at Target
Am I the only person who is just discovering these?!
These are GENIUS! Look at the bumpy texture on these cotton rounds. When used with the Pixi Glow Tonic, you have a super-effective yet extremely gentle exfoliator!
I really love how these feel. It feels like I’m waking up my whole face. And if you’re not in need of exfoliation, there is still the smoother side. So simple, and so perfect.
Freeman Charcoal and Black Sugar Polishing GEL Mask and Scrub
If you like a good scrub, this one is amazing. The scrubbing beads are sugar, so you can melt them down between your fingertips if you like a gentler scrub. Your skin feels polished afterward, and moisturized, too. This is an absolute drugstore treasure.
D A Y T I M E M O I S T U R I Z E R S
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion (Ultra Lightweight)
Yes, I know I have listed a night moisturizer as a daytime moisturizer. That’s because this wears so well under makeup! It is lightweight, oil-free so it’s not greasy, and it is very hydrating. The hyaluronic acid and ceramides keep your skin hydrated all day long.
CeraVe makes an AM moisturizer with SPF, and it’s great, too. However, it is a little heavier/greasier, so it didn’t wear as well under makeup for me.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 Multi-Purpose Balm Cream for Hands, Face & Body with Shea Butter
I use Cicaplast Balm Cream for so many things!!!
- As “cold cream,” I tissue off to remove eye makeup (not mascara) without dying out my eye area.
- This is my eye cream.
- I apply to any areas that are dry and need extra moisture.
- I have also used it all over my face.
- I have applied it after my retinol cream at night, for extra hydration.
It really is one amazing cream that can also be used on your face, hands, and body. For $15, I get a whole helluva lot of uses from this. The Shea Butter makes this a little heavier, so I don’t need a lot. Once absorbed, there is no greasy feel. According to the La Roche Posay website, it has a “nourishing texture with a matte finish that’s non-oily and non-sticky.” I agree!
Pixi Rose Gold Mist
(Product Added To This List On 6/12/19)
This summer, I’ve actually been using this as kind of a moisturizer. The weather is warm/hot, so I am producing more oil than in winter. And I’m using thicker, more protective sunscreen on my face. So having an extra layer of lotion really isn’t always necessary.
This light layer of oil is sometimes all I need as a moisturizer, or as a refresher during the day.
The Gang’s All Here! This has Rose, Argan, and Avocado Oils!
My skin LOVES these three oils!
It has so many uses. It adds moisture and plumps skin before you put on your makeup. It can add a dewy finish to makeup that’s been applied, or a quick spritz can refresh your look during the day.
N I G H T C R E A M S
RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Retinol Night Cream (15.00 Target)
Retinol is widely regarded as one of the BEST antiaging ingredients. It encourages skin cell turnover, the process of old cells being replaced with newer, fresher skin cells. As we age the turnover process slows down, leaving dull cells to “hang around” longer. Retinol speeds things up!
This gives skin an overall healthier look and lessens the appearance of dark spots and wrinkles.
NOTE: BE SURE to patch test any retinol cream on a small area of your face overnight to see how you tolerate it. Retinol can be irritating. RoC makes a sensitive formula, too. Some “tingling” during application is normal.
La Roche-Posay Redermic R Anti-Aging Retinol Serum ($56.00 Target)
Yes, it is pricey. But it is a drugstore brand, and it does get results for your skin, so I’m including it. If you are wanting to splurge on skincare, this is a good product to do it with.
Redermic R gives all the benefits of retinol, as stated above. With this, I feel there is also a little more firming going on with my skin. It’s worth the money.
Are you wondering, “Audrey, why no eye cream?”
I use the La Roche Posay Cicaplast Balm around my eyes. I haven’t ever found much use for eye creams. La Roche Posay makes one with caffeine in it that I like. You can read the review here. If you know of an amazing eye cream, please share!
So there you have it. Now when anyone asks me for my drugstore skincare picks, I will refer them to this list. If you have a drugstore skincare find, feel free to share it. After all…
Over-40 women are the top experts on over-40 skincare.
Check out my post on Drugstore Eye Creams…
