OUR FOUNDER'S SKINCARE PICKS FOR YOUR 40s
I recently celebrated my 40th birthday alongside the 10 year anniversary of Citrine this past November. I am still settling into this new age & new decade, but with more wisdom, grace & an absolute sense of serenity & personal stability than I ever knew possible. I can honestly say that, ladies, life only gets better with age.
With age, comes great wisdom, eloquence, experience & new levels of self love. As excited as I am for this new chapter in my life and all of the magic that comes with this new age, I did make a conscious decision to really focus on my beauty rituals, my skincare, and paying attention to my health on every level. Here I want to discuss & share my top tips for aging gracefully into your 40s and beyond, plus some of my absolute must have product recommendations. After much trial & error, I have found the products that give true transformative results to combat aging, and I find myself reaching for the following products now more than ever.
CELLULAR RENEWAL
As we begin to age gracefully into our mid to late 40s, the skin’s cell turnover rate begins to slow to less than half the rate of what it was when we were in our 20s. After 4 decades of exposure to the sun and environmental pollution, the DNA of our skin cells gets worn down and damaged. The collagen our skin produces gets broken down at a quicker rate and we begin to naturally produce less of it. There is no need to fear this though, ladies, we have the tools, products & ingredients here at Citrine to combat this. The more products we can integrate into our routines that encourage cellular regeneration, the better. Luckily, we have a gorgeous selection of potent & powerful natural products that work to increase the rate at which our cells are shed and renewed.
One of my go-to products for skin resurfacing is the Ayuna Facial. This is an incredible multipurpose product labeled as a “Prebiotic Refining Concentrate” & is to be used similarly to a toner. It’s essentially a cleaner & more effective dupe for the infamous Biologique P50. A combination of exfoliating acids plus plasmas rich in Noni cell factors work to balance the skin’s pH levels, heal its microbiota, and refine its texture. This is one of those products that gives facial-level results at home. Not only have I noticed it smooth my skin’s texture with regular use, but it also refines and shrinks the pores & clears up any dark spots.
My other ride or die resurfacing product is the Kypris Moonlight Catalyst. This is a nighttime serum and an alternative to retinol. You may have heard about the benefits of retinol for anti-aging and cellular renewal, which are valid… but what is not often discussed is the potential harms, side effects & downsides of conventional retinols, including the toxins used to preserve the chemicals. We have an entire blog written on switching out retinols for cleaner, more effective products, and this is one of them. The Moonlight Catalyst utilizes pumpkin enzymes, a powerful AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) that gently resurfaces the skin to reveal fresh, glowing skin underneath. Also loaded with vitamins C & A for even more collagen stimulation & brightening, this is a perfect starter serum if you’re looking for something to combat the beginning signs of aging.
The Indie Lee Radiance Renewal Peel is another go to item that is perfect for a quick evening fix to refine & exfoliate. I love to use these when I feel short on time because they’re fool proof & easy to use. Plus, I know I am getting a full exfoliating, resurfacing treatment with potent ingredients like banana leaf extract, Java Plum & Caviar Lime which contain Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs). If you’re a one-and-done nighttime skincare kind of gal, this is going to be my top pick for you! Stress free & simple cellular regeneration.
SERUMS WITH A HIGH ACTIVE INGREDIENT CONTENT
If you’re in your 40s or beyond you will know that we are not messin’ around. In life, with skincare, in general. It’s time to utilize the best of the best that life has to offer and skin care ingredients are no exception. I find that choosing serums with a high percentage of active ingredients is the way to go to get really targeted results. Active ingredients include a high concentration of vitamins and natural botanicals making them extremely effective for a variety of concerns. In the case of our gracefully ageless mission, we’re targeting fine lines, collagen production, and wrinkle reduction, so I have selected my top 3 serums that fit the bill.
Tata Harper has an excellent selection of products that have proven to really combat the effects of aging, so you really can’t go wrong. However, there are quite a bit of options to choose from. But if you are looking for that one serum to give you incredible anti-aging, skin transforming results, it’s the Elixir Vitae. This serum has 72 high-performance active botanicals that work to target wrinkles, plump the skin, increase & improve elasticity, and give the skin a boost of deep hydration. This is my number one serum recommendation for anyone with concerns about fine lines, wrinkles, or loss of volume.
Next up, I am extremely impressed with the latest serum from Ayuna, the Vitamin D Skin Nectar. I love this because it contains a whopping 70% active ingredients, making it ultra-effective at what it does. This lightweight emulsion serum-cream (another multitasking product from Ayuna) works to increase your skin’s microcirculation which brings fresh blood to the surface of the skin, livening up the complexion & stimulating collagen production. As with all of Ayuna’s skincare line, Nectar utilizes the most innovative ingredients & concepts to transform the skin. The focus of this serum is to increase the skin’s Vitamin D levels, which you can’t really find in any other product on the market, making this serum very special. Loaded with a laundry list of unique active ingredients, such as “Living Stone” Stem Cells, cherry sublimate water, hyaluronic-like-bio-sugars, and super antioxidant Astaxanthin, your skin is going to reap the benefits & feel a thousand times more youthful.
A tried & true classic from Tata Harper is the Concentrated Brightening Serum. Loaded with 69 active ingredients, this serum is best for those who experience hyperpigmentation from sun exposure or dull skin that needs a radiant lift. The actives in this product work to brighten, reduce dark spots, even out the skin tone, plump & contour the skin, and eliminate fine lines. This is an iconic anti-aging serum that you can’t go wrong with if you’re looking to bring your complexion back to life.
ANTIOXIDANT PROTECTION
By the time we hit our 40s, we have really lived, and most likely spent a lot of time outdoors, under the sun, and also in front of screens which emulate that harmful blue light. As we continue to live our lives, and since these UVA & UVB rays aren’t going anywhere, one of my best pieces of advice is to focus on protecting the skin from the damaging effects of these rays. The best way to give your precious skin a shield of protection is by using skincare loaded with antioxidants. You can read more about why antioxidants are so crucial to our skin’s health here.
The Kypris Antioxidant Dew is my ride or die product, almost of all time. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t use this both day and night. It’s also our best selling serum here at Citrine, which says a lot about its effectiveness. It’s ultra-lightweight yet completely packed with nourishing antioxidants to keep your skin protected. This is especially important to use during the sunny summer months as an addition to your SPF to really prevent not only damage from the harsh sun rays, but also from environmental pollution, toxins, and blue light. It’s gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin types so I really do recommend this to everyone.
Vitamin C is one of the most pivotal nutrients to use on your skin for optimal protection. My personal favorite, go-to vitamin C product is the Agent Natuer holi(c). Not all vitamin C products are made the same and this specific powder product is unlike anything else out there on the market. It utilizes a specific type of vitamin C known as Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP), the only form of vitamin C that does not oxidize. This is a very important concept when it comes to skincare so we have an entire blog dedicated to the education of vitamin C, what dangers & toxins lie in conventional products, and why this skincare category is actually very misleading. The holi(c) is another one of my everyday products that I use in tandem with the holi(water), which is how the powder gets activated. Spritz about 2-3 pumps of the water into your palm, add in a pea size amount of the holi(c), then combine and pat onto clean, dry skin. It immediately plumps, tightens, refines and of course, keeps your skin protected all day long.
SUPERIOR HYDRATION
Let’s face it, as we age our body composition contains less and less water naturally, so the importance of hydration is ten fold. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate… from the inside out first! But topical hydration with really nourishing ingredients & nutrient rich skin quenching products will also assist in moisture retention, helping us achieve that dewy, plump skin we all deserve.
First up, the Ayuna Cream III is the latest of Ayuna’s enriching Cream products. As a third addition to their series of deeply hydrating creams (natural equivalents to the La Mer products), this cream goes above & beyond just hydration. With Cannabis Sativa Stem Cells & plasmas rich in cell factors from tumeric cultures, this cream actually triggers the sensory system, creating a boost in our oxytocin production, having an elevated effect on our emotional bodies, increasing our magnetic radiance AND neutralizing the effects of cortisol, the stress hormone, on the skin. This is that cream you reach for when you want something super rich & velvety. It contains balancing probiotics and nutrient replenishing sublimated grape water, known as “living water” which has an optimal bioelectric pH balance for the revitalization of the skin’s moisture content, leaving skin super supple. You can’t go wrong with this cream to really fortify the skin with hydration.
Tata Harper Crème Riche is another cream I reach for when I need that extra enriching boost of moisture. This has been an iconic anti-aging cream in the clean beauty industry for a while, so it comes with incredible reviews, a loyal fan base, and of course, transformative results. This is an amazing moisturizer that can be used day or night to plump, soften & smooth the skin. It targets visible fine lines & loss of volume with fatty acids, vitamin F & antioxidants for instant results. I rotate between this and the Cream 3 throughout the week to give myself a variety of nourishing, hydrating ingredients.
THE IMPORTANCE OF EYE CREAM
One of my favorite pieces of beauty advice that I received at the very beginning of my beauty career was to always wear an eye cream. I started using eye cream at a young age so I can really vouch for the validity of this advice. Now at 40, I don’t find my eye area to be a problem area, and for that I am extremely grateful! And I owe it all to consistently using a great eye cream.
For day time, I have been really loving the freshness of the Agent Nateur holi(glow). This is a rejuvenating gel formula that gives your eye area a deep boost of hydration, leaving it with a visible glow. This product looks absolutely flawless under concealer and makeup and I find that it fortifies the eye area with uplifting, dewy hydration thanks to the cucumber, french silk peptides & enlivening caffeine.
For evenings, I opt for the Tata Harper Elixir Vitae Eye Serum. The Elixir Vitae line is going to give you the most enriching and nourishing ingredients to target wrinkles and any signs of aging, and is perfect for those of us in our 40s and beyond. I love this serum because of its ultra concentrated list of active ingredients. It’s a neuropeptide treatment that gives me instant results. I can visibly see a difference when I use this product as well as feel a renewed sense of firmness under the eyes. Even with the elevated price point, I have to say that this is worth every penny.
Another one of my all time favorite eye creams for really lustrous nighttime moisture is the Kypris Ad Astra. Made with gorgeous botanicals and peptides, I love this because it is gentle yet velvety & hydrating enough to really restore volume and get rid of my dark circles. You can even go in with this product on the top of Elixir Vitae for even more nourishment.
DON’T FORGET THE LIPS
Lips often get overlooked, but like our eyes, hands & decolletage, the signs of aging are more noticeable when we don’t look after our pout. Hydration is key. Keeping lips nourished and moisturized overnight is one of the best ways to ensure your lips retain volume and stay supple. The latest arrival from Kypris is one of my new absolute favorite lip products. The Lip Elixir Balm is a gorgeous, rich balm that smells of jasmine and coats the lips in decadent plant stem cells, hyaluronic acid, and nourishing butters. The jasmine does it for me and I can’t get enough of this luxurious evening indulgence.
One of our best selling lip products that I suggest to absolutely everyone is the Fitglow Night Lip Serum. This product is so easy to fall in love with. It has a ton of glowing reviews & I haven’t come across anyone who has tried this and isn’t obsessed with it. It’s really a must have addition to your nighttime skincare routine, but I also love to use this to prep my lips before applying my liner & liquid lip during the day. It wraps the lips in moisture with a subtle sweet vanilla scent and works to enhance the lip’s cell structure while increasing volume. It’s like a mini lip filler in a bottle.
The Vapour Lux Organic Lip Conditioner is that perfect throw-in-your-purse, keep-on-your-desk, all-in-one, daily lip balm. It’s nourishing, hydrating, and everything you want in a daily balm when lips need a little boost of moisture or before applying lipstick.
GO BEYOND WITH BEAUTY TOOLS
My favorite beauty device to combat the signs of aging is the Skin Gym LED Wrinklet Mask. This mask has three different settings for light frequencies that target different concerns. At 40 I am all about the red light action here because of its proven effectiveness to stimulate collagen & elastin and improve cellular regeneration. The infrared light penetrates deep into the skin to not only support the revitalization of skin cells, but also to reduce inflammation, repair damaged tissue, and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. I pop this on every single night at the end of my skincare routine while I either meditate, recite mantras, read or just rest. It’s a great way to get that elevated boost of skincare benefits while multitasking with little to no effort… we need all of the effortless support we can get, am I right?
SKIN GYM
WRINKLIT LED MASK
With age comes a lot of profound & beautiful experiences, wisdom, knowledge, compassion, and overall growth. I feel that I am just getting started on my journey here and I am ready to take things beyond skincare, beyond beauty, and into a new realm of mind, body & soul wellness. Again, I really want to instill that there is no fear to be had in the aging process. It couldn’t be more beautiful, more aligned, and more exciting if you step into the magic of it.
We are so blessed to have these incredible products at our fingertips to help make this process smooth and worry free. As I step into this next stage of my life and career, I have a renewed passion for skincare. I am able to access new levels of gratitude for all of the incredible benefits that natural, clean ingredients can provide us. I am so excited for the rest of what this new decade has to offer… only time will tell! I’m so grateful to share my discoveries and experience with you & my mission is to inspire you to find the same luxury and pleasure that I do in my beauty rituals.
