My Adventure into the World of Skincare for Mature Skin 2023, by Amy Alton, NP
At age 13 I was introduced to skincare because I was having stubborn zits. I used rubbing alcohol to dry them out but within an hour my face so, so oily I could have sold it to OPEC for a good profit! So the cycle began, dry the face out with acne wash washes and rubbing alcohol, end up with a greasy oily face. Rinse and repeat. My teenage makeup would slide off by second period class.
In my 20’s I really didn’t have time for a “routine” of skincare. College, kids, and college again, you get it. I used makeup but 99.9% of the time it stayed on my sleeping face. In the morning I scrubbed to remove what wasn’t smeared on the pillowcase during the night. This was not what I recommend to younger folks. Life can get crazy with children around. You are too busy to wash your own face!
I began using Retin A in my mid 30’s, which was an excellent idea, but I fell out of the habit after about 10 years. I really wish I hadn’t stopped. It is what it is. I also was really good about using sunscreen since age 16, wearing hats and avoiding the beach, i.e. sunbathing. The process of burn and peel is no fun and 90% of wrinkles are caused by, you guessed it, the sun!!
My mid 40’s to mid 50’s I didn’t pay too much attention to my skincare. My skin looked really good and I assumed it always would. Wrong!! When you hit 55 your skin (mine at least) weakens, thins and begins to sag. WTH! Where was that thick, soft, dewy mostly wrinkle free face I used to have?? Now I am in panic mode. Bring back the Retin A a.s.a.p. So I did in March 2023, every single day so far.
Micro needling (I use Dermaceuticals, Home and DP4 Pro) is amazing! I got a home device to try out first. It is painful, but no pain/no gain they say. I use a CBD cream and numbing cream mixed before the procedure to help decrease the discomfort. I leave those on for about 15 minutes.
I have been trying these products and devices to give you some good advice. There are so many to choose from. As I experiment I will let you know my favorites so you can try them too! I’m becoming a Beauty Expert too!
After the creams, I wipe them off, spray the DP Clini Prep (an antiseptic spray) and then I mix several face serums together in a bowl; here is just a sampling list, which is different every time:
DP Antioxidant cocktail
Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel
Doctor Babor EGF Pro concentrate
Skinceuticals H.A. Intensifier
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide and HA Serum
Babor Algae Vitalizer ampules
Hydropeptide Hydrostem serum
Dermalogica Overnight Repair serum
Neova C 20+ Antioxidant Serum
The Ordinary Amino Acids plus B5 serum
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore perfecting Refining Serum
Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine
Dr. Dennis Gross 15% Vitamin C
African Botanics Vta C Corrector
Medik8 Bakuciol Peptides
Chantecaille Le Serum Anti Age Serum
African Botanics Niacinamide Plumping Booster
African Botanics Ceramide Booster
Auteur Composition No1 Serum
La Mer The Hydrating Infused Emulsion
Cle De Peau The Serum
Cle De Peau Emulsion
Prevage Anti Aging Daily Serum 2.0
Auteur Definitive Line Serum
African Botanics Infusion Essence
Neova Advanced HA Prevention Serum
Medik8 Press and Glow
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Balancing Emulsion
Glossier: Super Glow, Super Bounce and Super Pure
Beauty Pie Jeju Daily Super Stem Cell
Dr. Dennis Gross B adaptive Superfoods
Biologique Recherche Emulsion Gel Biosensible
Medik8 Liquid Peptides
Beauty Pie Japanfusion
Babor SeaCreation
Doctor Babor PRO Beta Glucagon
Earth Harbor Marine Algae and Blue Yarrow
Facetherapy Exaglow Serum
No 7 Serum
African Botanics Rooibos Booster
Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid or Glazing Milk
Charlotte’s Magic Serum
U Beauty serum
Fresh Vitamin Nectar Glow Juice
La Mer The Treatment Lotion
Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen
Korres Velvet drink
Neal’s Yard Frankincense Intense Age Defying Serum
Beauty Pie Super Drops
Lancer Active Rejuvenation Serum
CeraVe Skin Renewing Gel Oil Ceramide Boost
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Micro Capsule Skin Replenishing Essence
Estee Lauder Micro Essence Treatment Lotion with bio-ferments
L’Occitane Immortelle Reset Triphase Essence
Chantecaillle Essence Vitale
Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Serum
Thrive Timeless Ambition Power 10 peptide Sculpting Serum
Chantecaille Rose De Mai Face Oil
D’Alba Double Layer Revitalizing Serum
Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate
Rose Inc. Radiant Reveal
Tatcha The Essence
Dr. Barbara Strum serum
Apply the serum mixture really thick as many times as you want during the procedure. The procedure is done in 4 different directions, beginning on one cheek, then the other cheek, the forehead, over and under lips (I do my lips also), chin, temples, under eyes (very gentle), neck (divided into 2 sections) and chest. You can add hands, arms, belly etc., for loose skin tightening. Start horizontal, then vertical, then diagonal in each direction. The 12-16 micro needles are pushing the serums into your skin. Yes it hurts.
Post procedure; apply a facemask (mesh or gauze to cover full face). No need to remove any serums or blood spots. DP has a perfect one, Hyla Active. It has loops to place behind the ears and a partial chin cover too. Use the extra serum in the mask bag to rub on other treated skin areas to soothe the burning. Use hydrating, soothing facemasks as many times as you want. Calm the redness with a red light LED, like Dr. Dennis Gross’.
Treat the areas like an open burn for 24 hours. Be careful not to get dirt or contaminants in the areas. Stay clean. Aloe is great for soothing. African Botanics makes a great Silver Rescue spray and a cream for healing, and you can use both together.
After the burning stops, apply any of these or layers:
U Beauty The Super Hydrator
Annemarie Borlind Natu Repair (DNA repair cream)
Neova DNA Total Repair
No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal Serum (DNA repair)
African Botanics Nutritive Molecule Serum (DNA repair)
DP Vitamin Rich Repair
PROPAIRA DNA Repair Cream
Macrene Actives High Performance Face Serum (mega DNA repair)
African Botanics Fleurs D’ Afrique
Prevage Anti aging, Serum, Face cream and Neck and Decollete” repair ALL DNA repair)
Neova Crème de la Copper Day or Night Creams (ALL Neova are DNA repair products!)
Dr Barbara Strum Face Cream Rich
There are a few DNA repair enzymes:
Disodium Uridine Phosphate
Micrococcus Lysate
Plankton Extract
For daytime protection:
Neova Silc Sheer 2.0 SPF 40
Medik8 Advanced Day Ultimate Protect SPF 50
La Mer The Broad Spectrum SPF 50
Prevage City Smart DNA enzyme SPF 50
M-61 Hydraboost Moisturizer SPF 30 hydrating peptide and vitamin B5, C and aloe
DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46
LAGOM Cellus Sun Gel SPF 50
Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50
Naturium Dew-Glow Moisturizer SPF 50
Elta MD UV Daily SPF 40
Erborian CC Cream color: Clair
D’Alba UV Essence Waterfull SPF 50
Creamy hydration can be achieved by using one or more of these:
LifeLine ProPlus Advanced Defense Complex and Eye Firming Complex
Photozyme MD Ultra Rich Cream DNA Facial Cream and DNA Youth Recovery Serum
PCA Skin
ExLinea Pro Peptide Serum
Neova Reformist Night Tx DNA repair
Charlotte’s Magic Cream
U Beauty The Barrier
Rhode Barrier Restore Cream
Chantecaille Rose de Mai Cream
Protini Polypeptide Cream (DNA repair)
Tatcha, any of the creams, Indigo, Ageless and Water are great
African Botanics Fleurs D Afrique Intensive Recovery Cream
Priori Adaptive Skincare DNA Intense Recovery Cream
Trinity London Intense Peptide Moisturizer, Bounce Back
To continue the repair process:
Use Retin A as strong as you can tolerate (work your way up over months) every night before or after your skincare.
Apply nightly, as layers:
Any DNA repair serum or cream (listed above)
Macrene Actives High Performance Face Serum (DNA repair) and Eye Serum (DNA repair)
Macrene Actives High Performance Face Cream Extra Rich (DNA repair)
U Beauty Resurfacing Compound
Trinity London Retinal Serum, Medik8 Retinol, or Neova Intensive Retinol Spray (if not using Retin A)
Kjaer Weis The Beautiful Night Potion
CereVe Skin Renewing Night Cream peptide complex
Kjaer Weis The Beautiful Hydration Serum (day or night)
Doctor Babor Lifting RX Collagen Cream Rich
Every morning use a Vitamin C serum or cream, Dr. Dennis Gross has Dewy Deep Cream with Vitamin C and Lactic acid and the Firm and Bright vitamin C serum, are two choices. African Botanics VITA C Correction is another I love and recommend.
I also use the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Pore Perfecting and Refining Serum daily. Kjaer Weis’ The Toner, Biolgique Recherche Eau Micellaire Biosensible lotion and Auteur Definitive Lifting Toner are all really great hydrating mists to put on right after cleansing the skin. I recommend any of them!
After cleansing in the morning with an enzyme powder like Babor, Tatcha The Rice Polish or Auteur, use a creamy cleanser like:
Elemis Pro collagen Cleansing Balm,
The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream,
Macrene Actives High Performance Cleanser,
Dermalogica ultracalming cleanser,
Kjaer Weis The Cleanser,
African Botanics Fleur De Rose Cream Cleanser,
Babor Hyaluronic Cleansing Balm
I use AHA, BHA and Lactic acid peel pads a couple times per week, (not every night because I use Retin A daily) from Dr. Dennis Gross. The ampules from Babor are amazing, all of them especially the Glow and Multi Vitamin. I apply the Algae ampule before using my Dr. Dennis Gross’ Face LED light, Lip light or the Body light. The Algae has light-activated DNA repair properties (according to studies I’ve read).
I have devices like TRIA LASER, NUFACE stimulator, a Braun hair remover Silk Expert 5 (to use on my face as a laser for skin), Palovia laser (may not be for sale anymore), Nira laser, Yaman red light, and an electrostimulator like they use during a facial for antiseptic properties.
I have purchased lots of make-up for demonstrations, trials and possible videos I have been testing so I can recommend brands and colors. List to follow. My hair products and devices are for testing purposes and I have my favorites, especially for older, thinning hair! The Dyson hair dryer with the thick roller is amazing! Get one for sure; it makes your hair look so thick. Plus Virture Flourish spray to grow hair and make it look thicker is fantastic. Living Proof Full Thickening Mousse in the hair line areas in front and directly on the scalp really lifts the hair and creates volume too. Rene Furterer Paris Triphasic Reactional should be applied to the scalp after cleansing once per week for hair growth. Take Vitamin B complex and eat enough protein too.
