If You’re Over 40 And Your Whole Goal Is Glass Skin, These Are The 9 Things That Actually Work.
At last!
by The Candidly Team
We’ll be honest with you. We sort of stopped believing we could achieve glass skin after turning 40. At least not without some kind of procedure we’re too busy to research and probably too scared to get. And besides, we like taking matters into our own hands when it comes to skincare. We like things we can try at home so we can track the results in real time and create a system that makes us our most confident selves.
All of this is to say, after years and years of experimenting on our over-40 skin, we found things that gave us that elusive, smooth, plumped, even, glowy, glassy finish we’ve soooo long desired. The kind of results that are actually possible on mature skin, because the products we’re talking about also tackle the complex and newly annoying aspects of aging.
The fact that we’re dryer. More sensitive. Have more texture. And somehow still break out! ALL of it gets “handled” by these 9 items.
And here they are.
1. Hanskin Pore Cleansing Oil
We can’t get glass skin if our skin is too busy reacting to its cleanser. This pore cleansing oil has what you need to know within the name. It’s full of plant oils and polyhydroxy acids, so if you’re oily, it completely clears your pores, and if you’re dry, it doesn’t leave you stripped. We need this kind of balance to create a clean, yet still supple base for all our other skincare. We actually discovered it when trying out what turned out to be a pretty incredible/ affordable entirely K-Beauty routine. Bottom line: it’s a real hero product for those of us with reactive or sensitive skin. And if you don’t like oil cleansers or prefer to follow them up with something that lathers luxuriously, THIS is hands down our favorite cleanser of all time.
Price: $17
2. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
If you’re not exfoliating like a pro, you really have zero chance of achieving glass skin, because everything you apply will just be sitting atop a rougher, dryer, deader-skinned, and probably blemished surface. To put it bluntly.
This is the unclogging, pore-shrinking toning product we recommend so often you’re probably deeply sick of hearing about it if you come here often. Swipe it on after cleansing and before adding product for the most baby-skinned canvas you can muster. You won’t find anything this effective at this price.
Price: $35
3. Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty Asta C Vitamin C Age Defense Serum
When we first applied this product in combination with the below moisturizer, our literal very first thought was “glass skin!” We were expecting it to be a good vitamin C product given its numerous awards and accolades. But it surpassed even our expectations as we saw results in real time.
Because it is a very potent vit C formula, and because vit C is one of three things scientifically proven to be anti-aging, the results you can expect include wrinkle reduction, increased firmness, the fading of dark spots, but also the brightening glow of the sun itself. That instant radiance is the real magic of a powerful vit C serum, not to mention what makes it addictive. Use it under the below moisturizer for a 1-2 glass skin effect.
Price: $88
4. Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty Bowe Glowe™ Microbiome Nourishing Cream
We were so busy crowing about our results that we failed to even mention above that Dr. Whitney Bowe, is a board-certified dermatologist and research scientist. All of her skincare formulas are clinically proven to work. And this particular everyday cream is all about strengthening the skin barrier, while quenching it like nothing else, which in turn, diminishes fine lines and leaves us with the smoothest finish we’ve seen on our skin since we were much, much (ahem) younger. The products are also easily refillable which is convenient for us and good for the planet. And we appreciate that they’re free of a nasty ingredient list that includes parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, silicones, and synthetic fragrance (amongst other things).
Price: $95
5. iS Clinical Active Serum
Our entire crew here at The Candidly stands in awe of this product, of this whole brand honestly. It is the best use we can think of for the term “ride-or-die” when applied to a beauty product (which it probably shouldn’t be but you get the idea). We ADORE this serum.
We put it on at night so we absorb all its anti-aging rewards while we sleep, and the real kicker is, it doesn’t make us break out! Instead, our pores look zapped, our lines look steam cleaned, and say we have a pimple, it knocks that sucker out. It’s just so good and relieving and plumping. Our skin is dewier and clearer every day we use it, and we use it every day.
Price: $92
6. Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One AHA Lactic Acid Treatment
We actually wrote a whole tribute to this product after we tried it. The before and after photos we published actually had people accusing one of us of getting filler, which that person did not.
It’s hard to define the category it falls into, but that’s partly what’s so special about it. It exfoliates - dead skin cells? Gone. And then, it just seemingly starts to tackle every ailment that makes our skin splotchy and uneven instead of glassy and glowy. Wrinkles, irritation, redness, blemishes. It just steams through all of them to leave you resurfaced.
We slap it on at night before bed or use it as a mask we leave on for 15 minutes. Both work like a charm. But seriously, go look at those before and afters. They speak for themselves.
Price: $85
7. Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
This may seem like a funny time to bring up a world-renowned luxury face cream, but we gotta. If you are dry on a whole new level since passing 40, this is the one that you will refer to as your savior. It’s the best face cream we have ever used. It is the one we most trust for wrinkle prevention and deep hydration and to never, ever, ever irritate our skin. We have written entire UNSPONSORED articles explaining our love for it and its similar sister “The Cream” HERE and HERE. Anyone in the market for glass skin who is willing to splurge on one thing to make it happen should know about this cream.
Price: Starting at $98
8. iS Clinical Active Peel System
Nothing we’ve tried has come this close to a professional chemical peel as these 2-step literal wipes that transform your skin. We again, wrote a whole thing just about this product, something we only do when we find something exceptional. See HERE for before and after pics.
They feel tingly and powerful but are botanically based and do not irritate even sensitive skin in the slightest. Your skin will never feel as smoothed or illuminated as it does when using this peel, which you can opt to do every other day or just once a week. There’s no question, you’ll see results either way.
Price: $96
9. Furtuna Skin Due Alberi Biphase Moisturizing Oil
We close this article with another thing that you’ve probably heard us drone on about over and over and over. But when you find a magic potion, you tell the world. You don’t pretend something else is better or more special just to not sound repetitive. Point is, we will keep talking about this oil. We literally slap on as a last step in our skincare after shaking it furiously, and just a few drops diminishes fine lines and makes our skin display the dewiness we only get from being kissed by the tropical sun for 4 hours or being photoshopped.
Use the code CANDIDLY20 to get 20% off.
Price: Starting at $100
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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