I was a Beauty Editor for 12 Years. Here’s my nighttime skincare regimen.

In my early career, I was lucky enough to be a Fashion + Beauty Editor. It was a dream job. I loved traveling to the shows and the gorgeous clothes, but one of the biggest perks was the free beauty swag I got almost daily. 

We got everything: Skincare from every famous cosmetic house you can name. Cleansers, serums, eye creams, and oils. Oh, it was fun! But in the 90s "Green Beauty” wasn't really a thing yet, so almost everything we used had a chemical soup of ingredients I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole now! 

To celebrate the launch of Heales Apothecary, we thought it would be fun to let you into my real-life bathroom to see the products I’m using now. This is all me. My no makeup, fifty-four-year-old face. No retouching, no filters (and yes, maybe the slightest hint of a fuzzy mustache) but whatever…COVID.  

DISCLAIMER: You know those women who say, “I can get ready in five minutes?” Yeah, I’m not one of them. But I’m OK with that. I’ve gotten quicker over the years (especially in the morning). But I take my time with my evening beauty regimen. It feels like a little self-care ritual to me and helps me wind down.

Before I start. The very first thing I do is scrape my hair back into a ponytail (if it isn’t there already). The next thing I do is take off my rings and wash my hands. You'd be surprised how many people think it's OK to wash your face without washing your hands first.

It isn’t.

Pre-Cleanse. I’ve recently started wearing makeup again (thanks, Zoom!) so every evening it has to come off. I start with a very simple Oil Cleanser to break down the concealer, cheek tint, and brow gel that makes up my no-makeup/makeup routine these days. 

This is how I do it: I warm a few pumps of Makeup Melt in my (clean) hands and then massage it on. I take my time and go slowly, in upward circles. I use my fingertips to massage around the eye area. This makeup remover has no essential oils in it, so there’s no sting, even when you get some in your eye. Then wipe off the oil with a tissue.

Expert advice: Use an oil-soaked part of the tissue to gently pinch your lashes to remove mascara. Don’t pull!

The Middle Step. You’ve probably heard of the “double cleanse,” right? Amateur Hour! I go for a triple cleanse at night. Why? because it removes the last traces of makeup and oil and primes your skin for deep cleansing. I've been using Thayer's Witch-hazel, for years, but have recently been loving Galinee’s Face Vinegar. Toners brighten, tone, and prep skin for the next step.

Deep Cleansing. This is hands down the best cleanser I’ve ever tried (and that’s saying a lot). The natural ingredients in Heales Apothecary Organic AHA Cleanser may sound like the farmer’s market stall, but this all-natural cleanser is serious. Fruit acids gently exfoliate without rubbing or scratching. I up the ante by using it with a konjac sponge.

Expert advice: Always finish with a splash (at least 3) of cold water. It minimizes your pores after cleansing and just makes everything look…better.

Treat. In the morning, I tap the Ere Perez Green Booster Serum into my freshly cleansed and toned skin. At night, I break out the big guns: this Finger Lime Caviar Intensive Serum is the business. It acts like a Retinol product (minus the irritation). But unlike Retinol, you can use it on irritated and sensitive skin! I know! It cleared up the eczema on my arms, too. It's the real Australian Miracle.

My second favorite product is The Superfruits Face Oil. I layer it on right after serum, both morning and night like the Make-Up Melt, there are no essential oils that irritate my skin. There are no essential oils that irritate my skin. It also packs a huge antioxidant punch with Kakadu Plum input that helps with everything from fading scars to increasing collagen production. I use this under my sunscreen in the daytime, too.

Eyes. I used Vaseline on my eyelids for decades. Don’t judge me! It was the only thing that didn’t irritate my sensitive skin. Thankfully, I discovered this Eye Cream which deeply hydrates without clogging pores. I also use a little dab with my concealer during the day, if I’m feeling extra dry.

Seal in with Moisturizer. After cleansing, toning, and treating, I like to seal in all that goodness with a good moisturizer. The Saya Night Moisture cream is all-natural but works just like my old La Mer, minus the petrolatum and fragrance.

Hair. I haven’t been to the salon in 8 months. EIGHT MONTHS! 

I used to go every 8 weeks to Mèche Salon to have Neil Weisberg trim my chemically fried ends. Last March, I started brushing a few drops of This Oil into my hair every night, and honestly, it's been a lifesaver. It’s made with Wattleseed, Alma, Argan, and Castor oils (all reputed to encourage hair health + growth). My hair hasn’t been this long, full, or healthy since Middle School. I am shocked. Seriously. It also smells so good that Mr. Handsome stole my bottle.

Switching up your routine every now and then is good for your skin, and making the change to clean beauty products is always a good idea. You’ll be astonished at how well natural beauty products perform, compared to their chemical counterparts.

 

xmk

Before I start. The very first thing I do is scrape my hair back into a ponytail (if it isn’t there already). The next thing I do is take off my rings and wash my hands. You'd be surprised how many people think it's OK to wash your face without washing your hands first.

It isn’t.

Pre-Cleanse. I’ve recently started wearing makeup again (thanks, Zoom!) so every evening it has to come off. I start with a very simple Oil Cleanser to break down the concealer, cheek tint, and brow gel that makes up my no-makeup/makeup routine these days. 

This is how I do it: I warm a few pumps of Makeup Melt in my (clean) hands and then massage it on. I take my time and go slowly, in upward circles. I use my fingertips to massage around the eye area. This makeup remover has no essential oils in it, so there’s no sting, even when you get some in your eye. Then wipe off the oil with a tissue.

Expert advice: Use an oil-soaked part of the tissue to gently pinch your lashes to remove mascara. Don’t pull!

The Middle Step. You’ve probably heard of the “double cleanse,” right? Amateur Hour! I go for a triple cleanse at night. Why? because it removes the last traces of makeup and oil and primes your skin for deep cleansing. I've been using Thayer's Witch-hazel, for years, but have recently been loving Galinee’s Face Vinegar. Toners brighten, tone, and prep skin for the next step.

Deep Cleansing. This is hands down the best cleanser I’ve ever tried (and that’s saying a lot). The natural ingredients in Heales Apothecary Organic AHA Cleanser may sound like the farmer’s market stall, but this all-natural cleanser is serious. Fruit acids gently exfoliate without rubbing or scratching. I up the ante by using it with a konjac sponge.

Expert advice: Always, finish with a splash (at least 3) of cold water. It minimizes your pores after cleansing and just makes everything look…better.

Treat. Another one that gets split up into morning and night, here. In the morning, I tap the Ere Perez Green Booster Serum into my freshly cleansed and toned skin. At night, I break out the big guns: this Finger Lime Caviar Intensive Serum is the business. It acts like a Retinol product (minus the irritation). But unlike Retinol, you can use it on irritated and sensitive skin! I know! It cleared up the eczema on my arms, too. It's the real Australian Miracle.

My second favorite product is The Superfruits Face Oil. I layer it on right after serum, both morning and night. There are no essential oils that irritate my skin. It also packs a huge antioxidant punch with Kakadu Plum input that helps with everything from fading scars to increasing collagen production. I use this under my sunscreen in the daytime, too.

Eyes. I used Vaseline on my eyelids for decades. Don’t judge me! It was the only thing that didn’t irritate my sensitive skin. Thankfully, I discovered this Eye Cream which deeply hydrates without clogging pores. I also use a little dab with my concealer during the day, if I’m feeling extra dry.

Seal in with Moisturizer. After cleansing, toning, and treating, I like to seal in all that goodness with a good moisturizer. The Saya Night Moisture cream is all-natural but works just like my old La Mer, minus the petrolatum and fragrance.

Hair. I haven’t been to the salon in 8 months. EIGHT MONTHS! 

I used to go every 8 weeks to Mèche Salon to have Neil Weisberg trim my chemically fried ends. Last March, I started brushing a few drops of This Oil into my hair every night, and honestly, it's been a lifesaver. It’s made with Wattleseed, Alma, Argan, and Castor oils (all reputed to encourage hair health + growth). My hair hasn’t been this long, full, or healthy since Middle School. I am shocked. Seriously. It also smells so good that Mr. Handsome stole my bottle.

Switching up your routine every now and then is a good idea and making the change to clean beauty products is always a good idea. You’ll be astonished at how well natural beauty products perform, compared to their chemical counterparts.

 

xmk