Just 8 Really Good Products That Work Great For Thirtysomething Skin

    As recommended by an actual 39-year-old.

    Julie Gerstein
    by Julie Gerstein

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Hi. My name is Julie and I'm a beauty addict.

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    Here's me uncomfortably posing for a photo like it's my senior class picture.

    Want proof? This is my bathroom. There's more under the sink and in the medicine cabinet. Yes, I have a problem.

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    But! My problem can be YOUR solution. Because I've tried, like, everything, and I've come up with a skin routine that finally, really works for my almost-40-year-old skin.

    Julie Gerstein

    Real talk: For years I was p. bad about taking care of my skin. I didn't wear sunscreen and ended up with a ton of hyper-pigmentation and freckles. DON'T DO WHAT I DID. Get your skin care routine together sooner, rather than later.

    Here's what I love:

    1. Zelens Z-Detox Foaming Cleanser, $80

    2. Dr. G's Brightening Peel, $14.75

    3. Averr Aglow Cleansing Nectar, $37

    4. Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream, $34

    5. IPKN Sun Cream SPF 50, $26.65

    6. NeoGen Bio Peel Pads, $18.95

    7. Hollywood Browzer Hair Removal Tool, $20

    8. Too Cool For School Coconut Milky Mist, $14

    This is what I use on my face. I don't use every product every day (besides face wash, moisturizer, and sunscreen). But here's what I like.

    Taylor Miller / BuzzFeed

    This is me without any makeup on, and no touch-ups, BTW. Be nice, you guys.

    1. So, first up, I wash my face with this Zelens Z-Detox Foaming Cleanser, which is both soap- and oil-free.

    Julie Gerstein

    This v. v. amazing cleanser contains a proprietary blend of alpha hydroxy acids, fruit enzymes, and botanical extracts. It's gentle enough that you can use it every day or twice a day (if you're a person that goes to the gym or something?) Because it's a foam cleanser, a little bit goes a lonnnnnng way. I've had my current bottle for at least six months!

    Get Zelens Z-Detox Foaming Cleanser from Barneys for $80.

    If you're looking for an affordable alternative (because yes, $80 is a LOT for a damn cleanser, I know), Aveeno's foaming cleanser is a nice option. Get it from Amazon for $6.77.

    Or, if you don't care about da foam and just want your face feeling soft and good, there's always Cetaphil. It's the favored cleanser of Maybe Real Life Dorian Gray Pharrell so you know it works. Get it from Amazon for $12.40.

    2. Since I live in NYC where there's tons of air pollution and garbage air, I like to do a deeper cleanse a couple of times a week with Dr. G.'s Brightening Peeling Gel.

    This shit is soooo satisfying. You put a dollop on, and as you massage it into your face it turns into a thicker exfoliating paste. I'm not sure what the chemical properties are at work here, but it's basically K-beauty magic.

    Get it from Amazon for $14.75.

    3. I like makeup, but I don't like it when my makeup won't come off. So I use this Averr Aglow cleansing nectar to get a deeper clean.

    Julie Gerstein

    This cleansing nectar works wonders when it comes to getting mascara, foundation, and eyeliner off. Plus it leaves my skin feeling soft, soft, soft. It's also supposed to be good for breakouts, and contains vitamins E, C, B, and Omega 3 and 6 so it's very nourishing.

    Get it from Averr Aglow for $37.

    You can also use Simple's Micellar Cleansing Water. Get it from Amazon for $3.31.

    4. Right now, this Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream from Dr. Jart+ is my fave moisturizer.

    Julie Gerstein

    TBH, I tend to switch my moisturizers around depending on the season and how dry or oily my skin is feeling. I ALSO don't bother with a separate eye cream (like, I'll try to remember to use eye cream and then forget to bc it's just one more friggin' product) and use this all over my face. Tiger Grass is supposed to be super soothing to irritated or dry skin, and this cream apparently also has an ingredient in it that's supposed to help it penetrate the skin more easily. Bonus: It has a light lavender scent which is mega relaxing.

    Get Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream from Amazon for $40.20.

    I should note, this moisturizer is on the thicker/heavier side, and if you're prone to oily skin or breakouts, I might go with something a bit lighter, like Context's Oil-Free Daily Moisturizer, which you can get on Amazon for $39.47 or Spring for $40.

    If you've got a bit more money to spend, Verso's Day Cream is a dream. In fact their entire skincare line is worth a splurge, for sure. Get the Day Cream from Nordstrom for $100.

    And if you're looking for something that'll treat your sensitive skin right, try Aveeno's Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15. Get it from Amazon for $12.80.

    5. I alwayyyyys forget to put on sunscreen, but this IPKN Sun Cream (with SPF 50!) smells like apples, so it's easy to remember.

    Julie Gerstein

    It contains something called a patented ice apple formula which is supposed to improve the appearance of pores and reduce oil production, and it's made with apple extract, which has a calming effect, and whatever it smells delicious (like Salon Selectives shampoos and conditioners, for my old heads.) The formula is non-greasy, and actually absorbs into your skin. I put it on after my moisturizer and before makeup.

    Get IPKN Sun Cream from Amazon for $26.65.

    As an alternative, you can get a CeraVe SPF 50 face cream from Amazon for $9.12.

    6. Sometimes I forget to take my makeup off at night, and these NeoGen Bio-Peel pads have saved me, like, a million times.

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    I often forget to wash my face at night, which is why NeoGen's lemon extract-infused cleansing pads are a dream. These pads are double sided — the softer side is good for removing makeup, oil, and dirt from your skin, while the coarser side acts as a gentle exfoliator. They're probably a bit too harsh to use on your skin every day, but they're good when you're too tired/lazy/drunk to deal with washing your face.

    Get them from Amazon for $18.95.

    Burt's Bees also makes a really great facial cleansing cloth for sensitive skin, infused with cucumber and sage. Get a pack of 30 from Amazon for $14.85.

    7. OK so most people have some amount of peach fuzz on their faces. This little Hollywood Browzer hair remover will turn your face from fuzzy to smooth as hell.

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    This little tool works as an exfoliator and hair remover, and it'll make a huuuuuge difference on how makeup and skincare products sit on and are absorbed into your skin. You simply need to lightly run it on your skin (your cheeks, your forehead, your upper lip) every couple of weeks. It's a tiny thing that will really change your life.

    Get a set of two Hollywood Browzer razors from Amazon for $20.

    As an alternative, you can get a pack of six Tinkle face razors from Amazon for $4.50.

    8. Finally, I'm kind of addicted to this Coconut Milky Mist from Too Cool For School and use it as a setting spray for my makeup and as a calming face spray at night.

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    It'll make your skin feel dewy AF and it has a pleasant and light coconut scent. I spray it on before makeup, after makeup, at night, in the morning. Honestly, I should probably just keep one in my purse TBH. What makes it so great? Supposedly the fatty acids in coconut water help form a layer to protect against moisture loss and keep your skin G-L-O-W-I-N-G. Also, the world is on fire and I feel like we all need one nice thing, OK?

    Get Coconut Milky Mist from Sephora for $14.

    Mario Badescu also makes a great facial mist, formulated with rosewater and aloe that hydrates and keeps skin feeling fresh. Get it from Amazon for $7.

    OK! Now share YOUR fave products in the comments. And always remember:

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