The 6 Beauty Essentials I Use That Get Me Carded In My 40's
by Audie Metcalf
Hi. I’m Audie. And I feel like the second I hit 40, everything changed. My hair suddenly got weirdly curly (what?), my previously combination skin felt dry, fine lines seemed to emerge overnight, and I looked tired all the time.
And I don’t see a lot of articles about products for women my age, even though there are 25 million of us just in the United States alone.
So I decided to write one.
Full disclosure, I’m a beauty fanatic. I try everything new, many things are sent to me to test, so I really feel like I have a firm handle on the latest stuff. BUT, I’m not always that impressed with the newest and buzziest, and generally subscribe to a less-is-more methodology, especially now that I’ve hit 40 and suddenly all my old routines and tricks don’t work anymore.
And over the last (very bizarre) year or so, I’ve had time to perfect a tight, efficient routine that really seems to work on my not-young, not-old face. A manageable, easy-for-anyone routine that feels so doable that I thought…maybe some of the hours and hours of time I’ve spent trying, hating, discarding, and eventually discovering an almost capsule-like collection of youth-boosting, easy products might be helpful for anyone else out there struggling with wanting an easy, glowy, 5 minute solution.
Is everything cheap? No. Is everything worth the price in my opinion? Yes. Looking fresh and young is a priority to me so this is where I spend my money, far more than on clothes or shoes or bags or vacations. Please don’t scream at me in the comments. If some of the prices don’t work for you or you like to spend your money on other things, I get it. But if you’re sick of buying crap that doesn’t work, and scouring the earth for products that actually give you instant results, look no further. I’ve done the work for you.
Let’s get into into it:
1. YES, THIS VERY BASIC SOAP
Weren’t expecting that, eh? When I tell you I’ve tried gel, exfoliating, creamy, balmy, glycolic, over $100 cleansers, and STILL I come back to my beloved dove bar soap? Nothing leaves my skin softer or less tight. Even in the winter. And it clears up any hormonal acne I inevitably get when I start to stray from its tender, milky clutches and try out other fancy cleansers because I always feel so dumb and basic when I use BAR SOAP on my face.
Listen. Our grandmothers are right about some things.
PRICE: $9 for a pack of 3 bars
2. THIS INSANELY BRIGHTENING SERUM
If you take nothing else from this article, let it be THIS SERUM.
This. Product. Is. Magic. It will honestly change your skin instantly. Here’s what my skin looks like without it on the left. And what my skin looks like with ONLY this serum on it.
Vitamin C is a brightening bomb. So if your skin feels dull and lackluster and blah, this your miracle. I use it every morning under moisturizer. And because I only use 5 or so drops a day, the bottle last me for months.
And you can get 15% off using the code CANDIDLY.
PRICE: $182
3. THIS DRUGSTORE EYE CREAM
So as the editor of this site, I get to try a lot of products that brands send to me. And some are extremely expensive. Like, one insane tiny jar of eye cream I tried was over $400. And…it gave me hives.
Plus I have bought all manner of “clean” eye creams, ones with tons of caffeine; I’ve probably tested over 50 eye creams in the last few years. I think this is because I’m looking for a miracle and I’m highly skeptical that fancy eye creams really “do” anything.
And honestly there’s nothing I’ve ever tried that’s better than this Neutrogena eye cream for less than $35. Nothing.
PRICE: $34
4. THIS MAGIC MOISTURIZER
This 6-in-1 moisturizer is in every. single. makeup. artist’s. kit. And for good reason. It’s deeply hydrating, works for every skin type, creates a flawless base for makeup, and is the most softening moisturizer I’ve ever used. And while the price is surprisingly low, I’d pay double.
Sidebar: We wrote about the same brand’s body lotion HERE and it’s also a gorgeous (and cheap) product.
Get 15% off using the code CANDIDLY.
PRICE: $16-$29
5. THIS LIFE-CHANGING FACE OIL
This oil is unlike any oil, or any product for that matter, that I’ve ever encountered. Pressing a few drops onto my face, neck, and chest over only a few weeks diminished lines and hydrated my skin more deeply than anything else I’ve ever tried. See before and after picture below .
It’s simultaneously plumping and smoothing but also works to repair the skin’s barrier, so there’s less visible damage. Rosacea be gone.
The formula is clean and organic, packed with vitamin c and antioxidants, and contains something called Splendore Anxhusa Complex, an ingredient made from a medicinal flower, which we suspect could be what makes this oil the closest thing to magic we’ve ever experienced in a skincare product.
Use CANDIDLY20 for 20% off your order.
PRICE: starts at $100
6. THIS ILLUMINATING SETTING POWDER
I’m not normally a fan of powders because they sink into every wrink and crink and make me look like the crypt keeper. But this is the most transformative loose powder I’ve ever tried. EVER. I know the 4-quadrant colors feel intimidating but you just tip all four shades into the cap, swirl with a brush or THIS puff, press on (especially over big pores and on under-eyes) and it is so unbelievably smoothing, you’ll half-think there’s a filter on your face. I’m not sure how it works, but I know it’s magic-adjacent.
The colors are extremely forgiving and for once, the shades are really clearly described on Sephora's site. Praise.
PRICE: $59
Let me know in the comments below if you’d like a full breakdown of my over-40 makeup routine with all of my age-specific products and tricks. But in the meantime here’s a quick bonus of some of those must-haves, since you’ve made it this far with me:
THIS is the most natural, pore-filling, wrinkle-minimizing tinted moisturizer I’ve ever tried. Read more about it HERE.
THIS is the only under-eye concealer I’ve ever tried that actually looks like skin and never ever ever sinks into lines. It’s unreal.
I have truly tried every single your-lips-but-better combination but THIS combo is so plumping and so natural and so gorgeous on everyone.
THIS blush makes my skin look like glass. Read more about it HERE.
THIS highlighter/bronzer combo must be made from crushed diamonds and angel wings because I have never seen such natural, blinding glow with zero chunks of glitter. I don’t even wear bronzer or highlighter anymore. See its blinding glow HERE.
I am so, so puffy in the morning, and I find that doing a very quick Gua Sha under my eyes and on my cheeks (I use THIS cheap one from Amazon, I don’t believe in “activated” crystals, sorry) followed by THESE frosty cold ice globes all over my face, is a de-puffing miracle.
Remember how hooked we all were on our Clarisonics? I couldn’t get enough. I used that thing morning and night and changed the head oh…….once every two three years? Well. THIS TOOL is like that. Except it’s fully and entirely hygienic.
Thanks for joining me on this dewy, glowing, hydrating journey. I hope it’s inspired you to try something new, especially if you’ve felt meh about your skin lately. Tell me all about it below or in our DM’s.
Audie Metcalf is the Editor-in-chief of The Candidly, and lives in LA with her family. You can find more of her articles here.
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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