My skin looks better at 41 than it did at 25 – my exact routine for fighting wrinkles and the product I’ve ditched
A BEAUTY editor in her forties said she reversed the signs of aging on her skin by overhauling her routine.
She began to change her diet and started to use clinically proven skincare products during the Covid lockdown — and she broke it all down for The U.S. Sun.
Lauren O’Connell went viral on YouTube when she shared a video revealing how she aged backward.
The 41-year-old, who lives in Dubai, told The U.S Sun she knew nothing about active skincare ingredients throughout her twenties.
She said she had always had dry but “really clear” skin while using budget beauty items.
However, she began to notice fine lines around her eyes in her twenties worried about the wrinkles she would get as she continued to age.
Read more anti-aging tips
During the lockdown triggered by the global Covid pandemic, she started to overhaul her skincare routine and stopped using self-tanners.
“My skin looked better without the self-tanner because there are just so many different ingredients in those that are really pro-aging,” she said.
Ingredients like that were killing my skin ... I was not realizing that it wasn't enhancing my beauty.
Lauren O’Connell
“A lot of self-tanners have things like alcohol in them.
“Alcohol is a skin penetration enhancer, so it helps the self-tanner sink deep into the skin.
“But alcohol is so bad for your skin and it can cause your skin barrier to be compromised.
“Your skin gets red and it starts to look unhealthy and old.
“Ingredients like that were killing my skin and I was constantly putting all of this tanner on me while not realizing that it wasn't enhancing my beauty.
“It was taking away from it.”
The beauty editor of Cosmopolitan Middle East, who has almost 14,000 Instagram followers, also developed an interest in active ingredients.
I started to see a tremendous difference in how my skin looks.
Lauren O’Connell
She started seeing an improvement in her skin from using products that contained vitamin C and retinol.
“I found that there are certain derivatives that work the best,” she said.
“For example with vitamin C, there's a derivative called tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (THD).
“It’s so incredibly brightening and it really does reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
“It lets that skin really glow and it's a very stable derivative of vitamin C.
“Same with retinol, I started using hydroxypinacolone retinoatewhich (HPR).
“It's a very strong type of retinoid that is over the counter, but it works just as well as prescription strength.
“When I started using these in combination with firming peptides, smoothing vitamin E brightening antioxidants, I started to see a tremendous difference in how my skin looks.
“People were always asking me about my skincare routine.
Should you apply vitamin C to your skin?
Topical Vitamin C has several benefits for skin including hydrating, reducing redness, and hyperpigmentation.
According to Healthline, it may also help to promote collagen production and reduce the appearance of sun damage.
Research shows that it is safe for most skin types but may cause irritation in concentrations above 20%.
Experts recommend doing a patch test on a small skin area and waiting 24 hours to see if there are side effects before applying it to your face.
Discontinue topical use of vitamin C if you experience rashes, redness, or hives.
“It was kind of all of those things married together that gave me incredibly youthful-looking skin and I felt like my skin at 40 looked better than it did at 30 or 25.”
O’Connell said skincare is now a priority each morning.
After washing her face, she applies Sunday Riley’s CEO Glow Vitamin C and Turmeric face oil, which costs $40 at Sephora.
She then uses a separate vitamin C eye cream to “brighten” the area.
I always put sunscreen on the backs of my hands as well as my neck and my chest.
Lauren O'Connell
The step is followed by Drunk Elephant’s Protini Polypetitde moisturizer ($69, Sephora) and Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50, $24.
“Throughout the day, I reapply the sunscreen as needed,” she said, adding that she also puts it on her hands, neck, and chest.
“In the evening, I double cleanse my skin first to make sure that everything is completely clear and off my skin.
“I always do that first with an oil-based cleanser.
“The oil-based cleanser dissolves all the impurities on the skin like pollution, sweat, makeup, dirt, debris SPF everything.
“Then I go through with a water-based cleanser that's going to wash everything away.
“After double cleansing, I use a retinoid serum.
“I apply that on my skin with a Lactic acid serum on top for exfoliation and brightening.
“Lactic acid is also a great alpha hydroxy acid for anyone with dry skin like me because it helps to replenish the moisture in your skin.
“Then I use an eye cream, a ceramide-based face cream.”
O’Connell said laser treatments such as PICO Genesis do an “extra 10%” in getting rid of any hyperpigmentation.
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She also gets the BBL laser broadband light laser and "baby Botox" around her crow's feet and 11 lines.
The beauty guru revealed she’s able to wear less makeup since focusing on her skincare regimen.
