What I'm actually using at 46—where I save, where I splurge, and the products I've decided are worth buying again.
One of the stranger things about getting into my 40s was realizing that, seemingly all at once, the skincare products I'd used forever just weren't doing the same job anymore.
My skin was different. Makeup didn't sit the same way. Fine lines were more noticeable. The under-eye situation required a little more attention. And suddenly I was standing in the skincare aisle wondering when this all became so complicated.
So I started trying things.
A lot of things.
At first, I thought the answer was finding one perfect skincare line and using everything from it. I started buying RoC products and eventually had practically an entire routine.
And to be fair—I love RoC. There are several products I still use and absolutely think are worth the money.
But when almost every step of your routine costs $25 or more and you're replacing these products regularly, skincare starts getting expensive pretty quickly.
Now, I know $25+ for a skincare product isn't going to feel like a splurge to everyone. There are plenty of skincare products that cost much, much more. But for me, once I was buying a cleanser, serum, eye cream, moisturizer, retinol and everything else at that price point, it started feeling like more than I wanted to spend—especially when I was finding less-expensive alternatives that did the job just as well for me in some categories.
That's when I stopped worrying about whether all of my bottles matched.
Instead, I started figuring out where I actually noticed a difference when I spent more—and where I didn't.
That's basically how my current routine came together.
Technically all the products I use are drugstore-budget friendly, some just cost a little more. And there are still a few things I'm perfectly willing to splurge on because, for me, they're worth it.
My philosophy now? Save where I can. Splurge where I notice the difference.
So, here's what I'm actually using.
My Morning Skincare Routine
01 | Cleanse
I start with RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Gel Facial Cleanser with Vitamin C. Find it Here
This is one of the RoC products that survived my attempt to make my routine more affordable. I like how my skin feels after using it, and it has become my regular morning and evening cleanser.
A few days a week I also use Aveeno Daily Scrub. Gently removing dead skin a few times a week makes a noticeable difference in how smooth my skin looks and feels—and it seems to help everything I put on afterward go on a little better, too.
02 | Serum
This is one of the places where I've realized I don't necessarily need to spend more.
I rotate between two affordable options depending on what I'm using and what my skin seems to need.
Little Escape Pick — $
e.l.f. SKIN Bright Icon Vitamin C + E Ferulic Serum Find it Here
This has become one of my budget-friendly Vitamin C options and it is very highly rated. It's an easy way for me to keep Vitamin C in my morning routine without making every step expensive.
I also really like L'Oréal Revitalift Filler Hyaluronic Acid Serum when I'm looking for more hydration and that plumper feeling. Find it Here
Little Escape Upgrade — $$
RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Vitamin C Serum
This is my serum splurge. Find it Here
I've tried replacing it with less-expensive products—and I do like my budget options—but this one works really well for me.
When I'm willing to spend a little more, this is one of the products I'll go back to.
That's really become the theme of my skincare routine: I don't necessarily need the more expensive option every day, but there are certain products where I can tell the difference.
03 | The Under-Eye Situation
Apparently my eyes have decided they deserve their own skincare routine.
And honestly? They kind of do.
The One I Keep Coming Back To
RoC Retinol Correxion Under Eye Cream Find it Here
Nothing I've tried works better for me for dark circles, fine lines and puffiness.
This is one of those products where I've stopped searching for a cheaper replacement. I use it because I see a difference.
Another One I Like
The INKEY List Caffeine Eye Cream Find it Here
I reach for this occasionally, particularly on days when I'm not wearing makeup.
It's another nice option to have around without spending a fortune.
But there's one more eye product that deserves its own mention.
Little Escape Splurge — Worth It
RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Eye Balm with Vitamin C Find it Here
I LOVE this stuff.
It's particularly good to keep with me on long days.
You know when you've had makeup on for hours and suddenly everything underneath your eyes seems to have migrated directly into every line you possess?
This helps.
I'll smooth a little on when my eye area starts looking tired or my makeup begins settling, and everything looks fresher and smoother.
I always have this in my purse, a little bit goes a long way. It's definitely one of my favorite little skincare luxuries.
Worth every penny.
04 | Moisturizer
My everyday moisturizer is L'Oréal Revitalift Triple Power Anti-Aging Moisturizer.
Another winner. Find it Here
This one is similar in price to what I had used before, but a little goes a long way and I have definitely noticed a difference. It feels like it is doing something for my skin.
One thing that's important to me: everything I use directly on my face is fragrance-free whenever possible.
My very sensitive skin simply seems happier that way.
05 | Don't Forget the Sunscreen
This step deserves its own section because I nearly forgot it while writing this—which is probably a good reminder that we shouldn't forget it in real life either.
I use innisfree Daily UV Defense SPF 50. Find it Here
It's an important step, makeup or not.
06 | If I'm Wearing Makeup
If I'm putting makeup on, and to be honest it’s pretty much daily for me, I'll often finish my skincare prep with La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water Face Mist. Find it Here
It's a simple little extra step, not necessary, but I like the way my skin feels before I start applying makeup.
At this age, anything that helps makeup sit nicely instead of immediately finding every tiny line is welcome in my house.
The Neck, Chest & Under-Chin Situation
This is the part of skincare nobody warns us about. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, the jowls make an appearance
But here we are.
I have two products I like in this category.
Little Escape Pick — $
Gold Bond Age Renew Neck & Chest Firming Cream
This is my budget choice. Find it Here
It's affordable enough that I don't feel like I need to ration it, and I've been happy with it.
This is a perfect example of an area where I've found that I don't necessarily need the expensive option to be happy with the results.
Little Escape Upgrade — $$
MAËLYS Get-Dreamy Overnight Toning Whip Find it Here
I'll start by saying this:
I did not wake up magically snatched.
Sadly.
But I do think I've seen improvement.
I originally tried it for my stretch marks on my thighs and belly. I do think it helped to make them less noticeable. Then I tried it on my neck and chest area and noticed that the creases across my chest from sleeping on my side started looking better.
Now I use it twice a day on my under-chin area, neck and décolletage.
I've also noticed that my under-chin area looks a little firmer since I've been consistently using it.
Is it an overnight miracle?
Not for me.
Did I keep using it?
Absolutely.
It makes enough of a difference that I keep reaching for it and will purchase it again. Bonus, it smells really good.
My Evening Skincare Routine
At night, I keep things fairly simple.
01 | Cleanse
I use the same RoC Revive + Glow Vitamin C Cleanser I use in the morning.
I like having one cleanser that works for both routines rather than buying separate products just because someone tells me I need them.
02 | Retinol Nights
Every other night or so, I use the RoC Derm Correxion Retinol Firming Serum Stick. Find it Here
This is another RoC product I think is completely worth the money.
And I don't stop at my face.
I use it on my:
Face • Neck • Chest • Tops of my hands
If I'm spending the money on it, we're spreading the love.
This has become one of those products I continue to repurchase rather than trying to replace simply because there's something cheaper.
For me, this is one of the places where the splurge is worth it.
03 | Nighttime Eye Care
At night, I usually skip the retinol eye product and focus more on hydration and repair.
I rotate between:
CeraVe Eye Repair Cream Find it Here
And
Cetaphil Hydrating Eye Gel-Cream Find it Here
Both fit nicely into the more affordable side of my routine and give my eye area the extra hydration I want overnight.
04 | Night Moisturizer
I finish with L'Oréal Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Cream. Find it Here
This is another example of why I stopped worrying about keeping everything within one brand. I love it.
My cleanser might be RoC.
My serum might be e.l.f.
My eye cream might be CeraVe.
My moisturizer might be L'Oréal.
And that's completely fine.
My skin doesn't care whether all the bottles match.
05 | Neck & Chest
At night, I also use the MAËLYS Get-Dreamy Overnight Toning Whip again on my under-chin area, neck and chest.
Consistency seems to matter more for me here than anything else, so this is one of the steps I've tried to turn into an actual habit rather than something I remember twice a month.
The Sometimes Step
Every once in a while, I'll add CeraVe Hydrating Toner. Find it Here
I like it.
I just don't use it every single night, I’ve read that is helpful to put it on before using the retinol stick, but I don’t always remember.
I’d love to say I have 45 uninterrupted minutes every evening and lovingly apply 14 products while wearing a silk robe. But nobody’s got time for that.
This is what I actually do, and because it is relatively fast and simple, I stick to it.
What I've Learned About Skincare After 40
Probably the biggest thing I've learned is that a good skincare routine doesn't have to come from one brand—or one price point.
When I first realized my old routine wasn't working anymore, I thought I needed to find the skincare line.
I don't.
I need individual products that work for me.
I'm not trying to build the most expensive routine.
I'm not trying to build the cheapest routine either.
I'm trying to figure out where spending more actually makes a difference for me.
Sometimes it does.
Sometimes the $10 or $15 product sitting next to it does the job just fine.
And I'm perfectly happy with that.
That's become my approach to beauty in general:
Save where I can. Splurge where I notice the difference. And stop buying things simply because I'm supposed to need them.
My skin at 46 isn't the skin I had at 26.
I'm finally okay with the fact that my skincare routine shouldn't be either.
These are simply the products I personally use and enjoy—not a promise that they'll work the same way for everyone. Skin is personal, and what works for mine may not be right for yours.
Want to See What I'm Using?
I've linked the products currently in my routine—from my everyday budget-friendly picks to the few things I think are worth the splurge.
Shop My Current Skincare Routine →
Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you.
