I don’t consider myself an expert on skincare, but as with most areas of my life, I like to do my research and indulge in some slow tinkering. Over the years I’ve landed on products that really work for me, and even though skincare is SO personal, I wanted to share in case some of them might work for you! And it’s just fun to document my routine at different points in my life (here’s a post from eight years ago – only one product is still in rotation!).
So – here we go! My morning and evening skincare routine in my late-30’s.
Rise and shine! Here’s my morning routine:
1. Splash my face with water and pat dry. I’ve found there’s no need to cleanse in the morning. I’m hoping this retains more moisture in my skin!
2. Apply vitamin C serum. Vitamin C serum supposedly has antioxidant and ant-aging properties, and is supposed to give your skin a brighter, more radiant, and more even appearance. It’s one of the two products (along with retinol) it seems everyone recommends in your 30’s, and so I figured it would behoove me to try it. Even though I’ve used it for several years I’ve never really seen any positive effects from it I can isolate, but maybe it’s meant to be more of a protectant than something you see noticeable results from? I do think it gives me an extra layer of moisture, which I appreciate.
I have used many different vitamin Cs over the years — Mad Hippie, Timeless, Biossance, Barefaced — and have never really been able to tell a difference between them. I tend to try something new each time I have to restock. Whatever I’m using, I apply a few drops with my fingers and blend it in all over my face and neck, then wait for it to dry before putting on the next layer…
3. Apply sunscreen. I converted to Elta MD almost a decade ago and I predict it will be a lifelong love affair. It is not inexpensive, but to hear any skin expert talk, the absolute best thing you can do for your skin is wear sunscreen daily. I use one pump all over my face and any extra on my neck (amount shown below!). The Elta glides on smoothly, leaves no white cast, has a nice (very light) smell, and layers well under makeup. It’s also nice that it’s moisturizing enough that I don’t need to use a separate moisturizer, which helps justify the price!
I happily attribute the health of my skin at almost-40 to consistent daily sunscreen on my face since I was 20.
4. Apply deodorant. Like serums, I’ve cycled through natural deodorants over the years. I’ve used Wild for the last year or so and really like it!
5. Brush my teeth. I think doing this step at this point in the routine gives everything a chance to sink in before applying makeup. I use this toothpaste which I’ve raved about before – it actually does seem to whiten without causing pain!
1. Wash with charcoal soap. Almost a decade in, this product continues to be a slam-dunk winner for me! You cannot beat the price, and I feel like it continues to do so much to balance out my oily/dry skin. I’ve even turned John onto it! After I rinse, I’ll wipe my face all over with a clean, wet wash cloth, which serves as a gentle exfoliator. I am really weird about using an actual clean wash cloth every day, so I bought a cheap pack of 12 for $4 and just toss them in the wash with our whites!
I’ll also gently swipe my eyes with the Makeup Eraser to remove eye makeup at this point.
2. Swipe on toner with a cotton round. I was so sad to see that one of my ride-or-die products, a REN toner I’ve repurchased more than ten times, was discontinued earlier this year. It was the only thing that made a difference for the dry, flaky skin on my forehead, and I didn’t want to go back. After consulting the internet, I gave this Pixi toner a try. A month in, it seems to be working really well. I squirt a quarter-size amount onto a reusable cotton round and swipe it all over my face and neck.
3.Moisturize. This Neutrogena moisturizer was a lucky drugstore find — it’s light and sinks so effortlessly into my skin, yet is SO moisturizing and balancing. Every other day I add a drop (literally one drop!) of this tanning liquid to my moisturizer and mix them in my palm before smoothing it over my face. I find that a little more color on my face helps balance out any redness and makes it easier to wear lighter makeup.
On my body, I use the very unfancy Jergens Ultra Healing lotion, which is very moisturizing but sinks in well and doesn’t leave me greasy. In the spring, I’ll sometimes use the Saltyface tanning foam on my legs to give me a little more color.
4. Brush my teeth and swipe on more Aquaphor. Obviously :)
And that’s it! I’d love to hear the MVPs from your morning or evening skincare routine! I’m also interested in trying retinol – maybe once I turn 40 :) – so leave a note if you love yours. And I also have a beauty routine in the works if that’s of interest!
The other day, my friend Ginna texted me and another friend who’s recently moved “Happy What’s In My Yard? season!!” She was nodding to the unique delight of experiencing your first spring in a new house, with mystery around every corner (and popping up through every pile of mulch). So far, I’ve counted two unexpected daffodils. Here’s to other welcome surprises this month!
On my calendar: — Spring break! We are road tripping to St. Simon’s Island, adjacent to one of our perennial favorites: Jekyll Island. — The fourth annual Articles Club retreat! We have plans to play Mahjong, exchange AC-themed favorite things, eat good food, make goal punch cards, chat, walk, read, craft, maybe cold plunge, and so much more. — June’s tenth birthday weekend getaway in Charlotte! The itinerary is finalized and we’re all so excited. I’ll be sharing more about it on TCF in the weeks to come!
What I’m loving right now: — I’ve long been a fan of the Birds & Bees ladies — John and I took their course a few years ago and I highly recommend it — and I really enjoyed this recent episode with them on the Raising Boys & Girls podcast. — My Summersalt Ruffle Oasis one piece has finally bit the dust after 5+ years and I love the style so much I’m going to rebuy it (likely in this berry + melon combo). I also have the Sidestroke and though it seems like it’s ubiquitous on the internet I get compliments every time I wear it to the pool. I recommend ordering 1-2 sizes up! — Speaking of summer: I bought this oversize sun hat last year when I was ready for something new in the sun protection game. It’s giant and I love it.
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What you’re loving right now:
This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!
What I read in February: — Little Women | Epic. I’ve wanted to do read this book for quite some time (at least since the 2019 movie adaption came out!) and I’m very glad I finally made time for it. It is so good and pure and delightful and wise and just makes you want to be a better mom and sister and friend, in the most gentle and loving way. This might have been my first time reading this classic but it will not be my last. — Come On Home | Eh. I agreed with most everything in this book, but what I loved was mostly the quotes from other books which she used liberally throughout. I’d skip it and read the books she quoted instead: The Lifegiving Home; Hold Onto Your Kids; Habits of the Household; and Hunter, Gather, Parent, to start. Or just read Little Women and get your parenting advice from there, ha! — Small Things Like These | Claire Keegan’s slim novel (novella?) is set in 1985 in a small Irish town. Bill, a coal merchant and family man, makes a discovery one morning which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church. A “deeply affecting story of hope, quiet heroism, and empathy,” this one feels like falling into a well, and then surfacing a short time later, blinking in the sun. I read it in one sitting.
Revisiting my February goals: Finalize the itinerary for June’s tenth birthday trip (Done! We can’t wait!) Finish learning the jump rope routine (No progress on the routine with my knee issues but I have been ending every strength session with some jumping.) Diligently complete daily exercises to help with my knee pain Record June’s birthday interview Finish going through my phone screenshots (So happy to have completed this!!!) Attend to February’s clutter spot: our “library” on the first floor Enjoy celebrating my birthday Prepare well for my very first TCF podcast interview (I gave practicing my all and I’m pleased with how it went! Will let you know when it’s live.)
March goals: — Make final decisions and orders for our master bathroom and built-in projects – scheduled to start in April! — Hang string lights in our backyard — Tag clothes for the consignment sale — Complete final prep for and enjoy June’s birthday trip — Host an Easter potluck and egg hunt for our neighbors — Nail down camping dates with the Rays and our small group — Shop for donation Easter baskets with the kids — Prep my own kids’ Easter baskets — Tend to this month’s clutter post: Shep’s bookshelf
The last little bit of January and the beginning of February have been anything but regular – snow and ice have thrown our schedules into disarray, canceling plans, constricting work time, harrying normal rhythms. But, as is so often the case, these challenges have come with obvious bright sides: hours of sledding, neighbor connection, cozy domino games, and extra chapters of Goblet of Fire. I know enough to expect more glimmers and more challenges as we finish out the month – but maybe with a little less wild weather :)
On my calendar: — The Olympics! I anticipate having it on in the background for much of the month and turning up the volume when figure skating is on. I’m especially excited to watch this guy. (gift link!) — Valentine’s Day! It’s on a Saturday, but I’m planning to welcome the kids home from school the day before with a little surprise tea spread laid out on the table (likely store-bought, no shame there). Any excuse to use all those Southern Weddings cake stands ;) And the mailbox is still going strong! — My birthday! I’ll be coming off a weekday work trip to Texas and so want to give some thought as to how I can help it feel special and restful amidst the chaos of travel and returning home.
What I’m loving right now: — You’ve probably seen me mention jump roping a few times recently. I am attempting to get into it as a cardio option, and it’s been fun to do it alongside the kids! We have this rope for me, this rope for June, this rope for Shep, and this rope for double dutch. — I shared these tiny gold hoop earrings on my Christmas wish list and ended up getting them for myself after trying them on in person at the Gorjana store in California. I LOVE THEM. I didn’t think anything could replace my beloved pearl studs (which I still wear!) but these just look so good with everything. — Some friends recommended the podcast Dogood Detectives and our kids are obsessed. We listened to every episode on a long drive recently and all three were locked in.
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What you’re loving right now:
This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!
— This navy sweater jacket, my new favorite thing to wear. Sometimes I’ll layer a white tee underneath, but it can also be worn as-is, buttoned up. Ladylike but also somehow casual enough for weekday mom life? — This eucalyptus + rosemary counter spray that continues to bring us all joy. — The Amazing Generation, once again. No surprise, it’s a no. 1 NYT bestseller (YAY!!!). — These very fun, very colorful shadow text notepads. I love a new notepad to start off the year. — My beloved window candles. They’re a great weight and the dusk-to-dawn sensor works perfectly. Ours are still up in every window even though John thinks I’m a loon :)
What I read in January: — My Oxford Year| Good not great. My biggest takeaway was that I’d like to visit Oxford! — Wild Dark Shore | Now this one – wow. “A novel of breathtaking twists, dizzying beauty, and ferocious love, Wild Dark Shore is about the impossible choices we make to protect the people we love, even as the world around us disappears.” I will be thinking about these characters – each so exquisitely drawn, including the landscape, which seems a character of its own – for quite some time. — Romney: A Reckoning | This book which, among other things, is a walk through the last two decades of politics, was moving and so, so sad.
Revisiting my January goals: Finalize details and selections for our master bathroom and built-in projects (Made a lot of progress here! I have a meeting this week to make a few final decisions.) Set up our 2026 budget (Done! We are trying out Monarch Money. It has been a learning curve, but I am committed to giving it a fair shake.) Print 2024 + 2025 Instagram photos and photos for our Christmas album Finalize the itinerary for June’s tenth birthday trip (A tiny bit of progress but mostly rolling over into February) Brainstorm my affirmations and phrases for each family member Learn all of the first jump rope routine (Learned half!) Register Annie for kindergarten Buy new glasses Attend to the first clutter spot: the piles in our bedroom Finish going through my phone screenshots (Some progress but not done yet.)
February goals: — Finalize the itinerary for June’s tenth birthday trip — Finish learning the jump rope routine — Diligently complete daily exercises to help with my knee pain — Record June’s birthday interview — Finish going through my phone screenshots — Attend to February’s clutter spot: our “library” on the first floor — Enjoy celebrating my birthday — Prepare well for my very first TCF podcast interview. I AM TERRIFIED. I have been practicing answering questions with John on our daily walks and it is so easy to feel discouraged. I prefer to write rather than talk, you know? I am believing I can get better with practice, however, so practice, I shall.
Reading aloud to my children continues to be one of the best parts of motherhood for me. There’s just something so peaceful, so connected, so all-is-right-with-the-world about snuggling up together — everyone freshly pajama-ed, all quarrels postponed, lamplight low — to read another chapter.
In the midst of a full life, I have found that the very best way to make time for reading together is to choose books that we can’t wait to return to each night — books that make us start dinner prep on time, work together to clear the table, bathe efficiently, and eagerly bounce onto whatever bed we’re gathering on. To help with this, I put in some effort each year to plan out of titles for the months ahead. (Just like with my own reading list!) We’ll almost certainly deviate from this plan, but it’s a good place to start. In case it inspires your own year of reading…
Quarter 1 | January, February, and March
The first three months of the year tend to be some of our best for readalouds: our schedule is quieter, and we’re (I’m) fired up from yearly planning. Knowing that June would want to start the fourth Harry Potter as soon as she received it for her early-January birthday, I wedged in a shorter-but-beloved favorite from my childhood right at the beginning. (Both kids loved it.) I’m currently deep into the fourth HP while John reads Prince Caspian to Shep (he hadn’t joined readaloud when John and June read it the first time). From there, John will read the final Narnia book and then I’ll crack open the first in the Wingfeather Saga, which June has been desperate to read. (All her friends have read it, apparently, which delights me no end.)
Next we’ll return to another beloved series we’re making our way through. Shep hasn’t read the first three, but they’re easy to pick up midway. From there, we’ll read one of my favorite books of all time, with attendant nerves that they’ll enjoy it as much as I do. We’ll round things out with a classic and the second book in the Wingfeather series. This quarter is a little “girl heavy,” but Shep continuously surprises me by how much he loves even books I’m unsure about. (For example, he loved Anne of Green Gables last year.)
When June heads to summer camp, Shep and I will dig into Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. (I don’t know what we’ll do when Shep goes to camp, too, but right now June’s two-week absence aligns well with his birthday!) John will read them the third Wingfeather before Annie joins read aloud upon her entrance into kindergarten (!). With the newest member of our crew, we’ll circle back around to where we started our readaloud journey: with the first book in the Little House series (it’s been four years since June read them) and with Charlotte’s Web, a book I think every child should have read to them at least once.
Between travel, holidays, and activities, these months are notoriously slow for readalouds around here. Realistically, I’m hoping to fit in just three: a beloved classic from my childhood, the next Little House, and the final Wingfeather installment. (Not sure what I’m going to do about the fact that Annie will have only joined for number four, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Maybe she’ll sit that one out and she and I will catch up on something else?)
We are also reading Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH and Island of the Blue Dolphins with June’s school book club! For Shep’s, I plan to start with Mr. Popper’s Penguins and The Mouse and the Motorcycle in the fall.
This year’s list skews heavily classic, and there are so many more books I wish we could squeeze in! First up if we have more time, or for next year: Number the Stars, A Place to Hang the Moon, All Thirteen, and Because of Winn Dixie.
Friends, I’d love to hear: What books have you enjoyed reading with your kids recently? What books would you be most excited to introduce your kids to?
