Start with SPF and one more habit. Six weeks from now, you’ll recognize yourself—just brighter.
Let’s skip the heavy routine and go straight to what actually works.
These are simple, sustainable habits I’ve watched transform real faces—mine, my mom’s, and the brilliant women I photograph on weekend strolls.
Pick two to start. Layer more when they feel natural.
1. Daily sunscreen
If you only do one thing, do this.
UV is the fastest way to dull tone, deepen lines, and amplify spots—no matter your skin tone.
I keep a pump bottle by the kettle and smooth a nickel-sized amount over face, ears, neck, and backs of hands while the coffee brews. Reapply before a late-morning walk.
As noted by a randomized trial in Annals of Internal Medicine, “The daily sunscreen group showed no detectable increase in skin aging after 4.5 years.”
Broad-spectrum SPF 30+ is the minimum. Hats and sunglasses are not fashion—they’re tools.
2. Moisturize strategically
Mature skin tends to be drier and more delicate. Think barrier-first.
I like a fragrance-free cream with ceramides at night and a lighter gel-cream in the morning under SPF. If your skin drinks products, add a serum with hyaluronic acid on damp skin before moisturizer.
As the American Academy of Dermatology puts it, “Dermatologists agree that sunscreen and moisturizer are the two most-effective anti-aging products you can buy.”
Simple beats complicated. Your skin shouldn’t have to do algebra to feel comfortable.
3. Gentle exfoliation
Radiance shows when light can bounce. Over time, dead skin stacks up and scatters it.
Swap gritty scrubs for gentle chemistry: lactic acid or polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) once or twice a week. They’re kinder to thinner skin than strong glycolic or peel pads.
I learned this the hard way in a humid Tokyo summer—went too fast, got flaky, looked tired. Low and slow got me glowing again.
If you’re brand new to acids, patch-test near the jawline first and avoid mixing with retinoids on the same night.
4. Retinoid rhythm
Retinoids are the marathoners of skin care: slow start, big payoff.
If your skin is retinoid-curious, ease in with an over-the-counter retinol twice a week. Sandwich it—moisturizer, pea-sized retinol, then moisturizer again.
Gradually work up to every other night if your skin stays happy.
If you have eczema, rosacea, or you’re on prescription meds, check with your dermatologist before introducing one.
Redness and dryness usually mean you need less product, more buffer, or more time between uses.
5. Makeup refresh
Textures that worked at 35 can betray you at 65.
Think cream, not powder. Sheer skin tints over full-coverage foundations. A creamy blush high on the apples for lift. A skinny, softly arched brow (gray or taupe) to frame the eyes again.
My go-to trick from a stylist in Lisbon: a lip liner the shade of your natural lip to stop feathering, then a juicy lipstick or balm stain. It looks like you, just awake.
A touch of strategic light on the inner corners of eyes beats glittery lids every day of the week.
6. Strength training
Muscles aren’t just for bones and balance—they’re a skin story too.
Twice a week, pick up resistance bands or light weights. It boosts posture (instant face-lift), circulation (instant glow), and—according to new research—may even influence the skin’s structure.
“This is backed by experts like the authors of a 2023 Scientific Reports study,” who found that “both [aerobic and resistance] interventions significantly improved skin elasticity and upper dermal structure, and [resistance training] also improved dermal thickness.”
You don’t need a gym. Chair squats, wall pushups, and farmer’s carries with grocery bags count.
7. Eat color
I’ve mentioned this before, but the most underrated glow product is grown, not bottled.
Pile your plate with colorful plants—tomatoes, spinach, berries, peppers, oranges, beans, nuts. You’re feeding your skin carotenoids, polyphenols, and fiber that steady energy and support collagen.
As a longitudinal study in PLOS ONE put it, “Increased fruit and vegetable consumption confers measurable and perceptibly beneficial effects on…skin appearance within six weeks.” (source)
If cooking feels like a chore, go modular: pre-washed greens, canned chickpeas, a jar of roasted peppers, a handful of walnuts, olive oil + lemon. Dinner is five minutes away.
8. Hair–scalp care
Hair changes with age—texture, density, tone. Lean in.
Silver hair glows when it’s hydrated and toned. A once-a-week purple conditioner keeps brass at bay. A sheer gloss can make strands look like glass in sunlight.
If thinning bothers you, focus on the scalp: gentle massage, a soft silicone brush in the shower, and products that don’t leave buildup.
Bonus: softer part lines and better root lift make the whole face look more open.
And if you color? Choose tones that complement your undertone (cool, warm, or neutral) and keep roots soft—not ruler-straight—so the grow-out looks intentional.
9. Sleep, sip, smile
Three free habits with outsize payoff.
Sleep: A consistent wind-down (dim lights, warm shower, no scrolling in bed) steadies cortisol and helps your skin do its best repair work.
Sip: Keep water handy, yes—but also eat your hydration. Cucumbers, citrus, melon, soups, and stews deliver water with minerals. Aim for steady sips, not one 9 p.m. chug.
Smile: Nothing opens a face like a genuine grin. If you wear dentures, make sure they fit comfortably; well-supported cheeks and lips change everything about how light hits your face.
I learned this traveling in Oaxaca—older women wearing bright lipstick, laughing in the market. Their joy was their highlighter.
Bringing it all together
Radiance after 65 isn’t a chase. It’s a rhythm.
Protect by day, restore by night. Move your body, eat the rainbow, choose kinder textures, and give your skin time to respond.
Start with SPF and one more habit from this list.
Six weeks from now, you’ll recognize yourself—just brighter.
What’s Your Plant-Powered Archetype?
Ever wonder what your everyday habits say about your deeper purpose—and how they ripple out to impact the planet?
This 90-second quiz reveals the plant-powered role you’re here to play, and the tiny shift that makes it even more powerful.
12 fun questions. Instant results. Surprisingly accurate.
