Black Friday is the one time of year I usually let myself invest in the bigger skin purchases, and my list looks really different now than it did in my 30s. At 46, I’m not chasing every new launch that promises a quick transformation. I want things that make a real difference, fit easily into my day, and don’t leave me with a bathroom full of half used bottles or beauty tech I’ve only used once. So here’s what’s earned a place on my shelf and what I’d highly recommend you grab….because I’m obsessed with this list and use them all the time.
ZIIP Halo
The thing nobody tells you about skin after 40 is that it’s not just about fine lines…it’s the lift. The jawline softens and things start to…well lets just say…drop. It’s why the ZIIP Halo has become one of the tools I rely on so much. It uses gentle microcurrent that works like a workout for your face, and because I can do it at home in a few minutes, it’s actually easy to stay consistent with. Plus the app has so many different treatment plans to choose from based on what your skin problem is.
ZIIP has also recently launched four new mess free gels, each made for a different skin need. Firm is the one I’d point most of you over 40 toward, with retinol and peptides to help skin look smoother and firmer. Refresh is your hydration hero with hyaluronic acid, perfect when skin feels tight and tired. Glow has a gentle peel and vitamin C for that glossy, lit from within look, and Clear uses salicylic acid to calm breakouts, which a lot of us still get in our 40s. You can also leave the gel on for 10 minutes after your treatment as a mask to boost the results.
The ZIIP Halo is on sale for Black Friday, so make sure you use my code NUZIIP to get 20% off the ZIIP Halo and 30% off the new gels! You can grab it here: https://ziipbeauty.com/products/ziip-halo-microcurrent-device Make the most of this now because the offer ends on Sunday 6th December!
Anua PDRN Blue Dewy Spray
I swear by this for hydration over 40. Mature skin can start looking dry and flat by midday, and a few spritzes bring the bounce right back without disturbing my makeup. It also works as a setting spray, which makes it perfect if you don’t like using setting powder. Powder can settle into fine lines and make skin look older than it is, so this is what I use when I want my makeup to stay put but still look like real skin.
Torriden Dive In Serum
This has been a recent obsession and I’m already on my second bottle. It’s ultra hydrating, sinks in fast, and layers beautifully under makeup. My favorite trick with it is pressing a little onto the high points of my cheekbones with a sponge once my makeup is done. It gives you a fresh, natural glow that looks like it’s coming from your skin, and it’s so much more flattering on mature skin than a shimmery highlighter.
rhode Peptide Eye Patches
The under eye area is usually the first place I notice tiredness these days, especially on early mornings. I love these because they’re completely mess free, so I can pop them on while I’m doing my hair or getting through emails. They help depuff and wake up the eye area, which makes concealer go on so much smoother afterwards.
Then I Met You Cleansing Balm
This is my super fuss free way of taking makeup off. I take it into the shower, massage it over my face, rinse, and follow with my face wash. It melts everything away without leaving my skin feeling oily, and after a long day it’s exactly the kind of easy routine I’ll actually stick to.
Hanni Splash Salve
Skin over 40 doesn’t stop at your face, and my body gets so much drier than it used to. This is an in shower moisturizer you smooth onto wet skin, then rinse and pat dry. My skin comes out soft and hydrated without me standing there rubbing in body lotion afterwards, which is the kind of shortcut I really appreciate.
That’s my edit this year. Everything here is something I genuinely use, and I’d much rather you pick one thing that really works for your skin than fill a cart with things you’ll never open!
The 3 Minute Makeup Touch-Up That Actually Works
Touching up your makeup is one of those things most of us do in a rush, usually in a bathroom with bad lighting, and a lot of the time we end up making it worse. We add powder on top of oil, or more concealer on top of creases, and by the end of the night our whole face looks heavier than when we started. A good touch-up is mostly about doing less, and doing it in the right order.