Glowing Older, Part III 
Now that we’ve covered nighttime skincare, we can talk about daytime skincare in your sixties and seventies.
You want to achieve three things with your daytime skincare: refresh, hydrate and protect. The good news is, if you’re the type who has no patience for slathering products on your face, you can do this in about 3-5 minutes, which is what we’re going to cover today. The other good news is, if you’re the type who loves slathering products on your face, you can beef up your morning routine and get some serious me-time out of it, but we’re going to leave those add-ons for another time.
So let’s get right into it.
Refresh
You might think that after cleansing your skin at night, you can go straight to moisturizer in the morning. But it’s not quite true. While you don’t need to deep cleanse, your skin still needs a pick-me-up. “During the night, as we sleep,” explains Dr. Debra Jaliman, a NYC-based dermatologist. “bacteria build up on our skin, along with a lot of unwanted oil that needs to be removed.” Also, if you used an overnight mask or your nighttime routine includes products that will increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun (like retinols and AHAs) you’re going to need to get rid of those, too.
What to use? If you love the refreshing feeling of water on your face, use a gentle face wash (Aveeno, Cetaphil, CeraVe, Neutrogena and Olay all have great ones that are super-affordable). Follow it up with a quick layer of toner. If your skin is particularly dry or even flaky, skip the water and use a cleansing oil or balm. And if you just want to get this done asap, fine a combination toner/cleanser; a nice, mid-priced one to try is the IT Cosmetics Miracle Water.
Hydrate
Now that your skin is all clean, it’s time to moisturize. And while you can rely on your toner for cleansing (if it says it cleanses), don’t use it instead of a moisturizer. They can’t compare.
If you like thick, rich moisturizing creams, you can use whatever you use at night. These, by the way, don’t have to break your bank account; drugstore brands are really upping their game. (A favorite of mine is the Neutrogena Hydro Boost gel cream. It feels exactly like a high-end luxury cream.)
Sometimes, though, these rich creams feel too heavy for daytime use. So look for one that has a light texture and leaves your face feeling soft and hydrated but not bogged down by product. And give it a few minutes to try down before going on to the next step.
Protect
We talked about this when we went over the 7 great skincare habits. Yes, when we say protection, we mean sunscreen. So what’s to talk about?
Well, when you need to include sunscreen as part of your daytime skincare routine, you also need to be aware of what kind of sunscreen you’re using. There are two categories of sunscreen: chemical and physical (also known as mineral sunscreen or sunblock). Each one has its distinct advantages and disadvantages, but since mineral sunscreen is generally a better choice for sensitive skin, that’s the one we’re going to go into detail about.
While chemical sunscreens are best applied under your moisturizer (they work by being absorbed into your skin), physical sunscreens work by blocking your skin from the sun. So it matters much less when you apply them. If you apply a mineral sunscreen under your moisturizer, though, give it a few minutes to absorb into your skin. Otherwise, when you apply your moisturizer, you might rub it right off.
Multitasking Magic
The big drawback to most physical sunscreens is that they tend to leave a white caste on your face that doesn’t always go away. They also don’t work as a great base for makeup. If you find your foundation sliding around during the summer, your sunscreen might be the problem.
So here’s the thing: You can save time, money (maybe) and your appearance by using a moisturizer and sunscreen combo. These skincare multitaskers come in a huge range of prices – think drugstore brands like Aveeno and Neutrogena all the way through to luxury brands like Elizabeth Arden and Eve LaLom – and many are either specially formulated for or just plain work with sensitive skin. So if you use a toner-cleanser combo and a moisturizer-sunscreen product, you can cut your daytime skincare routine down to two products that will take you maybe 3 minutes to apply.
Have a great day!
Do you have a favorite daytime skincare product? Let us know in the comments below!