When I was in my 20s, I bought every trendy nail polish, eye color, and lip gloss.  Sure, I could only wear them on the weekends, but why not wear emerald green liner?  In my 30s, I became enamored with skincare and took every “must-have” product for a spin.  But in my 40s, my skin has passed the place where Sephora can cure what ails me, and my makeup routine is as simple as I can make it.

So what does a beauty counter-loving lady do when her life leaves the need for the latest and greatest products behind?  She still tries new products, but far fewer.  She still watches makeup tutorials, but fewer.  And she still reads Allure, but only sporadically.

If you find yourself in a similar place, The Counter is the post for you.  This feature will be about simplicity and ease in your makeup, skincare, and hair care routine.  But let’s start by talking about where my own routines sit now.  Because while I use to love an all-night personal grooming regimen, that’s just not my life anymore.

My Morning Routine // I wash my face with Joanna Vargas’s Miracle Bar and a silicone exfoliator.  I use the exfoliator as needed.  Then, I apply a Vitamin C serum and a light, gel moisturizer.  If you’re looking for a drugstore-priced C-serum, my aesthetician uses this one from Target.

My Nighttime Routine // I was my face with this gentle cleanser from Target. I apply an eye cream and moisturizer and go to sleep.  I am seeing a dermatologist in a few weeks to get a prescription for Retin-A, but until then, I’m laying off the serums and treatments.

Sunscreen // A few weeks ago, I started following Dr. Ellen Gendler on Instagram.  She recently explained the difference between US sunscreen and European sunscreen.  Essentially, in the US, sunscreen is regulated as a drug by the FDA, and in Europe sunscreen is regulated as a cosmetic.  As a result, the products are not updated regularly in the US and the European products have better technology.

I buy this one on Care to Beauty.com.  And even though these sell a US-version of that product, it’s not the same, sadly.

Nail Polish // For fall, I’m wearing one of three nail polish colors on my toes.  I love Bogota Blackberry, it’s a deep berry with a bit of shimmer.  Squeaker of the House, a mocha brown, is a lovely shade as well.  The other one I’ve been using is Essie Sexy Divide.  As you know, I LOVED NARS Purple Rain, and they have sadly stopped making it (weep) and this is the closest shade that I have found.

Hair // As you know, I started going grey at 31.  Now, from what little of my roots I see in between coloring appointments, things have advanced.  Given that I have a one-year-old, I am just not ready to go grey yet.  But I am interested in this Arey product line, which claims to re-pigment hair.  If anyone has tried it, please leave your thoughts in the comments.  I would love to hear about your experiences.

Beyond that, I just us this gloss conditioner to touch up my color every few washes to keep it looking fresh.  And while I’m usually happy to roll through a set of roots in-between touch ups, if I have an event, I’ve been using this root covering spray to tone down the grey.

Cosmetic Procedures // We have reached the point where skincare requires real intervention by trained professionals.  As I mentioned above, I’m headed to see a dermatologist and plastic surgeon in a few weeks.  I’ve never done Botox or much of anything, so I suppose it’s time.  I will likely be pursuing a few peels for skin texture (the ice pick acne scarring needs to be dealt with) and a laser treatment for the varicose veins I developed while pregnant.

Whether to engage the services of a cosmetic surgeon is something I go back and forth about, but while I’m not ready for surgical procedures, I think there is plenty else that I could do.  And the older I get, and the more things begin to melt, I realize that you have to do what you have to do to maintain your confidence in your appearance.

Next week, I want to talk about makeup and give an update on my switch to Merit makeup.  So where do you find yourself cutting back or toning down your routine?  Leave your thoughts in the comments.

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