Fearless Friday: What I Thought I Knew About Skincare Over 35 (and What Actually Works)

From clueless to confident—what starting a skincare brand taught me about real routines, aging skin, and what actually works after 35.

Let me start with this: I did not set out to become a skincare expert.

When Sarah (my former coworker and now co-founder) and I decided to build a skincare brand together, I figured, “Cool, I’m clean, low-maintenance, and don’t wear a ton of makeup—so I’m good, right?”

Yeah... not exactly.

I thought “less is more” applied across the board. Less makeup = better. Less skincare = easier. Easier = obviously better, because who has time for 20 steps twice a day?

But the deeper we got into creating FAITH+FEARLESS Beauty, the more I realized how little I actually knew. So, I started learning. I started researching. And I called my mother-in-law—who happens to be a licensed esthetician—and said, “Okay, what am I missing here?”

What She Told Me Changed Everything

She explained that skincare isn’t about doing more for the sake of more—it's about layering the right products in the right order, with consistency.

And most importantly? It doesn’t work overnight.

Think about it like the gym: If you work out once, or even once a week, you're probably not going to see much change. But if you show up regularly—even if it’s not perfect—you’ll start to feel better, look better, and see results. Same thing with skincare.

I didn’t need to do everything every day, but I did need a routine that worked, and that I could come back to again and again—even on my off days.

My Skincare Routine Over 35? It Exists. My Perfection? Not So Much.

Here’s the real talk: I’ve got a full routine that I know works for me.

• Cleanser

• Toner 

• Firming Eye & Face Serum

• Active Eye Cream

• Embrace Oatmeal + Collagen Moisturizer

• Exfoliate (every few days-if I remember in the shower)

• Mineral Mask (once a week... in theory)

That’s my ideal. But real life? It looks different day to day.

Sometimes I just wash my face and run (or sometimes just run!). Sometimes I just slap on moisturizer and call it a win. And sometimes the mask doesn’t happen for two weeks... and that’s okay.

Because the truth is, I’ve learned what my skin needs. And I do my best. And doing your best—without the pressure to be perfect—is what makes this sustainable.

What I Hope You Take From This

You don’t need to be a skincare junkie to take care of your skin. You don’t need a 12-step ritual or a shelf full of serums. You just need a few products that actually do what they say, and a willingness to show up for yourself when you can.

It’s not about flawless skin—it’s about healthy skin. And healthy doesn’t always look trendy. But it feels good.

If you’re a woman over 35, living life, spinning plates, and just trying to look good without the extra drama—I see you. I am you.

So let’s drop the pressure. Let’s ditch the guilt. And let’s focus on what works—for you, for your life, and for your skin.

💛 Want to keep it simple and see results?

Explore the FAITH+FEARLESS routine here ➝ (We built it for real life, not perfection.)

Because your glow-up? It starts with grace.