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The online skincare world can be wildly overwhelming. There’s a lot of people out there looking to sell you thirty different products that are supposedly all absolutely necessary to get you perfect skin. 

And a lot of those same people are telling teenagers that they need an incredibly expensive, super harsh anti-aging routine. And I think that it can be really unfair to those kids to make them afraid of something that is years and years away, just to sell products. 

But look: everybody wants to look their best. Everybody wants to take care of their skin and look their best for as long as possible. I think that for me, in my late thirties, I don’t want to look 22 — but I want to look great for my age. And these days, that requires some skincare. 

​And for those teenagers — a simple, consistent routine will do more for you in anti-aging than a lot of these long routines that are just too long to do every night! 

This post is going to lay out a simple, affordable, gentle anti-aging routine. All the products are from CeraVe, a simple and easily accessible brand here in the United States. It’s equally appropriate for early anti-aging or for someone who is seeing their skin age but wants a simple, inexpensive routine. 

Why CeraVe?

So, why choose this one brand for this simple daily skincare routine?

​A few things: 

• It’s easily bought in stores. I’m going to link from Amazon in this post, but you can buy these products in Target or most drugstores. 
• The products are affordable! This helps you be consistent–you never run out and can’t rebuy. 
• It’s gentle and focuses on your skin’s protective barrier. A routine that nourishes your skin rather than aggressively treating it is a great anti-aging strategy. 
• CeraVe adds few unnecessary ingredients, which helps out those of us with sensitive skin or rosacea. Helpful ingredients only! 

If you can’t get CeraVe products where you live, you can probably find equivalent products in your drugstore. Target actually has dupes of most CeraVe products, and I buy those sometimes. It’s not exactly that it has to be this brand specifically — it’s more a philosophy of simple, gentle, effective products that let your skin’s radiance out. 

Let’s dive into the routine! 

CeraVe morning routine for anti-aging

We’re looking for a really simple routine that is going to get you out the door looking great. (Without taking til noon.)

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

A lot to love about this cleanser, which I have been using since I broke up with Proactiv in college! There are two CeraVe cleansers: the hydrating one and the foaming one. I think the hydrating one is the better of the two for anti-aging purposes, if you have no other concerns.

It’s designed to avoid stripping the skin and giving you that “squeaky clean” feeling. This is another part of protecting your skin’s natural protective barrier. If you dry your skin out too much, it can negatively affect your barrier. So, you’re getting clean, but you’re not doing any counterproductive drying. 

(If you’re an acne sufferer of any age or you run very oily, you might prefer the foaming cleanser! A little deeper cleaning but still not going to dry you out. They’re both non-comedogenic cleansers though. ) 

So, wash your face with this, wash the cleanser off, but don’t dry your face with a towel. Let it air dry a little until it’s not dripping, just damp. Then move on to your next step:

CeraVe Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Your hyaluronic acid serum! I just wrote a whole post about this: Niacinamide Serum vs Hyaluronic Acid: How to Choose. In this instance you actually don’t have to choose — this serum has both hyaluronic acid and niacinamide! Niacinamide is a great ingredient that also supports the skin’s barrier while addressing dry skin, dark spots, and uneven skin tone. 

This is a simple serum that is going to be soothing and hydrating. If you have any visible aging, you will probably see immediate visual improvement. Hyaluronic acid slurps up water and holds it in the skin, so you’ll look plumper right away. Younger users might not see a dramatic visual improvement. 

For teenagers, this serum might help address acne, if you have any, and manage excess oil. You might not see the same plumping effect that older people will, because your skin is already plump. (For parents of teenagers: this is a gentle product and a great option if they want skincare but don’t “need” it. They aren’t going to do any damage to themselves with it. I know they see a lot about facial serums on TikTok; this is a safe choice.)

Apply this serum all over your face to damp skin, and give it a minute to soak in before applying your sunscreen. 

​CeraVe Sunscreen Options

I write…a lot about sunscreen. Like here: Best UVA Sunscreen for Anti-Aging and Skin Protection.  And that’s because it is basically the most important anti-aging ingredient that you have access to. There is simply no effective skincare routine for anti-aging that does not include sunscreen. Skin cancer, age spots, wrinkles…but you know that already. 

There’s a lot of options in that post I linked above, but if you’re interested in sticking with CeraVe, here are your options: 

So, you’ve got the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion, a chemical sunscreen in a 30 SPF that is going to double as your morning moisturizer. Or, you can do the mineral sunscreen, SPF 50. (They also make this in an SPF 30!)

I prefer mineral sunscreen because it is a more effective product for both UVA and UVB rays. But CeraVe’s mineral sunscreen leaves a white cast and would not be appropriate for people of color or anyone but the lightest white people. It might be a beach sunscreen if you don’t mind that, but it’s not great for everyday life. The review photos, if you click through the amazon link, will show you the cast!

I’m linking it anyway because in the US, mineral options are the best coverage we’ve got! But if you’re looking for daily wear, you may want to either buy the Facial Moisturizing Lotion or check out the post I linked above. 

Apply sunscreen to your face and neck, and that’s your morning routine! From here you can put on makeup if you want, or get going. 

CeraVe night routine for anti-aging

Use your Hydrating Cleanser again at night. 

If you like to double-cleanse, you would use a little bit of oil before your hydrating cleanser. I do this with jojoba oil. After that, you’re using your same morning cleanser again. Effective cleansing, but not drying.

​Maybe: CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum or CeraVe Skin Resurfacing Retinol Serum

Not everyone needs this!! 

If you have mature skin and you want to add something to your skincare regimen that will address your skin’s needs, you might reach for one of these. Pick the skin resurfacing if you have significant unevenness like acne scars, and skin renewing to address the appearance of fine lines. 

If you are not seeing skin aging, but you have acne, you can try the skin resurfacing version to see if it helps reduce your breakouts. But you might be better off with something like a benzoyl peroxide treatment, if your skin is not sensitive. 

If you have young skin that is not acne-prone, you don’t need this yet! And it can backfire from an anti-aging perspective, because it makes you very likely to sunburn. If you get sun exposure and you aren’t properly sunscreened, you can burn regardless of your complexion. This is one where I would say, don’t reach for it before you need it.

Maybe: apply your hyaluronic acid serum again.

If your skin runs dry, you might like to use your hyaluronic acid serum again to hit your skin’s ideal moisture levels. It’s good for your skin barrier and it’ll help maintain that plump hydrated look. 

If you have normal skin or oily skin, you might give this a shot in the evenings! And if it feels like a waste of product, just stop. 

Again, younger users probably don’t need this — it won’t improve their healthy-looking skin.

CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream or CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

You’ll want a night product too! 

Whether you pick the Renewing Night Cream or the Facial Moisturizing Lotion will come down to whether you prefer heavy or light products.

I like a heavy product as my final step, because it seals in all the moisture and essential ceramides. But not everyone’s skin is going to tolerate a heavy product without breakouts. 

This is one of the challenges of picking the right products when you’re new to skincare –it’s a lot of what your skin ‘prefers’. If you currently have no routine, the Facial Moisturizing Lotion will improve your skin, even if the heavier product might be better. It’ll still have beneficial ingredients and seal in moisture. 

So if you have no clue — start with the PM lotion. You can always try the night cream later.

And if you’re younger….skin conditions like acne can get worse with heavy products. It depends on you. So you also probably want to start with the facial moisturizing lotion. 

​But if you know you tolerate heavy products, the night cream really is lovely. 

Your full CeraVe skincare routine

AM: 

• ​Hydrating Cleanser
• Hyaluronic Acid Serum
• SPF of your choosing

PM:

• ​Hydrating Cleanser
• ​Optional: retinol of your choosing
• Optional: Hyaluronic Acid Serum
• Night lotion or cream of your choosing

This is an inexpensive, doable routine that anybody can stick to. Go get your best skin!