Simplified Age-Defying Skincare with No7

One of my goals in life is a quick and easy to use age-defying skin care routine. It should be as few steps as possible, include as many active ingredients as possible, be gentle on my sensitive skin, and actually work. Really, that last bit is the most important. If I am spending time and money on skincare products, I expect to see some results.

About 2 weeks ago I added a few of No7’s Restore & Renew products into my skincare routine, and I’ve already started seeing changes in my skin! My skin is smoother, firmer, and I’ve seen some evening out of my skin tone. I’ve been using less makeup and the results are already obvious. I love that I actually follow this routine morning and night because I only need a few products to complete my skincare routine.

Why Restore & Renew?

When I was asked by No7 to collaborate on this post, I didn’t answer until I had checked out the ingredient lists of the new Restore & Renew products. I agreed to try the line out and write about it because there were so many of my favorite ingredients that I knew I had to try the products!

Restore & Renew FACE & NECK MULTI ACTION Serum:
This lightweight serum has antioxidants, peptides, and retinol. As an added bonus you’ll find Hibiscus, which is known to help in wound healing, and Phyllanthus Emblica which stops collagen break down and is high in vitamin C.

Restore & Renew Day Cream:
The day cream comes in a jar, but it is actually pretty lightweight. It has SPF 15, a retinoid, peptides, and vitamin C. I found that it was just the right amount of moisture for my combination skin, and worked great under makeup.

What I look for when creating a skincare routine

When it comes to age-defying skin care, the number of possible active ingredients is positively dazzling. It is very easy to get bogged down in ingredient lists and feel paralyzed by all of the choices!

I have a list of active ingredients that I like to include in my skincare routine. These are the ingredients that have the most data behind their use, and I will add as many products as needed in order to hit them all in my routine.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are mostly preventative, they will inactive reactive oxygen species (ROS) before the ROS can damage the DNA, which contributes to aging. Antioxidants are typically gentle and appropriate for all skin types. Vitamin C will work as an antioxidant but also increases collagen and elastin production.

You can read more about how antioxidants work in skincare, and how vitamin C works in skincare.

Peptides

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that help fibroblasts in the dermis multiply and increase collagen production. There are a lot of peptides used in skincare, and they’re all gentle.

Learn more about how peptides work in skincare.

Retinoids

The true “gold standard” of anti-aging skincare are the retinoids, a collection of vitamin A derivatives. Retinoids act through a lot of mechanisms at one time, with the end result being increased cell turnover, increased collagen production and a more even skintone. Retinoids also have been found to reverse fine lines and wrinkles.

Retinoids vary in chemical structure and strength, but the stronger retinoids are typically more irritating and harder to tolerate if you have sensitive skin. If you are using a stronger retinoid you can space out your use to every 2-3 nights instead of every night, but note that you do need to use your retinoid at least 3x per week to see the benefits. I have a hard time remembering to use a separate retinoid product occasionally. Instead, I have been looking for less irritating retinoids that are incorporated into gentle formulations, so I can use them every night without irritation.

Read more about how retinoids work in skincare.

Sunscreen

Sun exposure is one of the biggest causes behind premature aging, so I take every opportunity that I can to protect myself from the sun. I wear at least SPF 15 every day, and I’ll bump that coverage up to 30 or 50 if I plan to spend an hour or more in the sun. Note, I use a separate sunscreen if I need that added coverage. But for every day use, I love to have my sunscreen incorporated in to my moisturizer. That’s one less step in the morning.

How I Use The Products

I have been trying to keep my skincare routine as simple as possible. When I get over 4 or so products, I start skipping steps or even talk myself into skipping the whole routine!

For me, a simple routine is usually a gentle cleanser, a treatment product (usually serum) and moisturizer. In the morning that moisturizer contains my daily sunscreen. I often will add in an eye cream, especially in the morning as I like to have added moisture under my makeup. Finally, I use my Clarisonic with the gentle cleanser a few times a week to exfoliate my skin.

While it is tempting to skip a serum when creating your skincare routine, you should always use a serum. Serums will have the highest concentration of active ingredients, are lightly moisturizing and are very versatile. I apply my serum under my moisturizer and eye cream, they’ll help seal in the serum and help everything penetrate into my skin. I can also apply the serum alone if I want to apply a BB cream over the top.

When using the products, I want to note that I use skincare products on my face, neck, chest and even the backs of my hands. All of those areas get exposed to a lot of sun and are where you’ll see the first signs of aging. The active ingredients will work just as well on your chest or neck as they will under your eyes.

My Results from No7 Restore & Renew

I’ve spent the summer swimming with my girls, and despite diligent sunscreen use, I’ve had an increase in hyperpigmentation and my skin look dull and uneven. I have sensitive skin due to rosacea, so my options are a bit limited when it comes to treatment products.

I’ve only been using the Restore & Renew products for about 2 weeks, but I’m already impressed. My skin feels smoother and more even. I’ve gotten compliments from coworkers on my skin, after being awake most the night in the ICU! Even post-call I looked brighter and more awake.

I love that these products hit all of my favorite active ingredients and are easy to use. Have you simplified your skin care routine yet?

You can find No7 Restore & Renew Face & Neck MULTI ACTION products at Target, all under $35.

Sponsored Post
This post is a collaboration with No7, but contains my own thoughts and opinions. I agreed to collaborate with No7 because I was so excited about these products.