There exists a miracle youth-preserving skin-care elixir—and it is mineral sunscreen. No other face serum or cream comes close to sunscreen’s power to preserve your skin’s glow, texture, tone, smoothness, and elasticity. So if you’re investing in skin care, layer it with sunscreen every single day, whether you’re running errands or working inside all day (windows let the sun’s rays right in).
Because mineral sunscreens sit on top of skin, they should generally be your last step, sealing in all your hardworking serums and moisturizers and creating a physical barrier from the sun. (Protocols that involve putting sunscreen on as a first layer are for chemical sunscreens, because they need to absorb into the skin to filter the sun’s rays.)
These three easy routines—one for the beach, one for makeup-free days, and a more-pulled-together one for a meeting or even a date—show you exactly how to do it right.
For Radiant, Makeup-Free Skin
For a noticeable glow (both immediately and in the long term), vitamin C is an excellent first step, no matter your skin type. It brightens, firms, hydrates, evens out texture and tone—and, when paired with sunscreen, it helps protect the skin from harmful UV rays. Apply vitamin C to bare skin and let it absorb for a few minutes before following up with a moisturizer like Dr. Barbara Sturm's anti-aging face cream, which both hydrates and shields skin against free radical damage. On top, the gorgeously sheer, silky face sunscreen from Kosas sinks in all but invisibly for a radiant finish.
1. BEST GLOW SECRET:
VITAMIN C
goop Beauty20% Vitamin C+ Advanced Brightening Serum$125.00shop nowThis unique two-part system maximizes the potency of the key ingredients: 20% L-ascorbic acid, ectoin, and ferulic acid. Transfer and shake the serum activator in the amber glass bottle until the powder dissolves, then smooth a few drops over your face and neck twice daily for more radiant skin.
2. HYDRATING SUPERCREAM
Dr. Barbara SturmSuper Anti-Aging Face Cream$360.00shop nowThis cream uses purslane (a botanical that fights off free radical damage) and hyaluronic acid to mimic the skin’s natural barrier and leave your skin looking rejuvenated.
3. TWO-IN-ONE:
SPF AND PRIMER
KosasDreamBeam Comfy Smooth Sunscreen SPF 40$40.00shop nowWarm up this product between your fingers before swiping it across your face. Then, let the ceramide-and-peptide blend set for 3-5 minutes before applying makeup. Wear it alone or under makeup.
For a Pre-Makeup Boost
For bright, wide-awake eyes, smooth on these serum-infused eye masks for about 15 minutes; if you’re feeling fancy, put on serum or face oil beforehand. Use Jillian Dempsey’s vibrating gold wand to push in all the nourishing skin care (she recommends massaging your face with it for 10 minutes for optimum lifting and smoothing). Follow with a layer of Tower 28 Beauty's SunnyDays tinted SPF moisturizer. The combination of the masks and the roller smooths, plumps, and lifts, while the tinted moisturizer gives an even, radiant, imperfection-blurring finish.
1. DOES-IT-ALL SUPERSERUM
goop BeautyYouth-Boost Peptide Serum$150.00shop now“I saw a noticeable difference in my skin after trying it for a week,” Gwyneth says. This serum works for all ages, skin tones, and skin types. Use it morning and night to improve skin firmness, elasticity, and erase wrinkles.
2. DEPUFFING EYE MASKS
goop BeautyLift + Depuff Eye Masks$125.00shop nowThese masks are made of sustainably sourced VEOCEL™ Lyocell fibers that are soaked in a milky serum infused with honey locust seed extract, olive leaf stem cells, and niacinamide. Wear them daily for 10 minutes to improve the look of dark circles and crow’s-feet.
3. VIBRATING SCULPTING WAND
Jillian DempseyGold Sculpting Bar$195.00shop nowMakeup artist Jillian Dempsey recreated this 24-karat gold plated T-bar after using a face-smoothing gold bar in Japan. Use it for ten to fifteen minutes for optimum results.
4. SKIN-SMOOTHING TINTED SPF 30
Tower 28 BeautySunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation$32.00shop nowThis mineral sunscreen packs antioxidants to soothe and treat sensitive skin (eczema-prone skin included) while giving medium coverage and leaving a natural glow.
For a Day at the Beach
In addition to the UV rays, water, sand, and wind can all be incredibly drying for skin, so formulas that pack in lots of hydration are ideal for a day at the beach. Start with a layer of rich face cream and wait a minute or two for it to absorb. If you tend toward drier skin, add a moisturizing face oil on top. Wait another few minutes, then apply an fast-absorbing and lightweight sunscreen with SPF 50, like Goldfaden MD's formula. (And be sure to bring the product with you to the beach so you can be diligent about reapplying.)
1. THE ULTIMATE MOISTURIZING FACE CREAM
goop BeautyAll-in-One Nourishing Face Cream$105.00shop nowThis supercream’s unique whipped texture melts into skin. Its megadose of plant-based ceramides improve firmness, elasticity, and reduces fine lines and wrinkles.
2. POWERFUL FACE OIL WITH REAL RESULTS
goop BeautyAll-in-One Super Nutrient Face Oil$105.00shop now“I’ve been a face oil aficionado for many, many years. None come close to this one,” says Gwyneth. “It’s made with nine nourishing botanical oils, and it’s clinically proven to help diminish the look of lines and wrinkles. It’s like liquid gold.”
3. LIGHTWEIGHT UVA + UVB PROTECTION
Goldfaden MDLumiShield Broad Spectrum SPF 50$48.00shop nowThis ultra lightweight mineral sunscreen soothes sun-exposed skin with niacinamide and protects skin from UVA and UVB rays.