I never really had a set morning routine until my forties. Before that it was wash my face, drink coffee, go. Over the years I have added what works, dropped what does not, and simplified the rest, this is my midlife morning routine now.
Not a perfect routine. A real one. Everything here is something I use, in the order I use it. I have linked the exact products so you do not have to go hunting.
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The skincare part
I keep my morning skincare simple on purpose. A handful of steps I can do in under ten minutes, every day, even when I am tired or rushing. Consistency beats complexity here, especially with midlife skin that is losing collagen and holding onto moisture less easily than it used to.
Cleanser: LANEIGE Water Bank Gentle Gel Cleanser
I start by washing my face with the LANEIGE Water Bank Gentle Gel Cleanser. My skin does not need anything stripping in the morning, and a lot of cleansers leave my face feeling tight and squeaky in a way I do not love anymore. This one is gentle, it does not strip, and my face feels clean and soft instead of dried out.
Milky toner: TIRTIR
After the cleanser I press in a milky toner from TIRTIR. A milky toner is basically a hydrating step that is lighter than a cream. It adds a layer of moisture and softness, and for skin that is getting drier with hormonal changes, that extra hydration is welcome.
Vitamin C serum: TruSkin Vitamin C Serum
Next is vitamin C. I use the TruSkin Vitamin C Serum. Vitamin C I noticed my skin looked a little more even and awake after I made this a regular step. It is also affordable, which is part of why I keep coming back to it.
PDRN serum: Medicube
Then I add the Medicube PDRN serum. This is my one slightly fancier step. PDRN serums have gotten popular for skin that wants a little more bounce and hydration, and this is the one I reached for and stuck with. I use it after the toner and before moisturizer so it has a chance to sink in.
Moisturizer: L’Oreal Revitalift
I seal it all in with L’Oreal Revitalift moisturizer. I used to spend $60 or more for my moisturizer. Then I had a friend tell me how much she loved the L’Oreal Revitalift moisturizer, I tried it and loved it. This one is from the drugstore or even Amazon, it is rich enough to keep my skin comfortable all day, and it sits well under sunscreen. Proof that good skincare does not have to be expensive.
Sunscreen: Supergoop
Last skincare step, and the one I will never skip: sunscreen. I use Supergoop. Honestly this is the single most important thing in this whole routine for how your skin ages. I rotate between two of their formulas depending on the day. The Unseen Sunscreen is a clear, weightless one that disappears and works beautifully under makeup. The Glowscreen gives a soft glow on days I want to look a little more lit from within. Both earn their spot.
The supplements part
This is the part of my routine that connects to everything I have been writing about with hormonal health. Perimenopause is not just what happens on your skin. It is what happens to your muscle, your bones, your energy, and your mood as estrogen starts to fluctuate and decline.
A quick and important note before I list these: I am not a doctor, and this is not medical advice. These are the supplements I personally take, and I always recommend checking with your own doctor before starting anything new, especially if you take medication or have a health condition. With that said, here is what is in my morning lineup and why.
Creatine: Momentous
Creatine is the one I get the most questions about, because most of us still think of it as a thing for young guys at the gym. I know I did largely due to the fact that when my boys played sports in high school and college Creatine was something they absolutely could not do without. The research has caught up, and it turns out creatine may be one of the more useful supplements for women in midlife. Women lose muscle mass as they age, and that loss speeds up around menopause. Creatine, paired with strength training, can help support muscle strength and mass, and some research points to benefits for energy and mental clarity too. I use Momentous creatine. I love this brand because it is third party tested, NSF certified and has no fillers.
Collagen: Sparkle Wellness
I take a scoop of Sparkle Wellness collagen every morning. Estrogen helps your body make collagen, so as estrogen drops in perimenopause, collagen production drops with it. That shows up as drier skin, less firmness, and for a lot of women, more joint aches. I have been taking this brand for years and love it.
Vitamin D + K2: Sports Research
I take Sports Research Vitamin D + K2 together, and the pairing is the point. Bone loss accelerates during perimenopause as estrogen declines, which raises the risk of osteoporosis down the road. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium. Vitamin K2 helps direct that calcium into your bones rather than letting it build up in your arteries. Taking them together is a simple bit of insurance for bone and heart health at an age when both deserve attention.
Probiotic: Garden of Life 50 Billion for Women
The last one is a Garden of Life 50 Billion probiotic made for women. Gut and digestive comfort can get a little unpredictable in perimenopause, and a daily probiotic is part of how I support feeling steady. I will be honest that the research on probiotics is more mixed than the others on this list, so I take it as a general wellness habit rather than a guaranteed fix. It is a small daily thing that I have stuck with.
The honest takeaway
That is the whole routine. Skincare that takes under ten minutes, and a small handful of supplements I take with my morning water. None of it is complicated or expensive across the board, and that is exactly why I have managed to stick with it.
If you are in this stage too, my honest advice is to start small. Pick one or two things, be consistent, and talk to your doctor about the supplements. The point is not a perfect routine. The point is taking care of the woman you are becoming in this next chapter, not just the one you used to be.
What is in your morning routine right now? I would love to hear what is working for you.