I have way too many lip products so if I constantly reach for the same ones over and over again, I know they are truly amazing. My preferences in lip formulas have changed significantly over the past 5 years. I still love glosses and products with a shiny finish but they have to stay put without bleeding. And if the formula isn’t glossy, it needs to have slight blurring properties to make the lips look smoother. Finally, I NEVER wore lip liner in my 20’s and 30’s but now I can’t be without it. Thankfully I have found lip liner formulas that help to define the lips without leaving a harsh line.

In addition to sharing the exact products I’m loving, I am also specifying which shades are my most worn. I’ve completely shifted my lip color preference over the past few years because neutral tones no longer look the same on me. As I’ve gotten older, my face needs more color so I have found that brighter colors worn in a sheer way give my face so much life. They look much more flattering and youthful. If you are in the market for a new everyday lip, this list is a perfect place to start!

Best Lip Products For Mature Lips

Lip Liners

Rhode Peptide Lip Shape Liners in Lift and Press

The Rhode Peptide Lip Shape liners are designed to be a soft-focus blurring formula that enhances the lip shape while also delivering skincare benefits. They are meant to give the lips definition and dimension without any harsh lines. It gives the lips a more contoured appearance and enhances the shape of the lip in a soft and subtle way. I’ve truly never tried something like this before so I didn’t even realize what I was missing! The blurred finish of these lip liners is so flattering without looking messy. I also can use them a bit outside my natural lip line without looking like I’ve over lined my lips. Hands down my holy grail lip liner formula and the one that I recommend to everyone.

Versed Lip Frame in Dash

More brands are launching these contour style lip liners which thrills me to no end. I struggle with using a traditional lip pencil and drawing a straight line. With a thicker contour liner, you get a smudged soft look from the first application. No harsh lip liner lines with this. This color Dash is a soft neutral pink that adds just a hint of color to the lips.

Lip Gloss and Lip Balms

Sarah Creal Beauty No Further Questions High Glide Peptide Lip Gloss in Deal With It

I love almost everything I’ve tried from Sarah Creal Beauty but these glosses may be one of my top picks. The formula is creamy and intensely nourishing while the pigment is just opaque enough to give the perfect amount of color. They are designed to be slightly plumping but with no tingling or stinging. The finish is very glossy and reflective. But it doesn’t move around throughout the day settling into lines or bleeding past my lip line.

Make Up For Ever Super Boost Plumping Lip Gloss in Daring Candy

Usually plumping glosses are hit or miss with me – these were a definite hit. There is no burning or irritation with them and the plumping is very slight. The formula is what I fell in love with however. It’s smooth and nicely pigmented without feeling sticky or tacky. A true must try for all my mature ladies!

Lawless Forget the Filler Lip Plumping Line Smoothing Gloss in Cherry Vanilla

Another plumping gloss that I loved though this does have a slight tingling sensation to it. The colors are very sheer and transparent and the line smoothing claim is pretty spot on. The texture is very glassy and smooth leaving the lips looking blurred and shiny but not an ounce of tackiness! Sadly I forgot to take a picture of this on the lips but I have a video of me trying it on here!

Westman Atelier HydroBalm Tinted Lipstick in English Rose

If you don’t love a full coverage lipstick and prefer something with just a hint of color, these new Westman Atelier HydroBalm lipsticks are definitely worth trying. They give a sheer wash of color (but still enough to show up) and feel incredibly nourishing on the lips. It was actually this particular color, English Rose, that made it a favorite. This manages to be the perfect shade of cool toned rose without being too pink.

OneSkin OS-01 Lip Shield SPF 15 in Bare Blush (discount code: MAREE15)

I love everything OneSkin does so I knew I would adore this new lip launch. And I was right! But I didn’t just adore it – it immediately became a favorite. The color is the perfect neutral everyday pink that I can wear with any makeup look. It feels nourishing with no tackiness (and no weird sunscreen scent).

Violette_FR Lip Nectar Hydrating Lip Stain in Pois de Senteur

This was a purchase made during the recent Sephora sale. It’s the first product I’ve tried from Violette_FR but it definitely won’t be the last! This is a gorgeous hydrating lip stain as the name suggests that hydrates and leaves a gorgeous subtle shine to the lips. The color I chose is a bright raspberry that looks great alone or layered under another gloss.

Hung Vanngo Glossy Lip Hue in Behind the Scenes

Another purchase made during the Sephora sale from a brand I have not tried before. These are an intensely pigmented glossy lip lacquer that looked too good to pass up. LOL I ordered a bright pink (no surprise there) and immediately fell in love with it. The formula can be a bit messy so only apply a small amount because it can get too thick and goopy if you apply too much. I’ve been wearing it over the Violette_FR lip stain and it’s become my new favorite lip combo!

Skin cycling is something I’ve been doing for yearssssss without even knowing what it was called. When a name was finally given to the process of using certain products on certain nights, I was glad that this concept was clearly identified so more people can benefit from it. It gained popularity when board certified dermatologist, Dr. Whitney Bowe gave it the name “skin cycling”. It’s an effective skincare approach for improving results while minimizing irritation. This method rotates between exfoliation, treatment, and recovery days to support the skin barrier which allows you to keep your skin well balanced while still effectively treating your concerns. Today’s post is going to be dedicated to talking more in depth about what a skin cycling routine is and how to build a routine that delivers results without damaging your skin.

Linking more skincare-focused blog posts below:

Affordable skincare products for mature skin

Skincare routines for dry skin

What Is a Skin Cycling Routine?

Skin cycling is a structured skincare method that rotates active ingredients across multiple days. It focuses on timing and balance to support the skin barrier so you are not overdoing it with certain actives. Following a skin cycling routine creates a more effective and sustainable regimen that delivers long-term improvements in texture, tone, and overall skin health.

How Does Skin Cycling Work?

The beauty of skin cycling is it works by pacing out active ingredients so the skin has time to recover between treatments. The pillars of a skin cycling routine are an exfoliation night, a retinol night and a recovery night. Since there are 7 nights in a week, usually you will end up with two nights for each aspect of the cycle (exfoliation, retinol, recovery) which helps to give your skin a balanced routine that delivers effective results without increasing the chance for irritation.

Exfoliation removes dead skin and improves product absorption

Exfoliating is one of the most important steps in a skincare routine because it helps remove dead skin cells from the surface. Your skin will look brighter, texture will be smoother and your products will perform better.

Retinol supports cell turnover and skin renewal

As we age, our cells don’t turn over as quickly which can lead to dullness, loss of elasticity, increased texture, etc. Adding a retinol product into a skincare routine will help to speed up that cellular turnover resulting in better skin renewal and healthier looking skin. For those an oily or acne prone skin type, retinol is also a great ingredient to help reduce breakouts.

Recovery nights restore hydration and strengthen the skin barrier

Since both exfoliating products and retinol products deliver strong results, it’s important to give your skin a night where you only focus on hydration and supporting the skin barrier. This will allow your skin to rest and not become damaged due to the overuse of active ingredients.

Is Skin Cycling Effective?

While not everyone needs to adopt a skin cycling approach to their skincare routine, it can be effective for many skin types, especially those prone to irritation or sensitivity. The results will depend on your product choice, proper use, etc. but it’s a great way ensure your skin is receiving a balanced treatment of products.

What Are the Benefits of Skin Cycling?

Reduces over-exfoliation and sensitivity

By giving your skin a break from strong actives, it lessens the chance for increased sensitivity due to over-exfoliation.

Supports a stronger skin barrier

Ensuring a recovery night occurs every third evening, your skin barrier is able to be properly supported which will ultimately lead to healthier skin.

Improves skin texture and tone

If your skin can handle using exfoliating products and retinol products in the same week (often one night after the other), it can help improve your skin’s texture and tone over time.

Helps active ingredients work more effectively

Because you are creating a structured skincare routine with skin cycling, the ingredients you are using will work more effectively allowing your skin to skin healthy and balanced.

Creates a more consistent and manageable routine

Creating an actual schedule for when to use certain products can help streamline your routine which will make you more likely to stick with it.

What Products To Use For Skin Cycling

Exfoliants

Chemical exfoliants are preferred for a skin cycling routine. Either an exfoliating toner/peel pads or an exfoliating serum can deliver similar results.

Here are some exfoliating toners/peel pads that I personally like: Pixi Glow Tonic and YSE Beauty Exfoliating Pads (use code: MAREE30) 

Additionally, here are a few exfoliating serums to choose from: Versed Gentle Pore-Clearing Serum, Shani Darden Lactic Acid AHA Exfoliating Serum and Sofie Pavitt Mandelic Acid Serum

Retinol

Retinol products come in various strengths so you can choose formulations available over the counter or get a prescription strength from your doctor.

Here are my favorite retinol products: Medik8 Crystal Retinal and Mother Science Retinol Synergist (use code: MAREESYE)

Skin Barrier Support Products

Without products to support the skin barrier, skin cycling will not deliver the intended results. Look for nourishing serums that you can use after your exfoliants or retinols and be sure to apply barrier strengthening moisturizers on your recovery night.

I love these nourishing serums: Cocokind Ceramide Serum, Prequel Multi-Quench Serum and Naturium Barrier Bounce

Here are three of my favorite skin barrier strengthening moisturizers: Dieux Instant Angel, Experiment Beauty Molecular Mesh (use code: MAREE15) and InnBeauty Project Extreme Cream

Skin Cycling Skincare Routine

Night 1: Exfoliate with a gentle chemical exfoliant

Chemical exfoliation can come from an exfoliating toner/peel pads used after you cleanse. Or you can apply an exfoliating serum as part of your evening routine. It’s best to choose one or the other so as not to damage the skin barrier.

Night 2: Retinoids or treatment product

Retinol products can either be prescription strength that you get from your dermatologist or an over the counter formula purchased from your favorite beauty store.

Night 3: Focus on hydration and barrier repair

On this night, you want to focus on using only hydrating or calming serums/moisturizers. This night is meant to give your skin a break from the previous two nights of strong active ingredients and allow for proper barrier repair.

Night 4: Continue recovery with gentle, nourishing products

If you feel your skin can handle it, you can go back to exfoliating on this night and start the process again. But if your skin is prone to more sensitivity, two nights of repair are a great solution.

How To Skin Cycle Effectively

Start with low-strength actives, especially retinol

Always start small with less powerful actives and retinols to ensure your skin can tolerate it.

Do not skip recovery nights

Recovery nights are the most important part of skin cycling because they help to keep the skin nourished and balanced. If the skin barrier becomes damaged from too many harsh actives or retinols, it will impact the effectiveness of all your skincare products.

Keep the routine simple to avoid irritation

When starting a skin cycling routine, keep the steps of each routine to a minimum to avoid any sensitivity or irritation that may occur.

Use sunscreen daily to protect your skin

Exfoliation and retinols can make your skin more sensitive to sun damage so be sure to wear sunscreen every single day.

Adjust the cycle if you notice dryness or sensitivity

Add in more recovery days or change up the days you apply certain products if your skin develops any irritation, dryness or sensitivity.

How Long To Do Skin Cycling

Skin cycling is designed as an ongoing routine rather than a short-term method. You need to follow it consistently for several weeks to see results. So once you find a routine and products that work for your skin, stick with it for a minimum of 2-3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions About Skin Cycling

Can you skin cycle with tretinoin?

Skin cycling is a great process to use with tretinoin because it allows your skin to have recovery nights which could help strengthen your skin barrier.

Does skin cycling cause purging?

That would be dependent on your skin and the products you are using. It’s not a definite that products will make your skin “purge” but it’s less related to skin cycling and more to the product formulations.

How long does a skin cycle last?

I prefer to use skin cycling as the primary method for all of my evening skincare routines. I’ve been doing my own form of skin cycling for nearly 10 years so it is a process that you can stick with forever if you want.

When to use niacinamide in skin cycling?

Niacinamide can be used in conjunction with either your exfoliation night or your retinol night if you skin can tolerate it. If not, you could add it during your recovery night.

When to use vitamin c in skin cycling?

Vitamin C is best used in the morning. If you are trying to get your skin used to a new vitamin c serum, use it every other day or every third day to account for any possible irritation. If not occurs,  you can definitely use it everyday in your morning skincare routine.