Claire's Anti-Wrinkle Routine

Claire, 59 · @glow__withclaire

Anti-Wrinkle Routine

What I use for fine lines at 59. About five minutes in the morning and three at night.

1. RinseLukewarm water is enough most mornings.
2. Copper peptide serum2 to 3 drops on damp skin. Press in, don't rub.
3. Thin layer of creamA pea-sized amount. Let it sink in for a minute.
4. Sunscreen, SPF 30+Every day, cloudy days too. Reapply when you're outside.

1. CleanseWash off sunscreen and the day.
2. Bakuchiol3 drops, avoiding the eye area.
3. Cream to sealA little more than in the morning.

Why these steps

Each step has a study behind it. Here is what the research found.

• SunscreenIn a 4.5-year randomized trial, people who used sunscreen every day showed no detectable increase in skin aging. The occasional-use group did.Hughes et al., Ann Intern Med 2013
• BakuchiolIn a 12-week trial, bakuchiol reduced wrinkles about as much as retinol, with less stinging and scaling.Dhaliwal et al., Br J Dermatol 2019
• NiacinamideIn a 12-week study, a niacinamide moisturizer improved the look of fine lines and blotchiness.Bissett et al., Dermatol Surg 2005
• Copper peptideLab and small human studies link copper peptide (GHK-Cu) to collagen support. Promising, but still early.Pickart & Margolina, Int J Mol Sci 2018

How to start

The order matters less than doing it most days.

• Go slow with bakuchiolEvery other night for the first two weeks, then nightly if your skin feels calm.
• Patch test firstTry anything new along your jaw for a few days before the whole face.
• Thin to thickSerum, then cream, then sunscreen. Give each layer a moment.
• Judge it at 12 weeksThat's how long the trials ran. Take a photo in the same light on day one.
• Sleep countsIn a study of 60 women, poor sleepers showed more signs of skin aging.Oyetakin-White et al., Clin Exp Dermatol 2015

My extra: blue copper ice

Not part of the research, just the step I enjoy most on warm mornings.

• MixOne dropperful of copper peptide serum into a cup of water. Stir well.
• FreezePour into an ice cube tray so cubes are ready when you want one.
• GlideAfter cleansing, glide a cube over your face with a chilled cucumber slice. Keep it moving.
• Sensitive skin?Wrap the cube in a thin cloth and stop after a minute.