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I was scrolling through social media one morning, tea in hand, when I came across a post that stopped me mid-sip. It said: “Running might be aging your face faster.”
Wait. What??
I nearly spit out my tea. I’ve always thought I was doing everything right—early morning runs, plenty of water, sunscreen, the works. But now I was being told that all that cardio might be part of the reason why my face looked a little… well, tired. Time to get serious about my new midlife skin routine!
To be honest, I had already noticed a change. My skin didn’t bounce back like it used to. There were lines around my mouth, and my cheeks didn’t feel as full as they once were. I chalked it up to life, aging, maybe hormones—but I didn’t think my healthy habits might be playing a part in the way my face was changing.
The Midlife Wake-Up Call
Let me say this: I am not afraid to age. I actually feel more confident and grounded now than I ever did in my 20s. But I also want to feel good in my skin, you know? I want that glow. I want to look in the mirror and see a face that reflects how I feel inside—strong, calm, and yes, still a little bit fabulous.
That post led me down a bit of a rabbit hole (don’t we all love a good Google deep-dive?), and I started learning about something called “Runner’s Face.” It’s basically the idea that high-impact cardio, like long-distance running, can break down collagen over time. Combine that with hormonal changes in perimenopause or menopause, and it can really change how your skin looks.
Honestly, I wasn’t mad about the running—I still love how it clears my mind. But it did make me want to get serious about supporting my skin, especially now that I’m in my mid-40s. So, I decided to stop just “winging it” with skincare and start doing something more intentional. I started with some solid hydrating skincare ideas and focused more on self care essentials that would nurture—not stress—my skin.
That’s when I discovered Skin Cycling—and let me tell you, it changed everything.
What Is Skin Cycling?
Skin cycling is a simple nighttime skincare routine where you alternate active ingredients (like exfoliants and retinoids) with recovery nights focused on hydration. It’s designed to give your skin what it needs without overwhelming it.
If you’ve ever tried a retinol product and your face turned red and flaky—you’re not alone. Been there, done that. Skin cycling helps avoid that by giving your skin time to recover between strong activities.
And here’s the best part: you only need 4 nights to create a cycle, and then you just repeat it. Super doable for busy moms, coaches, or just any woman trying to juggle All The Things.
My Skin Cycling Routine for Midlife Skin
I’ve been doing this for a few months now, and I swear my skin has never looked better. It’s smoother, softer, and I’m starting to get my glow back—even after a sleepless night or a stressful day. All thanks to a mix of hydrating skincare ideas and smart self care essentials that actually fit into real life.
Here’s exactly how I do it—and I’m using products that are clean, effective, and available on Amazon (because let’s be real, that’s where I do half my shopping these days).
Night 1: Exfoliation
Product I love:
👉 Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Why I like it: It’s gentle enough for my sensitive skin, but it really gets in there and helps with clogged pores and dullness.
Night 2: Retinoid Application
Product I love:
👉 Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Booster
Why I like it: Ideal for sensitive skin, this booster delivers a potent dose of retinol while soothing with green tea extract and chamomile. I layer it in with other self care essentials like a nourishing buffer moisturizer to keep my skin calm and glowing.
Nights 3 & 4: Recovery + Hydration
This is where the hydrating skincare ideas really shine. These are my rest-and-repair nights, and my skin drinks it all up.
Products I love:
These are some of my favorite self care essentials because they support hydration and skin repair in a way that feels luxurious but still realistic for every day.
Medical-Grade vs. Clean Skincare: Finding My Balance
I’ve always sworn by medical-grade skincare. There’s something about those high-performance, science-backed formulas that make you feel like you’re giving your skin a professional treatment at home. And honestly? They work—especially if you’re dealing with midlife skin changes and want to pair your hydrating skincare ideas with targeted, clinically proven ingredients.
After recovering from breast cancer, I became more intentional about the products I use. I started researching cleaner options, reading labels, avoiding synthetic fragrances, and leaning into ingredients that supported my skin (and my health) in a gentler way. Now, I love mixing both worlds—medical-grade and clean skincare—to create a routine that works for me.
Medical-Grade Skincare I Love:
👉 Alastin Skincare Full System
Why I love it: Alastin is a favorite among dermatologists and plastic surgeons for a reason. It’s backed by science, incredibly effective, and helps improve firmness, hydration, and overall skin texture—making it a perfect choice for anyone seeking premium, proven results. I especially love reaching for it on recovery nights when I want to double down on self care essentials and give my skin a luxurious boost.
Clean Skincare Favorites:
👉 Dime Beauty – fragrance-free, effective, and feels super gentle on my sensitive skin.
👉 OSEA – I love their hydrating skincare ideas like oils and serums. It gives that spa-like glow without questionable ingredients.
👉 Shaklee – Smart formulations are designed to target skin at the cellular level, supporting supple skin and a healthy youthful glow.
All of these are available on Amazon and I’ll be linking my exact picks, because I know how helpful it is to see what’s worked for someone else in the same stage of life.
OSEA Hyaluronic Acid Sea Serum 1 oz Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer Non-Toxic Seaweed Skincare Clean, Vegan & Cruelty-Free Skin Hydration with Hyaluronic Acid
Dime Beauty Restorative Night Cream, Facial Moisturizer with Ceramides and Sea Buckthorn, 1.7 oz / 50 ml in Pump
Why Skin Cycling Works for Us Midlife Women
Our skin changes so much during midlife. Between shifting hormones, stress, and the general wear-and-tear of life, our skin needs more intentional care. Here’s why skin cycling is a game-changer:
- Minimizes irritation: Instead of layering everything on every night (guilty), you give your skin time to recover and breathe.
- Maximizes results: Each product has a chance to actually work—without being blocked by ten others.
- Flexible & forgiving: If I miss a night (hello, life), I just pick up where I left off. No guilt, no fuss.
Other Glow-Boosting Habits I’ve Added
Now that I’m in my glow-up era (even if it’s midlife), I’ve added a few other habits that are helping me feel more confident in my skin:
- Hydration: I aim for 80 oz of water a day and add electrolytes a few times a week. Bonus: it supports all of your hydrating skincare ideas from the inside out.
- Collagen: I mix a scoop of unflavored collagen peptides into my morning tea or smoothie.
- Sleep: This one is hard with teenagers and a busy life, but I try to get 7 hours most nights.
- Less high-impact cardio: I’ve swapped some runs for long walks, strength training, and Pilates.
- Clean eating: More protein, less sugar, and lots of leafy greens and healthy fats.
And let me just say this, sometimes I mess up. I fall asleep with my makeup on or forget a step. But you know what? That’s real life. One missed night doesn’t ruin your progress, and we’re not chasing perfection here. We’re just showing up, little by little, and learning to love the skin we’re in.
A Final Thought for My Fellow Midlife Women
If you’re standing in front of the mirror lately wondering, “What happened to my glow?”—you are not alone. I see you. I am you.
Aging doesn’t mean we have to give up on feeling beautiful. It doesn’t mean we can’t have clear, glowing skin or try new things. It just means we approach things differently—with more wisdom, more intention, and maybe a little more moisturizer.
So here’s to us: the women learning to glow again, one night at a time. Let’s age, but let’s do it gracefully—and with great skincare.
Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s hydration night and my serum is calling. 😉
Have you tried skin cycling yet? Let me know in the comments —I'd love to see your routine!
Fellow midlife woman here and I loved this post! I keep trying to figure out how to tweet my routine to get in all the good things and this skin cycling idea makes perfect sense! I also appreciate the links to cleaner products. They can be hard to find!
I really enjoyed reading this and appreciate the honesty about how our habits can affect our skin over time. Your approach to skin cycling feels both empowering and realistic, especially for those of us juggling busy lives.