It really seems like we’re either creatures of habit or constantly trying out new trends. Now, this might work for other aspects of life, but neither is desirable when it comes to skincare. Basically, it’s just as bad if you’ve been using the same skincare routine for twenty years or if you change your skincare routine every week.
The reason for this basically lies with the fact that your skin changes with age. The building block of your skin is collagen, and with time, collagen decreases. Much to everybody’s dismay, you can’t stop the ageing process, it’s perfectly natural but you can still take steps to control the changes. Here’s the difference between younger and older skin, and how your skincare should cater to the changes.
IN YOUR TWENTIES…
You might not realise it, but you’re actually experiencing the best version of your skin. Your complexion will look great, you’ll have that enviable glow and it’ll be taunt, without any effort. However, your hormones might be causing breakouts.
The important thing to learn in your twenties is prevention. It’s nearly too early to start with anti-ageing products. Although, things you need to start remembering are to take off all your makeup before going to sleep. Twice a day you should cleanse, tone and moisturise. It is also important to treat your skin problems; dry, oily, mixed or acne.
IN YOUR THIRTIES…
These are the years that your beloved collagen levels start to sink as well as your cell turnover, hyaluronic acid and elastin levels shrinking. It’s also the years that you really start to protect your skin from all the damage you did it in your youth. You’ll begin to notice thinner, dryer skin, expression lines around your eyes, forehead mouth. You might even be experiencing inflammatory conditions such as acne and rosacea, who said acne was only for teenagers?
It’s not all doom and gloom, your skin is still in pretty great shape, and you can really begin to start your prevention techniques. Now are the years to ramp up your anti-ageing skincare, specifically right before you sleep. Night cream with ingredients like retinol, vitamin A and rosehip oil are all recommended.
IN YOUR FOURTIES…
You’re starting to see the effects of a lifetime of facial expressions, your skin is less firm, there’s not as much elasticity and moisture is starting to disappear. You’ll start to see wrinkles, age spots, capillaries and broken blood vessels. If you’ve been using prevention techniques in your twenties and thirties, this won’t be as extreme. But, it’s now time to change your routine again.
Use a gentle cleanser, eye cream, serums, in addition to a day and night cream. Remember, we mentioned retinol in your thirties? You should up the concentration of it now. Retinol is kind of the miracle ingredient, which forces your skin to behave like it did when it was young.
It’s also time to start introducing plant compounds to your skincare. Things like grape seed, green tea, soy and wild yam. These miracle natural ingredients mimic collagen, preventing sagging.
WHEN YOU ARE FIFTY OR AT A FINER AGE…
These are the years that you really start to lose all that precious collagen, your skin doesn’t bounce-back or glow the same. Your skin is drying, sagging and deflating.
These years are all about hydrating – it’s super important. Your skin isn’t holding in moisture without the natural production of natural hyaluronic acid. There are simple steps you can take to help prevent this – ditch the harsh soaps, minimise how much you wash your face, and lower the temperature in your showers.
Your skincare should really be incorporating hyaluronic acid, retinoid and amino acids. Just remember, moisture really is king when your fifty or older.
No matter your age, you should always be wearing an SPF on your face and neck, cleanse, tone and moisturise You should try to switch up your skincare every few years – your skin might build up a tolerance to your products and its needs will change. Just, listen to your skin and react accordingly. Look out for our other blogs where we will be discussing how skin ageing looks and how to pick the right skin care regime.