SKINCARE FOR ALL AGES

As we grow older our skin changes with the natural ageing process. This means we need to update our skincare regimen through the different stages of life, to maintain healthy skin.

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Change is inevitable in life, and our skin and appearance are just one of the things that change. We can’t stop the ageing process, but we can control how our skin looks and feels. We need to make changes to our skincare routine as we grow older, to provide for the changing needs of our skin.



IN YOUR 20s
This is the age where skin issues are minor if we have any all any. If there are issues they are most probably related to acne and hormonal changes during the teenager years. Even if you don’t have skin issues in your 20s, neglecting your skin by too much partying and late nights, smoking or not using enough sunscreen can cause your skin to age sooner than it should – called premature ageing. So this is the ideal age to develop good skin care habits that will help preserve your youthfulness over time. Your ideal regimen should consist of a gentle facial cleanser and a light moisturiser that contains sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection. If you regularly go out partying, drinking and smoking, you will need an antioxidant to counteract the damage caused to your skin. Before going to bed, apply a serum that contains pomegranate, vitamin C or grapeseed extract – and remember, never go to bed with make-up on.



IN YOUR 30s
Once you reach your 30s you’ll notice the texture of your skin is no longer the same. It might start to look and feel drier and you could notice discolouration caused by sun damage. You might also develop melasma, which is a pigmentation disorder caused by pregnancy and birth control as well as sun exposure (it appears most commonly on the bridge of the nose, the cheeks and forehead). At this age, you might also start to develop a few fine lines. Your top priority in skincare now is exfoliation. By exfoliating regularly you are giving your skin a chance to regenerate by getting rid of old skin cells. You also need to use a non-foaming cleanser to ensure your skin stays hydrated, followed by a moisturiser or face cream with built-in sunscreen. A key ingredient to look for is retinol, which helps improve the overall texture and tone of your skin. Use retinoid creams at night because sunlight deactivates retinol.



IN YOUR 40s
If you have taken good care of your skin in your 20s and 30s, by the time you reach 40 you’ll still be looking great. This can be a scary stage, though, when you start to notice wrinkles at the corners of your eyes as well as laugh lines around the mouth (important note: smoking causes ‘smoker’s lines’, which are not attractive at all!). Fine lines might also develop on your neck and forehead. Dark-skinned women are fortunate as they usually only start to see the beginnings of wrinkles, fine lines and loss of volume in their 40s. Fair-skinned women, however, more often have problems with sun damage, splotchiness and hyperpigmentation. Many 40-somethings also deal with hormone-related problems such as acne and premenopausal dryness. At this stage of your life your oestrogen level is decreasing and this will cause your skin to be drier, so you need to use moisturisers with high levels of glycerine and hyaluronic acid. Choose products with retinol, as well as collagen-building ingredients such as peptides. Avoid using foaming products and use SPF daily to prevent further damage.



IN YOUR 50s
In your 50s your skin is now more prone to sagging, scarring and loss of tone. Your number-one concern in your skincare regimen should be moisture. Use products that contain retinol and amino acids, and never skip sunscreen (you should always protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun no matter your age, but in your 50s it’s non-negotiable). Consider talking to a dermatologist about any skin concerns before splashing out on every product that promises to reverse the signs of ageing. We might not be able to control our body clocks, but we can take charge of looking and feeling good!