As you age, several aspects of your life change, such as your job, marital status, lifestyle, and diet. Since a lot of changes in your life occur, it’s also crucial to take care of your skin. Having a skincare routine is crucial.
Did you know that the sun’s UV rays alone contribute to 80% of skin aging? This is why a skincare routine is important.
It will not only help you boost your self-esteem but will also make you look fresh, glowing, and young.
However, when it comes to skincare, it’s equally important for individuals to look after their personal hygiene. You should make sure you use as many chemical-free products on your body as possible.
For instance, using a natural deodorant balm can help you smell nice and fresh without causing any harm to your skin.
Nevertheless, this article explains how your skin changes as you age and how you should adjust your skincare routine to keep your skin healthy. Read below to discover!
Changing Your Skincare Routine Through the Decades
Teenage and 20s
It’s imperative for you to incorporate sunscreen from a young age. Even if there’s an overcast, the UV rays can still damage your skin.
You must habitually apply sunscreen with a minimum of 30 SPF, indoors or outdoors, for a lifetime! Re-applying sunscreen after sweating or taking a dip in the pool will be your best bet.
Exposure to the sun can make your skin less resilient to fine lines, sun spots, and wrinkles as you age. Hence, starting early and protecting your skin from cancer is better.
In addition, many teens and individuals in their 20s face acne problems. Of course, acne can lead to dull and blemished skin, preventing you from feeling your best self, especially in public.
Therefore, light moisturizing products and a gentle cleanser should be a must in your skincare regimen. For instance, hyaluronic acid moisturizer can keep your skin nourished.
Whereas a gentle cleanser, free of chemicals and fragrances, will keep the barrier of your skin intact, and the natural oils of your skin will help protect your skin further.
30s
As you enter your 30s, you will start noticing subtle fine lines on your skin. Your skin’s exfoliation process also slows down and can accumulate dead skin cells, making your skin look flaky, patchy, and dry.
You can go for at-home chemical exfoliation, and it’s okay to exfoliate your skin once a week or even once every two weeks to generate new skin cells.
You should also start investing in an OTC retinoid and apply it on your face and neck every night, as it improves collagen production.
40s
You may have already noticed that blood vessels under your eyes become more visible when you’re sleep-deprived, tired, or dehydrated.
Why? Because the under-eye skin area is thinner as compared to the rest of the face, you lose elasticity and collagen in this area quickly as well.
This is a major skin issue for people in their 40s. Therefore, it’s recommended to start applying serums or creams specifically formulated for the under-eye area as they target concerns like eye bags, wrinkles, and puffiness.
You should look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid (to moisturize the skin), peptides/amino acids (to enhance collagen production), and caffeine (to improve blood circulation).
50s
Remember to keep using moisturizers and sunscreen even when you enter your 50s.
However, as you start noticing more wrinkles, fine lines on your skin, and dull complexion, you should update your skincare regimen products accordingly.
For instance, you should swap the OTC retinol serums with a prescription-grade one.
Of course, it’s essential to visit a dermatologist for this, so they can recommend the right percentage of retinol to use on your skin without overdrying your skin.
The turnover rate of your skin cells will also reduce, which is why you will notice wrinkles and fine lines. Hence, you should incorporate vitamin C, vitamin E, peptides, hyaluronic acid serums, and moisturizers in your skincare.
If you are looking for a professional treatment, you can opt for a laser resurfacing treatment, micro-needling, or chemical peels after discussing it with your dermatologist.
60s and Beyond
Your natural sebum production starts dropping as you reach your 60s. Therefore, your skin also starts becoming drier and flakier.
That’s when you need to update your skincare products with denser nourishing creams. You may already be using retinoids, which further cause your skin to dry, so using heavy hydrating creams day and night would be ideal.
Furthermore, the risk of skin cancer also increases as you grow older.
If you notice any symptoms of skin cancer, such as a painful bump, red sore that never heals, or a bleeding mole or one that keeps changing in size and color, you must immediately visit a dermatologist.
Regular screening for skin cancer may also help you diagnose it in the early stages, so you can easily and quickly treat it before the symptoms worsen.
Additional Tips for Skincare Routine Regardless of Age
Regardless of your age, sometimes the hardest part of taking care of your skin has nothing to do with the actual products or skin itself.
Sometimes, sticking to a routine is the hardest part.
For starters, you can take care of yourself from the inside out. Hydrate by drinking plenty of water, and use moisturizer to hydrate your skin. Start small and build up from there.
By starting small, you can incorporate things into your daily routine so it doesn’t feel too strenuous or out of the ordinary. You don’t have to jump straight into a 10-step routine. You might not even need that.
If you can exfoliate in the shower once or twice a week, and stay hydrated and moisturized, that’s a great start.
Then eventually you can set an alarm or a reminder on your phone to set aside at least ten minutes a day to take care of your skin. You can do this at night or in the morning, whatever works best.
Cleanse, hydrate, and exfoliate until it becomes second nature to you.
To Conclude
For ladies especially, skincare is incredibly important. The skin is, after all, the largest organ in our bodies, and it needs to be taken care of as such!
Our skin puts up with so much- from scrapes and bruises when we are children to excessive tanning as teens and then dryness as adults!
There are so many things that can be detrimental to the skin. The sun is unavoidable, especially if you live in a tropical climate. However, if you live in a snowier environment, the dryness can really crack and take a toll on your skin.
If you are traveling to different climates, you might need to take that into consideration as well. You might need to adjust your skincare routine. For example, if you’re traveling in the winter, you may need to bring different items.
Overall, your skin helps you feel more confident. It’s the first thing that people see when they meet you. Taking care of your skin is something that doesn’t just “go away” as you get older, it’s something that sticks with you until the end of time.
Your skincare routine will age as you do, so be sure to take care of yourself accordingly!
