Should You Change Your Skincare With Age?
“Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty.” – Coco Chanel
It goes without saying that as you age the way you approach life changes, sometimes drastically. And why would it be any different with skincare? So as we move on into the “golden years” of our lives, let’s take a look at the differences in our approaches to skincare and we’ll give you some tips on how to make the most out of your skincare routine now that you are in your 40’s and beyond.
Cleansing
In Your 20’s: Wash my face? Maybe. But I’ll probably just stay up late and fall into bed with a full face of makeup on.
In Your 40’s: Wash my face? Yes, religiously! By now we know that cleansing morning and night is a “have-to” not a “want-to.” But we can improve the quality of our cleansing by looking for cleansers that are natural and organic (we’ve probably done enough damage with the Noxema cleansers of our youth!), and that have additional hydrating properties required as skin tends to become drier as we age.
Toning
In Your 20’s: Whatever can help dry out the occasional breakouts is on the list. Seabreeze anyone?
In Your 40’s: We now know how drying and harmful alcohol astringents can be, and we also understand what pH levels are and why they are important to maintain. (See, chemistry class was good for something!) Look for a
toner with additional herbal botanicals and extracts that will help prep skin to optimally receive the corrective active ingredients in your treatment products.
Facial Treatment
In Your 20’s: Aside from the occasional acne spot treatment, cleansing and moisturizing make up are the basic facial routine (if that!).
In Your 40’s: During your 30’s your treatment product focus started to move from acne and sun damage to wrinkles and collagen improvement. Now that you’re in your 40’s you’re fully immersed in all things anti-aging and you are tailoring your skincare treatments accordingly. Switch up your treatment products as the seasons change, your activities differ or your skin tells you to. Use a treatment product that is best for your skin concerns at that specific time.
Treatment Booster
In Your 20’s: You want me to buy two treatment products? I barely use one treatment product.
In Your 40’s: You have now become a novice skin care mixologist. If it’s after summer, your boosting your brightening regimen. If it’s winter, you’re boosting your collagen and moisturizing products. Customizing your skincare routine is your passion (or your curse!), and you know the value of two treatment products vs. one. Use a basic, multi-active treatment product like our
Cell Revive Serum Complete, and then “boost” your results by layering a more specific treatment product over it, like a brightening or smoothing serum, to really focus in and target.
Eye Treatment
In Your 20’s: Eye cream? What’s that?
In Your 40’s: You know the difference between an eye cream and an eye serum, and you use both morning and night. Crow’s feet, sallow skin, dark circles and sun damage around the delicate eye area have become an obsession. Look for formulas that treat all these aging symptoms in one product. Yes, it’s possible; they exist!
Moisturizing
In Your 20’s: Of course I moisturize! After cleansing with Noxema and toning with Seabreeze, but my skin feels really dry.
In Your 40’s: You know the value of having two different moisturizers – one formulated for daytime and a one specifically for overnight. “As you sleep, skin, like the rest of the body, does the majority of its repairing, restoring and regenerating. A good night cream should be designed to focus on repair, recovery and hydration,” says Dr. Hal Simeroth, Chief Technical Officer for Stemology. Make sure your medicine cabinet is stocked with a daytime and a nighttime moisturizer.
Sunscreen
In Your 20’s: But if I use sunscreen, how can I work on the perfect bronze tan?
In Your 40’s: Sunscreen has now become a non-negotiable. You have it in your daytime moisturizer and you reapply every two hours when you are outside. You’ve seen first hand the damage that being a sun-worshiper and not using an SPF can do to your skin, from wrinkles to advanced aging to uneven skin tone. Find a daytime moisturizer that contains an SPF. And look for sunscreen formulations that are chemical-free, natural and organic. And even better, repair environmental damage after exposure with after-exposure products proven to stop free radical damage in its tracks1
Professional Treatments
In Your 20’s: Who has the time or money to go to an esthetician?
In Your 40’s: Quarterly facials are a must, if not monthly, to keep cell turnover at optimal levels. And quarterly appointments to a cosmetic dermatologist will help you keep on top of the latest technologies and skincare innovations.
Tell us in the comments, what do you do differently for your skin in your 40’s (or 30’s or 50’s!) versus when you were in your 20’s?
