Skincare for Those Over 50

Our priorities for skincare should shift as we age. When we’re young, we’re mostly dealing with pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. When we enter into our twenties, we start the fight against premature aging and also to repair our skin from any damage it sustained from acne during our teens. As we grow older, we should reevaluate our priorities for skin care. Think about how much sun damage you’ve sustained over the years and any dark spots that may have formed. At this age, we should be preserving our youth as we while aging gracefully. Here are three things you need to consider when entering your 50’s:

• Rethink your exfoliating habits – As we get older, our skin’s outer layer becomes more delicate and more thin. At this age, you should be taking a more minimal approach to your exfoliating habits, especially when using a tool. If you are using a tool to exfoliate, you should try switching to a gentle scrub and exfoliate for no more than three times a week. You should look into mild chemical exfoliating agents that contain glycolic acids or salicylic acids. Follow these up with soothing moisturizers to prevent any redness.
• Go Extra on the Moisturizers – The hyaluronic acids in our skin begin to decrease when we hit our middle age. This makes fine lines and wrinles begin to be more noticeable as our skin loses its volume. One way to combat this is to keep your skin moisturized at all times. You can choose a moisturizing agent that contains hylaruonic acid as an ingredient to boost your collagen production and to make your skin plump. A moisturizer that keeps your skin hydrated and helps repair your lost collagen is what’s optimal, so if you can get your hands in a product that does both, it would be even better.
• Focus on Treating Wrinkles and Hyperpigmentation – These two are a byproduct of getting old, whether its from damage from prolonged exposure to pollutants (like while driving every day to work), or from sun exposure. The answer is to vitamin A and its derivatives, namely retinol. Retinol brightens your skin tone as it fades away dark spots and it also helps stimulate your skin’s collagen production. Don’t forget your eye area, as they are prone to both wrinkles AND dark spots. Vitamin C on the other hand clears up the free radicals that cause a dull complexion and sun spots.