How to stay fabulous at any age

Youth is nimble, age is lame,” Shakespeare wrote centuries ago. But nowadays, there are tons of ways to wipe the years off your face. There is no longer any excuse to look old, unless you count laziness as one. It gets more and more difficult to tell the real age of women these days. Now, looking old is no longer inevitable but an option. Wrinkles come with growing old but with proper skincare, you can slow down the process. With today’s advances in technology women are given more options to look their best at any age.

More and more Filipinos are taking better care of their skin. Skincare technology has progressed rapidly in recent years. These technological and medical breakthroughs are not enough to prevent or lessen the signs of aging. They will only work with great understanding and discipline. Get expert advice. Find out what really works. Skincare is also lifestyle and age appropriate. And, most importantly, commit to a routine.

Teens: Use Safe Products

In your teens, safe products made with natural ingredients that are paraben-free are highly recommended. Breakouts and acne-prone skin are synonymous with this age group.

20s: Think Prevention

Your skin in your 20s, except for the occasional breakout, is in pretty good shape. At this time you rarely think of anti-aging or wrinkles. Time to think again. You will thank me years from now. From experience, the best beauty advice I can impart is that prevention is next to consistency. Don’t leave home without sun protection and continue at any age. Stick with the basics. Fast and simple will keep you with the program. Cleanse, tone, moisturize and protect — this basic routine will nurture your skin and sustain a good foundation as you age. You’ll appreciate the early care later. This is also a good time to begin using an eye cream under the eye area at night.

30s: Time To Get Serious

In your 30s it’s time to get more serious. This is the time when fine lines and damage begin to show up. A consistent regimen will guarantee results. Add exfoliating to your program to renew and make the skin radiant. Opt for more intensive moisturizers that lock in a high content of moisture. Apply your moisturizer over damp skin. It helps keep more moisture in the skin. Start a powerful nighttime treatment to keep wrinkles at bay. Religiously protect your skin with suncreen. Go for at least SPF 30 protection.

40s: Deal With Concerns

In your 40s, it is certain that some wrinkles and age spots will appear. Acceptance is vital. Then deal with relevant concerns such as dehydration and elasticity. Focus on products with antioxidants to prevent collagen breakdown. In addition, add antioxidant-rich foods like açai, goji, noni, mangosteen, pomegranate, kale and green tea to your diet. Also get a good balance of mineral content in your skincare. At night, use an anti-aging product that contains collagen-stimulating bioactive peptides. Monthly hydrating facials and microdermabration are options to give skin a youthful glow. Word of caution: only go to an expert. Technology in the wrong hands is dangerous. I have seen too many horror stories of microdermabrations gone bad. But with the proper doctor, it works wonders. Your skin will look younger. Retinols reduce fine lines and wrinkles while improving skin texture, color and tone. It is clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and boost collagen production. Avoid the sun as Retin A makes your skin highly sensitive. If retinoids do not suit your skin, try alpha hydroxy acids.

50s And Beyond: Age Gracefully

Age gracefully in your 50s and beyond. Changes in your skin are inevitable. Age-appropriate skincare is a must to effectively keep your skin smooth, clear and radiant. Try potent spot treatments to decrease melanin production and lighten blemishes. For more powerful formulas, seek advice from your dermatologist. Usually, products with vitamin A, hydroquinone or glycolic acid are recommended. As mentioned earlier, Retin A helps to smooth lines, even skin tone and fade age spots, while glycolic acid boosts new formation of collagen to plump cells and reduce wrinkles on the skin’s surface. Give your regular routine a boost with high-powered serums to make your beauty products work more efficiently.

Here’s how to effectively look fabulous at every age:

1. Cleanse to remove dirt, oil, makeup and dead skin cells. A clean slate allows any product applied to the skin to penetrate deeper and more effectively. Spend about 30 seconds to massage your cleanser to completely break down makeup and sebum (the pore clogger secreted by oil glands).

2. Sunscreen is the most important anti-aging weapon available to everyone. Look for long-lasting protection against both UVA (responsible for aging skin) and UVB (the one that burns skin). The most powerful shields have chemical SPF complexes (such as mexoryl, avobenzone and oxybenzone) and physical blockers (such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide).

3. Antioxidants stop free radicals from sun, pollution and stress from affecting your skin. Seek out products using effective antioxidants for your skincare program. A diet high in antioxidants is also very beneficial. 

4. Exfoliate to increase skin’s luminosity. Like a well-oiled machine, your skin cells turn over regularly and reveal new, healthy cells underneath.

5. Retin A has been around for quite some time and its effectiveness is still undeniable. Skin converts retinol to retinoic acid that triggers cell turnover and collagen production. Look for 0.4-percent concentration and apply a thin layer at night. Retinol makes the skin more sensitive to the sun so don’t leave home unprotected! High-dose formulas usually work better but are potentially irritating. Don’t self-prescribe. Ask your dermatologist if this is what you need.

6. Hydroquinone evens out skin tone. It inhibits future melanin creation and lightens existing dark spots.

7. Glycolic acid boosts new formation of collagen.

8. Mature skin needs mega-moisturizers. Look for hydrating ceramides or topical hyaluronic acid to temporarily plump lines and brighten skin.

9. It is critical to maintain a skincare regimen. Consistent nurturing will definitely get results. This also includes quality physical, psychological and spiritual health. In short, it’s a lifestyle.

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Send queries and suggestions to jo@joyceorena.com or follow me on twitter.com/joyceorena.