The connection between intelligent skin care, a glowing complexion, and gorgeous make up is real. You can not have one without the other. Whether you’re in your twenties, thirties, forties, a teen, or a senior… Understanding what your complexion requires for it to be it’s most beautiful and really thrive can be a daunting task, but absolutely necessary. Educating yourself, ideally with the help of a professional who can guide and support you in that goal, can be life altering. 

Make no mistake--if you’re a 40-year-old mom and your entire skin care routine consists of grabbing your teenager’s face scrub in the shower, you’re not doing yourself any favors!

As the decades come and go, there are predictable changes in our complexions that occur for all of us, and if ignored and not treated can escalate the aging process… Unfortunately, the breaking down of collagen and elastin, causing the skin to lose its volume and firmness is generally inevitable because these changes take place from within us. Add some of the obvious external culprits to the mix like sun damage, environmental stressors, bad habits (smoking being an obvious one)... Neglecting the basics of cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing properly… now, you have some real challenges on your hands!

The good news--and the truly exciting news-- is that we now live in a time when science, medicine, and technology are there for us in ways they never have been before… To assist us in unimaginable ways; to slow down the aging process to almost a snail's pace… where it feels like we’ve stopped the clock, and maybe even turned it back a bit!

So, let’s take a look at the decades that are in front of us, and for some behind us 😉 and consider all of the possibilities  … from the most basic home skincare routine… to the most dramatic treatments--a facelift-- being at the top of the list!

*Scroll down to your age bracket if you’re anxious to get the scoop on what to do for “You”... But consider… The more you learn, the more you can share with other girls and women around you!

Teens and 20s…

During these young years you may be coping with oiliness, breakouts, clogged pores, and even mild to severe acne.

Cleansers should be a gel or foaming formula… Glycolic acid or gentle grains in the product can prove to be beneficial, especially for unclogging pores. If your skin is also sensitive, a gentle milky formula may be the better choice.

Exfoliating several times weekly with an enzyme scrub or gentle grains is extremely important. Products that contain retinol, salicylic acid, or glycolic acid will prove to be helpful in treating breakouts, clogged pores, and scarring. Seeing a dermatologist for more aggressive treatments is advisable if you’re not achieving the desired results on your own. Often, the combination of your home care chosen by your skin care specialist and the support of your doctor can produce amazing results!

Remember, moisturizing is an important part of your home skincare routine. Light-weight and oil-free moisturizers to combat surface dryness--often caused by topical treatments from your derm--will prove to be the right approach.

If your skin is a normal or combination skin type (t-zone oily, outer areas drier) you can be more flexible in your product choices. If you’re not sensitive to clogging or break outs, you can have fun trying a variety of products… just be careful to choose products that are not too rich or heavy, which could cause your well-balanced skin to react!

Clay and charcoal masks are your friend at this age. They are deep cleansing and pore-unclogging… So enjoy them now!!! Anti-aging products are not yet needed, but remember the daily use of sunblock is extremely important. These early years are often the time when invisible damage is being done… So be smart and pay attention to what science and medicine has shown us over and over again. The decisions you make now will be “in your face” and “on your face” decades from now!

30s…

Now is the time to start paying attention to small changes in your complexion… fine lines may be starting to show around the eyes and between the brows. The beautiful glow you enjoyed in your 20s may begin to dull. Now is the time to start treating regularly with retinol or glycolic acid daily… Use an eye cream and be diligent ( we have virtually no oil glands around the eyes) so it’s never too early to start! You can choose an “anti-aging” eye cream… it’s not too soon. Face creams used around the eyes can be much too heavy and irritating. Eye creams are formulated to treat, but are more light weight and gentle. 

Adding a manual exfoliator, one which is applied with fingertips to the surface of the skin, and facial mask to follow twice weekly is a game changer! 

Use a lotion moisturizer if you’re an oilier skin type and a cream if you’re on the dry side. If you need to apply two layers of a moisturizer… It’s not hydrating enough and you need to bump it up to a cream formulation. Don’t forget that if your moisturizer does not contain sunblock, be sure to add one to your routine.

Facials and/or glycolic peels are a smart addition performed by your skin care specialist or at your dermatologist’s office.

Botox, traditionally used to smooth the upper part of the complexion, treating the lines of the forehead, between the brows, and around the eyes… may be something you’re considering now. Safely used for decades, many would consider this a modern miracle! A very effective and popular treatment to start to slow that “Aging clock” down!

40s…

As we move into our 40s… We begin to observe more dramatic changes and face more challenges than ever. We’re now seeing deeper lines forming around the eyes, throughout the forehead and around the lips… And then there are those pesky nasal and labial folds from the nose to the mouth to the chin; they may appear to be deepening rapidly. Our support system of collagen and elastin is starting to diminish… The loss of volume and firmness is becoming more apparent. 

It’s time to focus on the use of more hydrating products… Milky or creamy cleansers… Moisturizers that are rich and hydrating… It’s a critical time to start using retinol nightly, either through a prescription or your skin care expert offering it up. Consider adding a serum to your routine for extra reinforcement which can add an extra layer of hydration and/or

additional anti-aging ingredient benefits. Exfoliate and use a moisturizing mask once or twice a week for a super boost. Be sure to use your anti-aging eye cream twice daily. 

Spa or medical grade facials, micro dermabrasion, glycolic peels… laser treatments… are all available for more aggressive treatment to combat the signs of aging. Botox and the addition of fillers, generally used in the lower portions of the face are desirable

as we see the loss of volume and firmness increase. These treatments are very capable of turning the clock back. 

Hyaluronic acid, which is naturally found in the human body is what most fillers consist of. It’s your personal choice as to whether you want or need to go down the path. These treatments are widely accepted in our society today and are deemed a safe and viable way to restore a youthful appearance. The obvious benefit of Botox is its ability to cause lines from the eye area upward to virtually disappear.  As many would say, these treatments are truly a modern day miracle!... But they are costly and not necessarily for everyone… 

So, this is the message that must be taken to heart by women of all ages: A properly selected home skin care routine is critical to the overview of transforming and maintaining the health and beauty of your complexion throughout your lifetime. No Botox, fillers, or facelift can repair what environmental stresses, the lack of moisture, hydration and exfoliation causes. The analogy is this: Imagine having your teeth cleaned by your hygienist twice a year but never brushing your teeth… You get the picture!

Your potentially beautiful complexion is literally in ”your hands” throughout your lifetime… Education and motivation yields great results! Again, rely on your skin care expert for guidance; this is a critical time in the aging process… 

This is no time to fall off the wagon!

50s and Beyond…

We’ve arrived… You’re now likely to be seeing new and dramatic changes in your complexion… Uncontrollable dryness, age spots (I still like to call them freckles!) 😉 Intensifying loss of volume and firmness (sagging)... 😟 Lines which must now be recognized as the dreaded “wrinkle”. The throat unrecognizable. 😳 Under eyes that tell the “story of our lives”! 😫 

Hang on… do not despair!... There is still hope and help!

Keep doing what you’re doing… Cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize… Add a serum… Use retinol nightly… Have a facial, and a Glycolic peel. See your doctor for fillers and botox if you must!

Each step has its own benefits, and in combination can and will produce amazing results! Ultimately if deemed, the “Facelift” may prove to be the icing on the cake for you!

But starting early on in life… although it’s truly never too late to begin, is the most valuable lesson to be learned here… 

With a changing planet, environmental stressors, and the pressures of overly busy lives… Regularly taking a bit of time to care for yourself is not only well-deserved, it is invaluable!!!

Remember… Aging is a part of the human experience, and we all get there in some shape or form. The difference in today’s world is there are many versions of how we can arrive!

So embrace who you are and where you are in this journey...

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If you are interested in learning more about making changes in your own skincare routine to achieve better results. Please feel free to reach out here to inquire for an appointment or consultation or call directly to 856. 751. 2233. for an appointment with the experts.