Have you ever walked into a store that sells all the skincare products you can imagine and, the one thing that catches your eyes is the words, ‘anti-aging’?. Immediately, you pick this product up and think, that should do the trick!
Unfortunately, this is not the case for mature skin types. Anti-aging means a product (generally moisturisers) that prevent the appearance of ‘getting older’. If you have not incorporated a daily skincare routine with anti-aging properties in your 20’s, then you are late to the party. It is not to say that you cannot slow down the process with premature aging. However, the need for anti-aging products at 40 is not what you need. You need products to stimulate collagen, reduce the appearance of fine lines or delay them, as well as hydration. Just before I delve into what skincare will work for mature skin types, let us see what causes premature aging.
1. Sun
The main culprits of photoaging are exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet (UV) light. Sun exposure is a major factor of about 80% of skin aging and is the first step to premature aging. Chronological skin aging cannot be helped, but photoaging accelerates the process. Light is around us all year round especially, living in Australia (the land down under).
Our sun emits different kinds of energy and ultraviolet (UV) rays cannot be seen or felt.
- Infrared radiation that we can feel (heat or temperature)
- Visible light that we can see (sunlight)
- UV radiation (that cannot be seen or felt)
There are three types of UV Radiation:
- UVA: transmits freely through the earth’s atmosphere.
- UVB: about 15% of UVB transmits through to the earth’s atmosphere. The rest is, absorbed by ozone.
- UVC: is absorbed by ozone and does not reach the earth’s surface
UVA & UVB both contribute to skin cancer, sunburn, skin aging and eye damage.
Solar radiation accelerates the destruction of collagen fibres in our skin through the oxidation process. The elastic collagen fibres become rigid and fragile and, their basic structure is, destroyed.
The accelerated oxidation processes also damage the genetic material in the skin cells and cause an abnormal division of cells. Thus, solar radiation leads to the appearance of rough, thin, and wrinkled skin.
2. Smoking
Smoking causes premature fine lines that typically appear on places where the skin is thin, such as, the corner of the eyes and, above the upper lip. These typical, smoking lines may appear 10-15 years before they appear among non-smokers.
3. Diet
Your diet is rich in sugars and sweets, it could cause the connective tissue of the skin to become rigid and, lose its elasticity. Quality protein in your diet strengthens your collagen levels, making your skin firmer and less prone to wrinkles. A diet also high in fruits and vegetables are the key source of antioxidants. These sources fight free radicals like sun exposure, smoking, chronic diseases, and environmental factors like pollution.
Other factors include:
Genetic
Stress
Lack of sleep
Alcohol
Depression
Can you see a trend here? Lots of sun exposure and no protection, unhealthy diet, and stress are some of the causes of premature aging. You have reached or about to, reach, your forty’s and start to panic and feel a sense of regret for not introducing your skin, to a routine in your earlier years, however, it is not too late!
Let us start with a cleansing routine, amazingly enough, I’ve got you covered here with your cleansing routine that I wrote about some time ago, click here to find out more about cleansing.
After your cleansing step, you want to choose an exfoliant that will work for your skin type. Regular exfoliation helps prevent dull, congested skin, blocked pores and even skin discolouration. By regularly exfoliating, your skin looks brighter with a more youthful-looking appearance. It also assists with penetrating your products such as serums and, moisturisers, as well as cellular renewal.
I have listed a few product recommendations;
Exfoliants
Serums
- Sunday Riley – A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum
- Skin Ceuticals – CE Ferulic
- Drunk Elephant – C-Firma Day Serum
- Ole Henriksen – Truth Serum
Toner
- Renee Rouleau – Elderberry Soothing Toner
- Herbivore Botanicals -Jasmine Green Tea Balancing Toner
- Origins – A Perfect World Age-Defence Treatment Lotion
Eye Cream
- ASAP – Firming Eye Lift
- Dermalogica – Multivitamin power firm
- Kiehls – Midnight recovery eye
- Drunk Elephant – C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream
Moisturiser
- Drunk Elephant – Lala Retro Whipped Cream
- Ole Henriksen – C Rush Brightening Gel Cream
- Avene – Hydrance Optimale
SPF – Sun Protection
I agree, there is a lot to take in, incorporating this into your daily routine at the start may seem daunting. Bear in mind, your skin is your best accessory, so take good care of it, and remember beautiful skin requires commitment, not a miracle!
Please note, these are only recommendations. If you are unsure about your skin type, I would recommend that you book in for a skin analysis with a beauty therapist. I also offer this in my salon, if you would like a consultation with me regarding your skin status, click here to make a booking.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog, until the next blog…
Tanya xx
