Skin ageing is inevitable. You can’t stop it, no matter how hard you try. In your forties and fifties, the signs of ageing, like wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin, are going to be visible irrespective of the care you take to prevent them. Sun exposure, environmental pollution, reduced production of collagen and elastin by the skin, and a gradual decrease in cellular regeneration are the primary factors responsible for the ageing process.
There has been much research conducted on how to prevent ageing, delay it, and even try to stop it. There are many cosmetic and surgical treatments that can help you look much younger at an older age. However, prevention is better than cure, therefore, taking care of your skin from an early age can delay signs of ageing from appearing. Building a healthy lifestyle and having clean beauty practices can help you sail through life with great skin.
In This Article
Signs Of Ageing
Some experts say that your skin begins to age post twenty-five. That’s quite early. Visible signs of ageing in your twenties are dull skin, tired skin, and dehydrated skin. These sound like normal skin problems, but you don’t experience them in your teens. This is how ageing slowly creeps up on you. So, it’s best to establish a morning and night-time beauty routine at this age. This sets you up for the future.
In your thirties, you start to see the first signs of wrinkles and fine lines. These visible signs of ageing are common in your mid-thirties. Wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes and mouth, parallel stress lines on the forehead, and skin dryness are symptoms of ageing in your thirties.
After you turn forty, the skin loses its plumpness and it starts to sag. Cellular regeneration is drastically reduced and therefore cell turnover is affected. You experience discolouration of skin in spots and patches.
The surface starts to lose fat and becomes thinner and drier as a result. A decrease in the production of collagen and elastin causes wrinkles to become more prominent. At this age, your skin begins the irreversible process of ageing.
When Should I Start Using Anti-ageing Products?
When it comes to anti-ageing, dermatologists will tell you that it’s never too late to start using anti-ageing skincare. But it’s best to start as early as you can. A head start can prevent the signs of ageing from showing up too soon. It’s advised to start as early as your twenties. By the mid-thirties you should definitely include some kind of effective anti-ageing products to slow down the ageing process. Gradually incorporate more advanced formulas with greater potency as you age.
Skincare In Your Twenties
Sunscreen
In your twenties, you need to start protecting your skin from sun damage and environmental stressors like pollution and harmful chemicals. Using an effective sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 is the best way to prevent the sun from damaging your skin. The effects of UV rays on the skin is strongly related to signs of early skin ageing.
So, using a good sunscreen is all the anti-ageing skincare you will need in your twenties. Sunscreen is absolutely necessary both indoors and outdoors. This lays the foundation for good anti-ageing skin practices.
AM & PM Beauty Routine
It’s common to experiment with skincare products, brands and ingredients in your twenties to figure out what works for your skin. This is good because it helps you set up a routine that works. Finding a routine that works for you will help you be consistent with your skincare as you grow older.
Skincare In Your Thirties
The thirties are a key decade in anti-ageing skincare. This is when the first signs of ageing begin to show. Tackling these, in the beginning, can have lasting effects on your skin in the following decades. To prevent crows feet and laugh lines, you need to step up your skincare routine.
Retinol
Retinol is one of the most common ingredients found in anti-ageing skincare products. This is because it is the most effective ingredient known to stave off the effects of ageing.
Retinol and other Vitamin-A derivatives aid in increasing cell turnover and boost the production of collagen and elastin on the surface of the skin. Moisturisers and serums that contain retinol or retin-a should be included in your skincare.
Introducing retinol to your skin through a facial kit is a good way to start. While retinol can be a strong component to use, facials will ensure a balanced introduction, especially a well-designed hydra facial for dry skin, can be a great way to ensure a balanced introduction of retinol while addressing dryness concerns.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants like vitamin C, B, E, K, and Q are essential for cellular regeneration. Including these vitamins in topical skincare through serums help maintain the brightness, radiance, and overall health of your skin. They fight signs of sun damage, repair skin tissue, and help the skin retain moisture.
Skin Treatment
Topical skincare only works on the surface of your skin. If you’re looking for solutions that work on building skin health from the base up, you could consider laser therapy, intense pulsed light, and other photo facials. Non-light based treatments that you could opt for are chemical peels, micro-needling, and micro-derma-abrasion. These treatments help in preventing fine lines, wrinkles, and leave your skin smooth and full.
Skincare In Your Forties
Skin ageing after forty is irreversible. A rapid ageing process sets in. Your skin not only loses its ability to regenerate quickly, but the oestrogen level in your body takes a dive for the worse. Wrinkles, fine lines, dullness, thickening of skin cells, thinning of the skin surface, and discolouration are some problems that you will face. At 40, you get the whole bouquet of signs of ageing.
Supplements & Powders
In this decade, it’s not enough to apply your skincare, you need to eat it too. At every age, it’s important to be mindful of what we consume, but it’s never more important than after your 40s. Including supplements in the form of powders and pills is recommended.
Collagen and antioxidant vitamins can be taken orally. In fact, collagen when applied topically is ineffective, but when taken orally it can be effective in boosting the existing supply of collagen in your body. Increasing your intake of teas, smoothies, and nutritious fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to reverse the effects of ageing. It’s also beneficial to reduce the consumption of alcohol at this age.
Retinols
Retinol continues to be a big part of your skincare. There are substitutes that you could use. You should consult a dermatologist for further information. If you really care about looking younger, your beauty routine should include topical at-home treatments and in-house treatments with doctors.
Antioxidants
At home, you should include mild exfoliating serums with antioxidants like vitamin C and E. These aid the skin in shedding dead skin cells. As you age, the skin cycle is longer and therefore a little additional help in exfoliating can go a long way.
Hydration & Moisture
A lot of people experience dryness and sensitivity at this age. So, keeping your skin hydrated and moisturised is important. Moisturisers with essential fatty acids, ceramides, glycerine, and vitamins are a great addition to your beauty routine. Hydrate your skin using hyaluronic acid serums or vitamin face masks before you use any other topical skincare products.
Using a hydrating elixir ensures deep penetration of hydrating molecules, because of the smaller molecular size of the serums. The SkinQ Hydrate Elixir has sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid, which intensely hydrates the skin
The Takeaway
It’s important to remember that your skincare routine will depend on your skin type and your age. If you have any other skin problems like acne, your routine will vary accordingly. To get the best results for your skin, consult a doctor for checkups every now and then.
Over-the-counter products do only so much for your skin. Depending on your preferences, including professional treatments in your beauty routine can leave your skin much more youthful in the long run.
It’s never too late to begin anti-ageing skincare. It’s never too early to build a sustainable beauty routine. Gentle cleansers, moisturisers and sunscreen are the basic building blocks of healthy skin.
Whether you are the DIY kind, lazy and laid-back about skin care or a skin care enthusiast, there’s something for everyone with dermatologist-formulated rituals of SkinQ.