Here's how you should change your skincare as you age
We want to preface by saying that ageing is not something to fear or dread. In fact, we think ageing is a beautiful process, and at Caci, our aim is to help our clients age gracefully, while also looking after their skin health.
It’s no secret that our skin will undergo significant changes as we age. And to promote healthy skin you can be proud of, there are two main pillars you need to incorporate into your skincare routine from as young as possible; SPF protection and hydration. These should remain a constant from around your early 20s (the earlier the better) and be a mainstay in your skincare routine right throughout your life. But there are some tweaks and adjustments that should be made along the way to cater to your skin’s specific needs at the time. Think about it this way, in the same way our life and priorities shift drastically from one decade to the next, so too do our skincare concerns.
There’s a lot of conflicting evidence as to how you should be looking after your skin at all stages of your life, so in an attempt to demystify it, here are our top skin tips and tricks for each decade. With as little fluff as possible!
What are the main changes to our skin as we age?
While we are all very familiar with the way our skin changes from an external perspective, what is really going on underneath that leads to these signs?
Wrinkles and fine lines
Wrinkles are synonymous with skin ageing, and over time, they are an inevitable part of life, but what causes them? Time spent in the sun without adequate SPF is a major accelerator of wrinkles and fine lines as it has a major effect on the elasticity of the skin. Certain habits like smoking are also known contributors. But over time, gravity as well as lower collagen production levels will lead to wrinkles and sagging eventually. But there are things you can do to minimise them, which we will get to later!
Dark spots and pigmentation
People also notice that dark spots and pigmentation become more visible and prevalent as they age. Age spots are usually flatter and bigger than freckles, and show up on areas that have more exposure to the sun such as the face, hands and feet. Again, while they can be an inevitable side effect of ageing, SPF is your best defence!
Thinner skin
As we age, the skin cell will begin to grow thinner, as well as the cells that contain pigment (known as melanocytes). This can lead to a thinner, more translucent appearance of the skin. Furthermore, the oil glands (sebaceous glands) and collagen will become less productive over time, all of which can lead to thinner and dryer skin. Again, environmental factors such as sun exposure, alcohol intake and smoking can all play a part, but there are topical treatments that can minimise thinning skin.
How your skincare should change over the decades
From birth
Sunscreen
Look, we’re not going to suggest you put retinol on your newborn baby, and there really is only one CRUCIAL skincare step from when you’re born until at least your teenage years, and that is sun protection.
No matter your age, or how much you tell yourself you “don’t burn”, skin protection from a young age will probably have the greatest impact on your skin in later life. Don’t believe us? Google sunscreen identical twin studies and see the results for yourself… This being said, make sure your little ones are wearing at least an SPF30+ whenever they go outside. They’ll thank you in later life, when they look 10-20 years younger, trust us!
Sunscreen should be started as early as possible and should NEVER be taken off the roster. So consider this the fundamental building block of all the skincare routines to come.
Teens and early 20s
Acne
Most of us, except those blessed by the skin Gods, will experience some run-ins with acne in our teens or 20s. Puberty, stress and hormones are unfortunately not very kind to our complexion, and while for some people breakouts will be an inevitable part of this phase of life, there are some things you can do to mitigate or avoid them all together.
First things first, make sure you are armed with a gentle cleanser. The Skinsmiths Gentle Cream Cleanser is the perfect product for the job. This silky emollient-rich formula works to gently remove makeup and bacteria from the skin - which are known culprits behind clogged pores and breakouts. Gentle is key here as it is probably your first introduction to the skincare world, if your skin worsens over the year you can look at incorporating a more hard-working cleanser to specifically target acne.
Hydration
The saying “you can’t turn back the clock” never rings more true than when talking about the appearance of your skin. Basically, the earlier you start with good skin habits and products, the less trouble you will have later in life. This being said, your teens are a great time to start using hydrating products that will be complexion saviours later down the track. Start with a simple moisturiser like the Skinsmiths Rebalancing Moisturiser to use after your cleanse. This light-weight moisturiser is perfect for all ages and will balance and clarify oil or combination which is common at this age. This, coupled with your daily SPF is all you will need until a little bit later down the track.
Late 20s
As we creep into our late 20s our specific skincare needs may start to change from person to person. Some of us will start to see visible lines depending on how expressive we are, while for some the SPF, cleanser, and moisturiser ritual will see them through until their 30s. It’s important to be aware of your own skin and what it needs to transition through this stage of life.
Serums
If you’ve been diligent with your SPF then your skin should be faring well at this stage, but it might be time to start incorporating some more hard-working serums to really get your glow on. Retinol is a crowd favourite for a reason, it’s basically the holy grail of all anti-ageing skincare products and your late 20s/early 30s are the perfect time to start using it. Start with one that is a relatively low % like the Skinsmiths PRO Strenght Retinol to get your skin used to it. This will increase your cell turnover (which naturally will start to slow down as we age), and support healthy collagen that will leave your skin refreshed as well as diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Eye cream
While it’s not an exact science, if you have a favourite supermarket, it’s probably time to start thinking about the addition of eye cream. Eye cream is a targeted treatment that works specifically to cater to the skin under the eyes, which is naturally thinner than the rest of the face and therefore more susceptible to early ageing. The Skinsmiths Eye Concentrate is the perfect eye cream for any decade, incorporating all the key ingredients you need in a good eye cream; retinol, Hyaluronic acid and ceramides. Eye creams become particularly important as we get older, but again - the earlier you start the better!
30s
Now that you’re in your 30s you should have a great base of skincare products in your arsenal, and the changes in this decade should be minor ones. If you are experiencing lines that are bothering you, it may be time to start thinking about injectables such as botox (which can also be preventative). But if you’re still focusing on your topical treatments, then here are a few minor changes we would suggest adding to your routine.
Use a peel
Peels or acids such as AHA and BHA are great things to incorporate as our skin starts to age. These will basically set the reset button on your skin and will make you wake up feeling revitalised and radiant. As our skin ages, it can appear dry and dull, and using exfoliating products such as peels will help to remove dead skin build-up, decongest and clear breakouts, as well as just improve the overall texture of the skin. The Skinsmiths Resurfacing AHA/BHA Peel is the perfect addition to your skincare regime in your early 30s. Brightness is the name of the game in your 30s, and trust us when we say no boy can brighten up your day faster than an AHA/BHA product!
Vitamin C
If you haven’t already, now is the time to start using a vitamin C product. If you have retinol in your arsenal (which you should) then we suggest applying these products at different times. Retinol at night and Vitamin C in the morning is usually good recipe to follow! Skinsmiths PRO Strength Vitamin C is your best friend in the morning, this antioxidant elixir will give your skin an all-over glow, while also preventing the signs of photoaging.
40s and 50s
In your 40s is when your hard work up until this point will really start to pay off. This is when most people will report noticing lower collagen production, which if left to its own devices, can lead to your skin appearing thinner and duller. This can be especially prevalent in the under-eye area, so if you haven’t already now is the time to get an eye cream on the roster! If you want to take the thinking out of the whole process, Skinsmiths make it really easy to get your ritual together with their kits, designed to target specific skin concerns from redness to ageing. Their PRO Essentials Age Defying Kit contains all the products we’ve talked about up until this point - all in one easy place! Depending on your skin, you can start using all the products from your 20s, or you can build up your routine from your teens until your 40s or 50s. From that point on, it’s basically a matter of sticking to the routine you’ve already created and being consistent with it.
From your 40s hydration and sun-protectin continue to be the aim of the game, but you may want to start incorporating some more hard-working treatments to pair with your already perfect line-up of products.
The best skin treatments for anti-ageing
Hydradermabrasion
An advanced exfoliation that gives skin a deep cleanse, detox and instant glow which is perfect for ageing skin.
Sonophoresis Skincare Infusion
This treatment uses soundwaves to infuse antioxidants and vitamins deep within the skin. This results in reduced redness, and smoother skin tone as well as stimulating collagen and deeply hydrating.
Laser Facial
The newest of Caci’s skin treatments, the Laser Facial is perfect for ageing skin. It will stimulate your cell turnover and natural healing function for added glow, and there is no downtime!
60s and beyond
Now that you’ve got your skincare and skin treatments in check, it’s time to juggle all your priorities of decades past. However, there is one thing we suggest adding to your list once you join the 60s club and that is an annual visit to a board-certified dermatologist. This is a great way to detect any forms of skin cancers early, which have a high rate of cure.
Ready to get your skin sorted?
If you’re wanting some expert advice about what skincare products are right for you, and when you should be incorporating them, book a free consultation at your local Caci Clinic!
