The best skincare through the decades: Your teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond
As soon as we are born we start to age. That is a fact of life. However, it is not until we hit our 20s that the effects of ageing start to show on our skin. The ageing process does not discriminate, it affects everyone but there are things you can do to slow down the process and the visible signs of ageing on your face. A great place to start your journey towards beautiful skin whatever your age is to educate yourself on the difference between intrinsic ageing and extrinsic ageing:
Intrinsic ageing is the natural skin ageing process whereby the collagen of production slows, resulting in a loss of skin firmness and slower turnover of dead skin cells.
Extrinsic ageing is caused by environmental factors like the sun and lifestyle stressors (i.e. smoking, sleeping position and repetitive facial expressions) that speed up the ageing process.
Source: Platinum Dermatology
Exposure to extrinsic ageing factors are within your control, and to a certain point, so are the factors that contribute to the intrinsic ageing process.
It is never too late to introduce a comprehensive skincare plan into your daily routine to help slow down the effects of ageing. Add a skin-nourishing healthy diet, regular exercise, eight hours of sleep a night, a great social life (yes, really), and a stress free, sun-avoiding and smoke free lifestyle to the mix, and you’re well on your way to glowing skin no matter your age.
Skincare in your 20s
Once you’ve hit adulthood you’ll notice your skin becoming drier. Your skin cells are regenerating and repairing slower than before. During the latter part of this decade, the natural biological ageing process kicks in and the skin’s collagen and estatin fibres begin to degrade.
What you can do for your skin in your 20s
Prevention is the name of the game in your 20s. Start a home skin care routine you can stick to, as well as take regular trips to a skincare specialist for facials. Your routine doesn’t have to be comprehensive in your 20s, just focus on mastering the basics like thorough (aka double) cleansing, morning and evening moisturising and applying SPF protection throughout the day. Avoid sun exposure like the plague and drink plenty of water (a minimum of two litres a day) to stay hydrated particularly if you are drinking alcohol regularly.
If you are in your late 20s and want to add an active to your nighttime skincare routine, try a retinol. Retinol is a super pure Vitamin A derivative which speeds up cell turnover and stimulates collagen production leading to a smoother skin texture, less acne, faded brown spots, a brighter complexion and less visible lines and pores.
A treatment like our Hydrating and Refining Lactic Peel is great for anyone in their 20s. This high-powered peel delivers fast results and works to resurface and improve the skin’s moisture levels while restoring clarity and luminosity. Perfect for reducing the early signs of ageing including fine lines, wrinkles and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, this treatment helps to hydrate and refine the skin leaving it feeling soft and smooth.
Skincare in your 30s
The subtle changes you have seen in your 20s may become a little more obvious as you head into your 30s. Your skin’s natural rate of exfoliation starts to slow as a result of reduced collagen production and elastin fibres. Your skin starts to lose water and its natural protective barrier weakens. Did your face see a little too much sun in your 20s? This will become more obvious with the signs of dark sunspots and damaged pores starting to show. The skin under your eyes slowly starts to thin, leaving fine lines and puffy dark circles.
What you can do for your skin in your 30s
Double cleansing, regular moisturising and SPF protection continue to be a must in your 30s (and beyond), but now it’s time to get serious with your skincare. Targeted serums to repair and nourish your skin will soon become your best friend:
Vitamin C for protection from daily environmental aggressors.
Hyaluronic Acid for hydration and restoring and protecting the skin from environmental stressors
Retinol for fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and acne.
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) for fighting free radical damage, brightening dark spots, and managing acne.
Provitamin B5 (Panthenol) for providing excellent moisture to the skin.
Mandelic Acid for increasing cell turnover, as well as anti-acne and anti-ageing.
Salicylic Acid for treating acne and exfoliation.
Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) for exfoliating and brightening.
Lactic Acid is a gentler AHA, removing dirt and dead skin cells.
Beta-Hydroxy Acid (BHA) for clearing acne and blackheads.
Along with monthly facials with a specialised skin expert, now is a good time to add advanced technology treatments to your routine:
Omnilux light therapy is a non-invasive cutting-edge technology that works with the body’s own natural processes to counteract the effects of ageing. It stimulates collagen production along with plumping and hydrating. You should experience a feeling of relaxation and wellbeing during and after the treatment, with no downtime.
Dermapen 4 - Collagen Induction Therapy is a non-invasive skin needling treatment that restores and rejuvenates the skin by reducing wrinkles and fine lines, tightening and improving elasticity, shrinking enlarged pores, minimising scarring, and repairing pigmentation, sun damaged and ageing skin.
Get your skincare regime right in your 30s and you’ll reap the rewards later.
Skincare in your 40s
By the time you’re in your 40s, the signs of ageing will be more obvious. Due to hormone-induced changes, perimenopausal women notice a loss of collagen and elastin (creating a drawn look), dryness, increased sensitivity and overall skin thinning. As the skin’s protective barrier weakens, the skin becomes drier and more susceptible to environmental aggressors. Existing lines become deeper wrinkles.
What you can do for your skin in your 40s
Embrace make-up free days. Foundation and powders can settle into fine lines making you look older.
Daily use of rich moisturisers and serums packed with nutrients, i.e. retinoids, collagen-stimulating peptides and AHAs to repair, nourish and protect your skin, is essential. Encourage cell turnover by increasing exfoliation and adding more antioxidants to your diet like organic plant-based cooking oils, blueberries, nuts and fish.
Our A-List Facial is focused purely on the anti-aging benefits of Retinol, our powerhouse Azyme peel delivers a fast-acting, non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatment that has been carefully formulated to target the effects of aging, UV damage as well as improving the appearance of fine lines, skin tone, and texture. This treatment incorporates fine microdermabrasion, Azyme peel, and vitamin infusion.
Skincare in your 50s
Now you’re in your 50s, menopause may be increasing the signs of ageing on your skin. Estrogen levels and other hormonal changes will be causing changes in your skin, including dryness, the skin’s ability to retain water and a lack of firmness due to collagen loss. If you’ve seen a lot of sun in your life this will be more obvious on your face with dark spots appearing and a rough skin texture.
What you can do for your skin in your 50s
If you have maintained a good routine in your 30s and 40s you may not need to overhaul your skincare plan. Keep up with the moisturiser, applying extra layers and a hydrating mask into your evening regime, and serums like Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid will continue to play a big part. A Vitamin Infusion Facial features the powerful Sonophoresis technology to boost the penetration of potent actives deeper into the skin via a low-frequency ultrasound.
Skincare in your 60s+
When you reach post-menopause, the most obvious change in your skin is thinning. This means your skin will be more vulnerable to wounds, dryness, and fine lines. You’ll see gravity working its magic a lot more. ‘It is estimated that a woman will lose up to 30 percent of facial collagen during the five years after menopause, while hormone in-duced facial bone loss can be up to 30 per cent, lending a very dull and shrunken look’ (source: Kate O’Brien, GLOW, page 16).
What you can do for your skin in your 60s and beyond
Now is the time to focus on increasing the skin’s elasticity. Apply brightening and firming serums, as well as hyaluronic acid to boost hydration. Monthly facials focusing on hydrating are also beneficial. Eat an antioxidant-rich diet to boost skin health, and take time for yourself. Regular exercise does wonders for your mental and physical health (including your skin health!)
‘The Works’ is a 100 minute treatment of ours that uses all we’ve got to improve your skin. Microdermabrasion, peel, Omnilux, mask, decollete massage and vitamin infusion. This is an advanced treatment incorporating four advanced exfoliating, anti-aging and regenerating technologies to help increase cell turnover. This helps to rejuvenate the skin, reduce inflammation, stimulate collagen production, hydrate, clean, lift and firm your skin. This facial treatment is a combined one-hour treatment including a full skin consultation with one of our skin therapists.
It’s never too late to follow our eight steps to glowing skin, no matter your age:
Follow a comprehensive skincare plan for your age
Enjoy a skin-nourishing healthy diet that is low in alcohol and high in water
Take regular exercise to increase blood flow to your skin
Get eight hours of sleep a night - no excuses!
Build yourself a great social life because socialisation and maintaining good, healthy relationships keeps us young
Aim for a stress free lifestyle, as stress and skin are not friends!
Go smoke free
Avoid the sun at all costs!
If you want to chat to us about your skincare routine, drop us a line at relax@equipoisespa.co.nz or call us on 09-378 9696.