Skin Care by Age: What Your Skin Needs Each Decade

You’ve no doubt heard the expression dress your age. As a skin coach, I urge you to manage your skin care by age. Starting in your 20s, there are specific ingredients, steps, and products that are recommended for each decade. Regardless of your age, there are five rules I live by for healthy, glowing skin:

• Be sun safe (rain or shine)
• Exfoliate/resurface
• Drink water
• Eat well
• Practice pro-active stress relief

In your 20s, things begin to slow… yes, already. New skin cell production goes from a complete cell turnover every five-seven days to every 21 days. Fine lines begin to develop around the eyes and mouth. Photo-damage starts showing in the form of freckles and spots.

Tips for the 20s:

1. Mild resurfacing needs to start. I recommend using a natural resurfacing agent nightly, such as glycolic acid, to gently dissolve dead surface skin cells to be replaced with new, plump ones.
2. Begin to introduce antioxidants for extra protection. Examples of antioxidant-rich foods include fruits and vegetables that are high in nutrients such as vitamins A, C, and E, beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, and selenium.

The skin care routine established in your 20s is your staple. You’ll want to continue that routine and add to it in your 30s, which is the decade when stress becomes a factor on the skin. People are planning weddings, having babies, establishing themselves into careers, etc., all of which take a toll on the skin.

The cell turnover cycle has slowed to 28 days and pre-menopausal build-up starts to show on the skin. When pre-menopausal hormones are combined with stress, it shows with adult-onset acne, hormone-induced pigmentation, darkening of the skin above the lips, and fine lines becoming fuller.

Tips for the 30s:

1. Practice pro-active stress reduction techniques such as yoga, Pilates, and meditation.
2. Anti-inflammatory products (DHAs) should be added to regimen. These include mango, shea butter, and salicylic acid.
3. Consider an actual treatment program for hyperpigmentation that combines daily resurfacing with professional treatments.

Welcome to the decade of defense! In the 40s, cells turn over every 45 days, so nourishing and protecting the skin is critical. The skin is drier and does not produce as many elastins.

Tips for the 40s:

1. Skin Growth Factors, vitamin C, and peptides should be added to boost collagen and elastin.
2. Get your D. Seven out of every 10 women are vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D is a happy hormone, when D hormone levels are balanced, a lot of skin conditions will improve such as rosacea, eczema, psoriasis and heavy wrinkling. Fatty fish, liver, mushrooms and egg yolks are great sources of D.

When you hit the 50s, you are taking the skin care lessons you’ve been doing since you were 20 and adding to them. It now takes two months for cells to turn over. The skin is definitely not as lifted or tight.

Tips for the 50s:

1. Non-invasive procedures may be considered including fillers that use natural substances to replenish what nature is no longer producing.
2. Skin will be very dry. Hydration is key through moisturizers, lots of water and healthy food.

Your Wellness Tip To-Go:

Keep your skin looking youthful and beautiful in each decade by visiting your favorite spa for a professional facial. Check out locations near you on spafinder.com