6 Skincare Musts for Women 50+ (AND 5 Game Changing Skincare Products!) – Video
There’s no question that for our makeup to look its best, our skin has to look its best. We all know the four essential care practices for great skin, something I call “the familiar four” – cleansing, exfoliating, hydrating or moisturizing, and protecting. But can we make them more effective? Absolutely!
We can also add two more practices that can make a huge difference for our skin. Finally, I’ll conclude with a rundown of five skincare products that you may not be as familiar with that can dramatically improve our mature skin.
Check with your dermatologist regarding any skincare routine or products you plan to try.
Products Mentioned
- Clarisonic Mia Smart Cleansing Brush
- The Age Fix by Dr. Anthony Youn
- Exfoliating Polish or Paste, for example, Tatcha The Deep Polish Rice Enzyme Powder
- Gold Botanical Tinted Face Sunscreen – SPF 50
- Timeless 20% C+E+Ferulic Acid Serum
- Timeless Coenzyme Q10 Serum
- Timeless Matrixyl Synthe 6 Serum
- Timeless Hyaluronic Acid
- The Ordinary Niacinamide
Why Cleansing Is So Important – And How to Do It Even Better
It’s absolutely essential to do a good job cleansing your skin or none of the wonderful skincare products in the world are going to effectively penetrate the skin and do their best work – which really defeats the purpose of using them.
And let’s face it; skincare products are expensive, so we want to get the greatest possible benefit from them.
Cleansing, of course, removes makeup, debris, and dead skin cells – but it may be surprising to know that the way we usually cleanse our skin may not be as effective as we might think.
Recently, after having worn makeup all day, I washed my face by lathering generously using my favorite cleanser, thoroughly rinsed with water, and used a washcloth. Then I took a cotton pad with micellar water on it and rubbed it over my face. I was quite shocked by how much came off on that cotton pad!
If you’ve noticed the same thing when cleansing your face, you may want to consider checking out a product that can get your skin six times cleaner compared to doing it manually: a sonic cleansing brush.
There are a number of different sonic cleansing brushes on the market at varying price points, and many of them come with different brushes to suit particular skin types.
Whether you do or don’t use a sonic cleansing brush, it’s critical to always thoroughly cleanse your skin at night because this is when your skin regenerates and repairs itself.
Be sure to check out Elise’s new YouTube channel which specifically focuses on makeup tips, techniques, and product reviews for those of us 50+. And don’t forget to subscribe!
Why Exfoliating Our Skin Regularly Can Make a Big Difference
The most common cause of dull complexions is a decreased rate of cell turnover. When we’re younger, our rate of skin cell turnover is every 6–8 weeks. As we get older, this rate changes to every 10–14 weeks.
Exfoliation helps the skin look its freshest by refining the surface and restoring its natural radiance. Removing dead skin cells creates a smoother, brighter complexion.
Exfoliation also allows better penetration of treatment products and moisturizers, stimulates the production of new collagen fibers and reverses the thinning of the collagen.
It’s best to exfoliate a minimum of twice a week. I recently got lazy and went a number of weeks without exfoliating my skin. When I decided to get back into my exfoliating routine, I was shocked. When I looked in the mirror after exfoliating my skin, it honestly looked a couple shades lighter!
Why Hydrating and Moisturizing Are So Vital
Our body loses 5–7 pints of fluid a day, and that fluid needs to be replaced. Hydrated skin looks plumper and more youthful. So be sure to drink water!
Moisturizers deliver water to the skin, temporarily plump up fine lines, smooth and soften the appearance of our skin, and lock in the water that is already there. And be sure to use an oil-free moisturizer if you have normal or oily skin; use a more enriched formula if you have dry skin.
Protecting Our Skin Is a Must!
Nothing will help you avoid sun damage and wrinkles more than using a daily sunblock or sunscreen. If you are using a chemical sunscreen, apply it 30 minutes before going outside. If you’ll be spending considerable time outside, use a sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30. And don’t forget the lip balm.
Additional Dermatologist Approved Care
Dermatologists and plastic surgeons agree that the product that helps us the most with fine lines is a retinol product (Vitamin A derivative). You can buy prescription strength products from your dermatologist, but there are many over-the-counter drugstore brands as well.
However, drugstore brands aren’t required to list the percentage of retinol that is in the product, so there’s no way of knowing how much retinol the product actually contains.
If you use any of these products, start by applying just a small amount first to see how well your skin tolerates it. Too much of the product can cause redness and skin flaking.
IMPORTANT: Vitamin A (any retinol product, really) increases your sensitivity to the sun, so it’s extremely important to wear sunscreen when you’re using it or you can damage your skin.
The Most Important Thing We Can Do for Our Skin
By far the most important thing we can do for our skin is to eat a healthy diet with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and unprocessed foods.
And there’s one food we consume that pretty much equals wrinkles. Any guesses as to what it is? If you said sugar, you’re right.
But the good news is that red wine (in moderation) and at least 70% cacao dark chocolate have been shown to be good for us.
5 Very Helpful Skincare Products
CE Ferulic Acid Serum
This serum is composed of Vitamins C and E plus Ferulic Acid. In addition to antioxidant protective benefits, C E Ferulic Acid serum improves signs of aging and photo damage to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles while firming and brightening our complexions.
Timeless 20% C+E+Ferulic Acid Serum
Coenzyme Q10 Serum
As we get older, we lose CoQ10 in the skin which reduces the skin’s ability to produce collagen and elastin. Collagen is important because it makes your skin firm, while elastin gives your skin flexibility. The loss of collagen and elastin results in increased sagging and wrinkling.
By using topical CoQ10, it’s possible to help fight the signs of aging. It penetrates deeply into the skin to provide antioxidants and to help create collagen and elastin.
Matrixyl Synthe 6 Serum
This powerful wrinkle-reducing peptide boosts the synthesis of six skin-rebuilding essentials, including collagen and elastin. Most interestingly, as it begins to smooth the appearance of wrinkles, Matrixyl Synthe 6 also signals the skin to produce more of thecells that keep it looking healthy.
Timeless Matrixyl Synthe 6 Serum
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid binds to water to help retain moisture. However, the natural aging process and exposure to things like ultraviolet radiation from the sun, tobacco smoke, and pollution can decrease the amount of hyaluronic acid in the skin.
When applied to the surface of the skin, hyaluronic acid serums can reduce wrinkles, redness, and dermatitis.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin that works with the natural substances in the skin to help visibly improve enlarged pores, uneven skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles, and dullness.
It also reduces the impact of environmental damage because of its ability to improve the skin’s barrier and helps the skin to repair signs of past damage.
How has your skincare routine changed over the years? What types of products do you find most effective for your skin now? Are there any new products you’re thinking of trying? Please share with our community!
