Yes, you can have healthy, radiant skin at every age. And no! This does not mean we subscribe to unrealistic beauty ideals.
Before we begin, let’s get one thing out of the way: tips to ‘turn back the clock’ or ‘erase years from your face’, or any of the other marketing jib-jab you may have seen, promote harmful beauty ideals. Not only do these messages uphold sexist expectations of eternal youth, they also (ridiculously) treat ageing as something that can or should be cured.
Oprah Winfrey once said, “I’m grateful for every age I’m blessed to become.” Perhaps it’s time we all release our sometimes-distorted ideas about ageing and instead cultivate gratitude for the years we’ve lived. And while we are anti ‘anti-ageing’ advice, this does not prevent us from lovingly caring for our skin with this pro-ageing paradigm shift in mind.
At a cellular level, your skin changes over time and craves different care depending on your age. Our needs change during each decade we are gifted. Let’s look at the ways to keep skin healthy and radiant throughout the years, honouring beauty through the ages.
TEENS
Navigating skincare during these years of hormonal fluctuations can be confusing and frustrating. Oil production tends to increase thanks to hyperactive sebaceous glands, which can cause breakouts. Other lifestyle factors like playing sports can often cause sweat-acne around the hairline.
Choose a simple face wash that will thoroughly cleanse skin without over-stripping the barrier. We want to avoid that ‘squeaky-clean’ feeling. If acne is a concern, salicylic acid, an oil-loving beta hydroxy acid (BHA), is a great ingredient to look for in a facial cleanser. Follow this with a plant hydrosol like lavender or tea tree to deliver water moisture to skin. Hydrosol mists also provide skin-soothing, antimicrobial benefits – simply spritz a few pumps after sports or other sweaty activities when skin needs a refresh. Finish up with a lightweight serum that is aloe vera-based, which will deliver antioxidant protection and keep skin moisturised without being too occlusive or heavy.
It’s also worth noting that being sun smart from an early age can be a precursor for many years of vibrant, healthy skin. Prevention is simpler than correction!
TWENTIES
These formidable years can often be focused more on outward expression and validation rather than inward inspiration and adoration. Focus on building skincare rituals around sensory experiences and learn to slow down and savour self care.
Be vigilant about sunscreen application and remember to give the neck and chest the same TLC as the face. Find a gentle cleanser that you enjoy using and is suited for your skin type. Commit to removing makeup and deep cleansing skin in the evening before bed (especially after those glammed-up nights out!). Follow with an antioxidant like a vitamin C serum, and steer clear of harsh exfoliants that can compromise your skin barrier, leading to imbalances down the road.
Be kind to yourself and your skin – avoid picking at acne, especially the hormonal variety if it does arise, as this can lead to post-inflammatory pigmentation. Load your plate with as many colourful, antioxidant-rich foods as possible, learning about foods that support skin health, such as avocado, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, and fruits rich in vitamin C.
THIRTIES
This is the age when we can start to notice some loss of skin elasticity. You may like to invest in a tool or learn a technique to help minimise this. Examples you can add into your skincare ritual at home include gua sha stone sculpting, an at-home microcurrent device, or simply massaging skin each evening with light, upward effleurage strokes.
You can also add in a nourishing eye cream. Since the skin around your eyes does not contain oil glands or collagen fibres, it’s nice to treat this hard-working and expressive area to a little something extra. Peptides and caffeine are two popular ingredients for delicate skin around the eyes.
If you’d like to include treatments to your skincare, facial acupuncture is deeply relaxing and also has collagen-building benefits. And you can’t underestimate the glow-boosting benefits of a restorative yoga session or sound bath, which are both wonderful self-care experiences to explore.
FORTIES
Because so many people depend on you during this phase of life, it’s all the more reason to prioritise lavishing yourself with beautiful plant oils, enjoying a monthly massage, and taking weekly magnesium-rich Epsom salt baths.
It’s never too late to begin wearing daily SPF, so take the time to find one you enjoy wearing. Plant-derived hyaluronic acid is a wonderful ingredient to incorporate into your daily skincare ritual, alongside vitamin C and your favourite plant-based facial oil. If you’re interested in radiance-boosting clinical treatments, microdermabrasion is an effective, low-risk facial treatment that buffs away accumulated dead skin cells to brighten skin tone and even out texture. Perhaps a little less glamorous, an equally important form of self-care is remembering to schedule yearly those all-important head-to-toe skin checks with a dermatologist.
FIFTIES
There’s never been a better time to reach for retinol than in this fabulous decade. This derivative of vitamin A works to renew skin at the cellular level and also boasts brightening benefits. Retinol is notorious for causing sensitivity, but that typically only happens when it’s being used too frequently or at the wrong strength. A gentle dose of vitamin A can be an excellent skincare ally.
As hormone levels shift once again, you may notice your skin feels more reactive. If skin irritation or eczema are a concern, you might consider switching your laundry detergent and skincare line-up to fragrance-free alternatives. Be aware that even natural fragrances and essential oils can sometimes cause irritation.
Treat yourself to a lymphatic drainage facial or full body lymphatic massage that uses soothing strokes to manually increase circulation, which supports a radiant glow.
SIXTIES AND BEYOND
Cell turnover slows significantly in the sixties and beyond, which simply means your skin needs a little extra help in sweeping away dead cells. This is a time to enjoy regular exfoliation and quenching skin with moisture.
If skin texture becomes rough or uneven, you can incorporate a gentle granular facial scrub or a mild chemical exfoliant, such as enzymes or alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). Because skin tends to be much thinner at this age, if you do choose to use a facial scrub, buff it onto damp skin in gentle circles using only your fingertips.
If skin feels dry (lacking oil) or dehydrated (lacking water), this can be remedied with humectants, which draw moisture from the air directly into your skin. Plant-based humectants include aloe vera, plant-derived glycerine, sugar-cane-derived sorbitol, and botanical hyaluronic acid (often made from fermented sugar molecules). You’ll also want to seal in all of that nourishing hydration with ingredients that are occlusive, which means they seal in the moisture and prevent trans-epidermal water loss. Examples of occlusive ingredients include cocoa butter, avocado seed oil, allantoin, olive oil, and shea butter.
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No matter your age, caring for your skin is a profound opportunity to pause, breathe deeply, and consciously check in with yourself – mind and body. It’s time we ditch adherence to unrealistic, ageist beauty standards and instead embrace caring for our beautiful, dynamic, wonderfully expressive faces as a supreme act of self-love, acceptance, and gratitude for a life lived.
