Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and just like the rest of your body, it changes over time. From hormonal changes in teenage years to reduced collagen production later in life, each stage brings its own unique skincare challenges. With these changes, it’s not only important that we protect our skin but nourish it as well. So, how do we maintain our skin in the meantime? Follow this guide with skincare tips from medical experts to help you understand the evolution of your skin and how to maintain it.
20s: SPF as Prevention and Early Care
As we age, the biggest mistake people make is not taking preventative skin care seriously. Starting preventative skin care can make a difference in maintaining your skin’s health and appearance later in life. According to the U.S. Dermatology Partners, our skin can suffer from adult acne, early sun damage, and early collagen loss in our twenties. With a shift in hormones, acne can resurface, brown “sun” spots can arise, and collagen production begins to slow down. To combat these challenges, adopting a skincare routine in your twenties is vital. The perfect routine for your twenties consists of a gentle cleanser, exfoliation, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Sunscreen is non-negotiable as it may have the biggest impact on the health of your skin in future decades. You should be applying broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher “daily and re-applied throughout the day, particularly when outdoors.” Not only does sunscreen decrease your risk of developing melanoma, but it also reduces the risk of developing wrinkles and sunspots on the skin.
30s: Vitamin C for Fine Lines
In your 30s, you may experience your first visible signs of aging, including wrinkles, dullness, dryness, and fine lines. During this time, “Collagen production begins to slow down, which can lead to a subtle loss of volume and firmness in the cheeks and jawline.” Oftentimes, a decrease in collagen can leave your skin dry and dull, as collagen boosts elasticity in the skin. It is important to integrate active ingredients in your routine, to boost hydration in the skin and maintain your youthful glow. Look for products that contain Vitamin C. As an antioxidant, vitamin C helps “prevent and treat fine lines and pigmentation caused by UV rays and other environmental stressors that produce damaging free radicals in the skin.” When using vitamin C or other active ingredients, it is crucial to apply an SPF on top as active ingredients can make your skin more sensitive to sun damage.
40s: Retinol To Reverse Damage
In your 40s, it becomes apparent who has been taking their preventative skin care seriously. Many of us begin to experience skin laxity, decreased facial volume, and sun damage. Retinoids are key to reversing this damage. In fact, “retinol can improve skin elasticity and reduce fine lines by up to 30% after 12 weeks of consistent use.” Not only can retinol reduce physical signs of aging, but it can be helpful for precancerous skin damage as well as “prescription retinoids have even been shown effective in reversing precancerous skin damage.” Talk about a bang for your buck!
50s and Beyond: Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate.
In your 50s, many people experience skin thinning and sagging and dryness. As we age, gravity continues to work against us, pulling our skin farther down our body. This can become apparent in our jaw, neck, eyes, and mouth. With less frequent cell turnover and decreased oil production, our skin can become dry. Hydration is key to making our skin more supple. Look for rich cream or oil-based moisturizers and “Consider adding a hyaluronic acid serum to further moisturize and plump the skin.”
The Key To Timeless Beauty
No matter what step you are at in your skincare journey, understanding how your skin changes is essential to creating a routine that works for you. If you are starting early with preventative care or starting later in life, your skin will thank you. As your skin matures, the importance of taking care of it only increases. Whether that is including SPF, using vitamin C, or using retinol, the right products and habits can make all the difference. But, like everything in life, skincare is not one size fits all. Many of us will have to work with our skin and try new products to find what is best for us. It is never too late to begin caring for your skin.
Visit the U.S. Dermatology Partners and Beauty Style Magazine for more information on how to maintain glowing skin throughout your life.
KYRA JACKSON 
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