There are so many resources about skincare for aging women, yet the more I research, the more confused I become. The purpose of this post is to provide you with a skincare cheat sheet that helps summarize the most important things you can do for your skin.
Some general principles and guidelines to follow:
Drinking water and staying hydrated is critical for healthy skin. When I am not drinking enough water, I can notice it immediately on my skin.
Daily cleansing is critical. If you only clean once daily, ensure it’s at night. Many skin enthusiasts promote cleaning twice (consecutively). The first wash is to remove makeup and environmental toxins that are sitting on your skin. The second is actually to clean the skin. I am a total convert to this method and only wash (twice) at night.
Always wear sunscreen. Sun exposure is the single most significant contributor to aging skin, including fine lines, wrinkles, and dark (age) spots. In the winter, I use a BB or CC cream that contains 30 SPF. In the summer, I use Skinceuticals or EltaMD sunscreen over my moisturizer.
Exfoliating your skin with an acid or a physical scrub is essential. Our cell turnover slows down as we age, so sloughing off old, dead, dry skin is necessary. It helps make your skin look healthy and fresh. It also makes your products more effective as they are applied to new skin.
Don’t forget about your neck, lips, and eyelids, as they’re equally essential parts of your face that can show aging quickly if not cared for.
Get regular facials to ensure your skin is properly exfoliated, extracted and moisturized. Treat yourself now for better skin later.
Vitamin C is the most effective anti-oxidant for brightening and evening out skin tone and reducing dark aging and sunspots. I use it every single day without fail. If you have a healthy skincare budget, the best is Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Acid. An equally effective product at a reduced price is Timeless Skincare Vitamin C.
Topical Vitamin A (called Retinoids or Retinol), or Bakuchiol (if you’re looking for a natural alternative), is the most effective product for reducing fine lines and wrinkles by increasing the procollagen production. Retinol and Bakuchiol stimulate the production of new blood vessels in the skin, which helps with skin colour. You have the option to get a prescription from your doctor. Often, prescriptions have a higher concentration of Tretinoin than over-the-counter, more expensive Vitamin A creams.
Change your skin routine regularly. Like a workout regime, your body gets used to skin products anda “shake-up” to perform its best. Even if you only have two regimes (spring/summer and fall/winter), that’s better than sticking with the same products year-round.
Consider adding facial tools to your regime. This can be as simple as a Clarisonic or Foreo for cleansing. If you’re more daring, try an at-home micro-needling tool or red light mask
Masks are a great addition to any skincare regime. I have two that I use regularly. One is the Revisions Skincare black mask, which helps remove imperfections and even skin tone. I also rotate a few hydrating masks that contain hyaluronic acid and collagen.
And for the love of god, ladies, SHAVE YOUR FACE.