How to Care for Your Aging Skin

Do you know your skin type?  As we enter middle age, we need to develop a skincare routine by choosing products that help protect our skin from more damage while improving our skin’s current condition. The hormonal changes in middle-aged women cause a decline in collagen, elastin and other skin components. Cells renew slower, other mechanisms slow down the production of collagen and the skin eventually loses its firmness.  Knowing your skin type will help you to choose the correct products.

Knowing your skin type is important

OILY SKIN

Oily skin occurs when sebaceous glands produce excessive amounts of sebum. This skin type usually has enlarged pores and frequent breakouts. It’s a common belief that oily skin ages best because it’s the least prone to wrinkles. This is true in a way since oily skin is less prone to dehydration because of the larger amount of oil it produces. However, the large pores mean that the skin will not be as smooth as other skin types. Oily skin types also tends to form deep wrinkles as the skin is usually thicker than normal.

DRY SKIN

On the other hand, the dry skin types are less likely to show fine lines because the skin is rather thin and loses moisture easily. It has smaller pores which results in smoother looking skin. Because the sebaceous glands in this skin type are less active, the skin tends to flake easily with changes in the temperature and environment.

NORMAL SKIN

Normal skin is in between oily and dry. It’s not too dry and not too thick. The pores are small enough to look smooth with some t-zone oil production.

SENSITIVE SKIN

This skin type can be easily irritated.  It reacts to harsh chemicals and may have clogged pores. This can be a difficult skin type to deal with in middle-aged women. It can be dry and itchy and takes some extra caution in caring for this skin type.

Tips on caring for your skin type:

After the age of 40 or so it is even more necessary to follow a good skincare routine. This routine should be done morning and evening.  Some tips include the following:

1. To take care of dull skin exfoliation is required. However, it is important not to exfoliate too much. Start with mild exfoliants a few times a week.  These can be chemical or physical in nature.
2. Skin dryness is common in middle-aged women.  Therefore, ensure proper hydration by drinking a lot of water.
3. Sunscreen is an absolute necessity. Use products with SPF 30 or higher and with both UVB and UVA protection every day. UVA and UVB rays from the sun actually age skin cells, causing the loss of collagen, which, in turn, contributes to the development of fine lines and wrinkles. If you have sensitive skin, avoid chemical-based sunscreens. Always go for a natural sunscreen with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as its active ingredients.
4. Wash skin twice a day with a good cleanser followed by a toner.
5. Introduce a moisturizer with antioxidants. Antioxidants keep the collagen in your skin from breaking down. The best time to put a moisturizer on is right after bathing or showering. Try creams rich in retinol, vitamins C and E. Oily skin requires a moisturizer that is lightweight and oil-free.
6. Anti-aging lotions can also be used to help enhance natural beauty and rejuvenate skin.

Some of My Recommended Skincare Products

As a beauty blogger I get to try so many different skincare products.  I also buy a lot of products on my own.  Here are a few of my favorites (some affiliate links used):

For the past few months I’ve been using some products from Rodial.  One that I’m already hooked on is the Dragon’s Blood Sculpting Gel.  I like to apply it to my neck and face in the morning for extra hydration.  It has a soothing feeling and works perfectly under my makeup.

ELTA MD makes some of my favorite sunscreens.  They make several that are true physical sunscreens that contain high amounts of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide and have no chemical sunscreen ingredients in them.  In addition, they have anti-aging ingredients to help make the skin.  One of my favorites is the UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41.

I love the Osmosis Skincare mask called Polish.  It’s an antioxidant and enzyme mask that I use weekly to gently smooth and exfoliate the skin.  I purchase mine from my aesthetician Naz.  You can purchase products directly from her website HERE.  I also love several products from Osmosis including the Refresh PM eye serum and several of their cleansers.

As my hormones continue to change I’m sometimes blessed with an occasional acne breakout.  I thought those were supposed to go away, but they still pop up every so often.  What I use to get rid of them fast is a product from Kiehl’s called the Breakout Control Spot Treatment.  This stuff is the  bomb!  It usually dries up a spot overnight with its sulfur and vitamin B3.  This is great to keep in your stash.

Do you have any product recommendations, tips or tricks to help out those of us who are trying to keep our youthful glow?