The Anti-Aging Essentials You Should Include in Your 20's, 30's, 40's 50's and Beyond
BY LEAN BODY OPTIMAL
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Whether you’re in your mid-20's or entering your 50’s, we can all agree it’s natural to want to preserve your youth and do what you can to look your best.
While you can’t stop the aging process there are things you can do to slow down and influence the appearance of aging. Most importantly, you should start now. From your daily routines to the foods you eat, keeping your body in its best condition is one of the healthiest habits you can do for yourself.
Keep reading to learn anti-aging essentials you should include in your 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and beyond.
In Your 20’s
In your 20’s your skin is supple and is probably at its healthiest with great collagen support. This is the most important decade and the way you care for it will help determine what it will look like for the rest of your life.
Tips to Start in Your 20’s
Cleanser: Wash your face before going to bed and use a mild cleanser—either a gel, if your skin is oily, or a milky one, if it's dry.
Night time treatment: Use a hydrating fluid or an oil-free moisturizer. Before bed, apply a pea-size amount all over your face and right up under your eyes.
Don't smoke: Smoking not only damages your lungs, but it also damages your looks. The habit takes a major toll on your appearance, contributing to premature skin aging, wrinkles and stained teeth.
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In Your 30's
Anti-aging skin care in your 30’s has a different focus then it did when in your 20’s because of changes to your body internally and externally.
Even if you've taken good care of your skin, you may start noticing fine lines and wrinkles. Skin becomes thinner and finer, there's some loss of collagen, and cell turnover has begun to slow down, making your complexion look a little dull.
Pampering your skin during your 30’s is necessary to fight aging signs such as wrinkles, fine lines, pigmentation and dullness and to look as young as you can, for as long as you can.
Tips to Start in Your 30’s
You may have needed harsh acne products to keep your blemishes under control in your 20’s, but you have to be very careful not to use the same products in your 30’s as your skin can react to them differently, damaging it and ultimately making it look older. Instead, use gentler alternatives that can help retain the skin’s oils and make your skin have a natural and healthy glow.
Here are some tips to maintain a dewy glow even after your 30’s.
Use Sunscreen and Stay Less Exposed to the Sun: Constant UV exposure builds up over time which can cause premature aging, hyper-pigmentation and enlarged pores. UV exposure destroys collagen and elastic fibers causing saggy wrinkled skin, spots, dilated blood vessels, fine lines and crosshatched wrinkles. Exposure produces damaging free radicals that promote aging and skin cancer.
Wearing sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 at all times is the key to save your skin from losing its youthfulness.
Cleanser: Use a cleanser with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to encourage exfoliation. You'll see an immediate improvement if you exfoliate. It helps to remove the dull, damaged surface layer, reducing some pigment abnormalities, increasing collagen production, smoothing fine lines and restoring youthful glow.
Moisturizing your skin works wonders. Dry, dehydrated skin can accentuate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Keeping your skin moisturized can essentially prevent it from aging. If your skin is susceptible to being dry, then try putting on your moisturizer immediately after your shower to lock in the moisture.
In addition to SPF 15 or 20 with UVA/UVB protection, your moisturizer should contain antioxidants, like green or white tea, pomegranate, or vitamin C, which will protect your skin from damaging free radicals. Also consider to start wearing an eye cream daily.
Internal hydration: In addition to taking in the appropriate amount of 8 glasses of water each day, you should also consider taking daily supplements that may promote healthy and hydrated cells. Collagen and Vitamin E specifically help the skin look healthy and rejuvenated. Almonds and walnuts can be beneficial since they contain omega 3.
Take your sleep seriously: Good sleep is fundamental since it allows the skin to reboot and replenish. It is during sleep that your body produces human growth hormone, which helps skin stay supple and elastic. Sleep deprivation puts your body into stress mode causing it to release cortisol and other stress hormones, which can damage collagen and elastin and reduce your skin’s ability to repair itself. Not getting enough sleep in your 30s will lead to puffy bags under your eyes, dryness and more visible wrinkles. 8 hours of sleep can help in making your skin look less aged.
In Your 40's
If you’re not already incorporating an anti-aging regime, now’s the time.
Tips to Start in Your 40’s
Although we all know that skin changes as we age, it’s not always an easy thing to accept. In your 40’s, the natural life cycle of skin begins to slow down. You're also losing more collagen and elasticity and your skin retains less moisture. Because it doesn't reflect light evenly, your complexion is losing some of its glow. Those great sun vacations you took in your teens are now showing up on your face and you're beginning to see cumulative sun damage in the form of blotchiness and red spots.
Key things to remember are to never skip sun protection, avoid processed foods, drinking plenty of water and eating healthy fats to keep your skin hydrated. Think products that are brimming with peptides, antioxidants, vitamins, AHA’s and hyaluronic acid.
Cleanser: You don’t want to strip your skin of its natural oils, as they help to keep your complexion soft and plump. Use a gentle, creamy, soothing cleanser morning and night to remove any debris that may have accumulated over night.
Moisturizer: Most women need more moisturization during this decade and so it might be time for a heavier cream, because skin thins and is drier due to decreased estrogen. Treat dryness with a rich moisturizing cream that contains hyaluronic acid, petrolatum, shea butter, or oils. Hyaluronic acid is another skin hydrator that binds water and keeps skin looking dewy and young.
Serums: Try adding an antioxidant-rich serum into your daily routine for an extra shot of hydration and to help fight free radicals. Look for serums rich in collagen-boosting peptides, which act as building blocks for new collagen formation and stimulate fibroblast activity. Look For ingredients with high-quality vitamin C which will help with the collagen-formation process and can help fade dark spots.
Sunscreen and SPF: One of the biggest agers to our skin is UV rays and an SPF is something you should be using every day, not just when you're on holiday. Using one that is broad-spectrum and contains an SPF of at least 30 and make sure not to forget your neck, chest, and the backs of your hands. It is the one piece of advice that 50- and 60-year-olds will tell you they wish they'd listened to.
Nighttime treatment: Look for Retinoid or Retinol creams. If you haven't already started on retinol, it may be time as it helps increase collagen synthesis, which improves skin elasticity and decreases fine lines.
The best exfoliator for skin in your 40s: Skin in your forties becomes thinner, so abrasive scrubs should be avoided. But regular twice a week exfoliation can stimulate circulation and carry more oxygen and nutrients to the skin, which results in a glow.
Eat foods rich in Vitamin E & C: These vitamins are rich in antioxidants that help prevent free radicals from damaging skin cells. They improve the elasticity and suppleness of your skin. Foods such as nuts, dairy products, seeds, vegetable oils, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, chilis, kiwis and lemons are rich in these vitamins.
Get consistent massages and Exercise: By your 40s, your lymphatic system will be starting to slow. One of the top anti-aging things you can do for your body in your 40’s is getting a regular massage and exercise. Getting a good massage decreases lymphatic buildup and increases oxygen with vibrant blood flow to your skin cells.
As the lymphatic system is responsible for getting rid of toxins, you may notice more puffiness around your eyes and cheeks. So try massaging your skin each night, as the last step before you snooze.
It’s also important also to stay consistent with exercise and include as much variety as possible in your workouts. Just like our faces, other parts of our body begin to fall as we age. Starting in our 30s, the body loses muscle mass and tone, causing overall less firmness.
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Your 50’s
Anti-aging is essential in your 50's and so don't even think of retiring from the skincare game. It's never too late to prevent sun damage and to stop the progression of damage you may already have.
Tips in Your 50’s
As the same aging processes of our 40s continues in our 50s, menopause in women may amplify the signs as changing estrogen levels may result in drier skin. Cell turnover is slow and the most significant change you may notice in your complexion is dryness and loss of elasticity. The loss of collagen can lead to sagging skin along the jaw and around the eyes.
Protect your skin from the sun. Sun protection forms the foundation of every anti-aging skin-care plan. Be sure to seek shade and whenever possible wear a hat and long sleeves. Wear sunglasses to help reduce squinting and minimizing fine lines around our eyes.
Sunscreen and SPF. Wear SPF every day with a minimum of 30 to protect your skin. Wearing sunscreen at all times is the key to save your skin from losing its youthfulness.
Apply moisturizer every day. Up your moisturizer game and using topical treatments such as retinoids or vitamin C. As we age, skin becomes drier. Fine lines and wrinkles appear. Moisturizer traps water in our skin, giving it a more youthful appearance. For best results, use a facial moisturizer, body moisturizer, and lip balm.
Stop smoking. If you didn’t stop smoking in your 20’s, 30’s, 40’s you need to stop now. Tobacco smoke contains toxins that can lead to smoker’s face. Signs of smoker’s face include dull and dry complexion, loss of skin’s firmness, premature lines and wrinkles, and leathery skin.
Eat healthy foods. A healthy diet promotes healthy skin. Make sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Stay Hydrated. Hydration is one of the most important factors for that healthy luminous skin and so make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. Often you think you are drinking enough water to be hydrated, but flaky/dry/rough skin may tell you otherwise. Water is an easy way to give your skin a healthy glow, especially if you’re prone to dry skin. You may have heard you need 8 glasses a day, but there is no set advice on how much to drink.
Get enough sleep. It’s called beauty rest for a reason. When you’re lacking sleep, your body can’t function at its prime. Who wants to feel (and look) sluggish? Sleep gives your body time to refresh and renew itself. Try your best to get a proper 8 hours of sleep so you can not only feel rested but also reduce the risk of early aging caused by poor sleeping habits.
Your 60’s and Beyond
Once you hit your 60s and 70s, basically all the issues that arose in your 50’s become more extreme. For every person out there over age 60 who knows that beauty comes from within, but who also wants to look the best you can.
Tips in Your 60’s
During our 60s and beyond, the many changes transforming our skin can feel inevitable, your skin-care regimen shouldn’t change markedly from 50 to 60 to 70. Hydrating, firming, and keeping discoloration at bay are still your major concerns.
Cleanser: Wash morning and night with a non soap cleanser or a creamy, foaming one.
Moisturizer: Make Sure You Have the Right Cleansers and Moisturizers. It's very important to choose cleansers, moisturizers, and a skin care routine formulated for your skin type. Thick, moisturizing creams and oils will help lock moisture in. Always apply at night and in the morning before your makeup. Apply a serum containing peptides or an antioxidant like vitamin C when your face is still damp. Serums, in general, are more easily absorbed than creams and lotions. Then apply a broad-spectrum moisturizer containing SPF 15 or 20, with UVA/UVB protection.
Wear Sunscreen Every Day: I know it's tiresome to constantly hear about the importance of sunscreen, but if there is one anti-aging rule it's to wear a minimum SPF sunscreen everyday rain or shine. UV rays break through cloud cover and it's important to make a habit of using sunscreen daily. Nothing damages your skin more than exposure to the sun. It's the number one cause of brown spots, wrinkles, and skin cancer.1
Oil Up: You may have also noticed the older you get, the drier your skin becomes. As we age, our skin suffers a slowdown in oil production and cell turnover, especially for woman after menopause. Oils are more natural, glide on smoothly, and leave skin feeling plump and dewy.
Use a humidifier when the air feels dry: Heating and air conditioning can strip humidity from the air. Dry air can make your skin feel dry and itchy.
Keep stress at bay: When you are under stress, your skin and hair directly reflect that. Do things that calm your senses and relax you. Practice meditation, yoga and exercise.
Anti-aging essentials at any age
Healthy lifestyle choices, including staying hydrated, getting adequate sleep, eating a balanced diet with plenty of whole foods and low in sugar and packed with the best foods for skin, and getting regular exercise will all help to improve your anti-aging process.
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