Our skin is one of the first places that start to show its age, with wrinkles forming on our face and the skin on other parts of our body becoming dry and losing its elasticity.
There are countless different skin care products and routines dedicated to preventing and reducing the appearance of wrinkles, and looking after our skin’s wellbeing in other ways – but what approach is best for you?
Read on to discover some of our top tips for keeping your skin in great condition as you age…
Why is Skin Care Important For Boomers?
Before exploring individual skin care routines, it’s beneficial to first understand why it’s important to pay extra attention to your skin care as you age.
It all comes down to the fact that as we grow older, our skin begins to lose its elasticity and natural moisture, leading to wrinkles and dry skin, and leaving you prone to developing various unpleasant skin conditions.
Taking better care of your skin won’t entirely stop this from happening, but it can certainly slow the process down and make a big difference, so it’s well worth the effort. And, the sooner you start, the better the condition your skin will be in during your twilight years.
Daytime & Night Time Routines
When it comes to your face, you should have a separate skin care routine for the morning and for just before you go to bed.
Both routines should start with a cleanse to wash away oils and residue of products left on your face. It’s best to just wash your face with warm water for this step, as using a cleansing product every day might be harsh on your skin and leave it feeling very dry.
Step two – toning – is optional, but it’s good to include it if you have acne-prone or very sensitive skin. You should try out a few toners until you find one that works well for you and is effective at balancing out your skin’s PH.
The next step is to apply serums and other treatments, depending on what type of skin you have. Generally speaking, in the morning it’s a good idea to apply a vitamin C serum to help reverse the damage the sun and pollutants have done to your skin.
For your nighttime routine, most people benefit from applying retinol – a form of vitamin A – to decrease wrinkles, visible pores, bright spots and discoloration.
Step four is to apply an eye cream. Some people prefer to use a separate eye cream for their day time and night time routines, but you shouldn’t feel compelled to do so.
Be sure to be especially gentle when applying eye cream, as the skin surrounding your eyes is very sensitive and can therefore be irritated or damaged very easily.
Once you’ve applied your eye cream, you should put on a moisturizer to strengthen the skin barrier and hydrate your skin. For your day time skin care routine, you should use a lighter moisturizer so it absorbs more quickly.
For your daytime routine, the final step is to apply sunscreen to protect your face against harmful sun rays. Even if it’s not a very sunny day, it’s still a good idea to put on some sunscreen to give your skin an extra layer of protection.
As for your nighttime routine, the last step is to apply a face oil to hydrate and soften your skin. This will reduce the chances of your skin drying during the night, and it can even help reduce the risk of breakouts if you use an oil that goes well with your skin type.