Here's Every Moisturizer You Need to Be
Using Based on Your Age
Because your skin is
never one size fits all - HALLIE GOULD
MAY 12, 2015
There are so many
products out there—each one promising exciting and borderline ground-breaking
results. But, it's difficult to decipher which ones are right for you. Your
skin care purchases should be tailored to your skin type, your lifestyle, and
your age.
As you grow up, your
skin needs different things. In your twenties, your beauty concerns are very different than they
are in your fifties. Think about it this way: Remember the way broccoli made
you feel in elementary school? If you were anything like me, you would rather
whine all night and stick out your tongue than eat vegetables. But as you grew up,
your body started to crave it. The same goes for your skin. As it ages,
ingredients that were once unnecessary, become vital.
To truly decipher the
ins and outs of skin care, we asked master esthetician Liza Wong of Elite Skin Care Spa and Rachel Nazarian of Schweiger
Dermatology Group about what ailments
plague each age group and which skin care products you should be focusing on
through the decades.
20-Somethings
Millennials, you
should be focusing on high SPF, first and foremost. Your twenties are a a
critical time for your skin—this is also usually when poor sunscreen habits are
kept. Nazarian explains, "Because oil glands tend to be more active at
this point in life, sunscreen should be oil-free. A good combination of the two
is Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer 75+. Their ingredients
keeps the sunscreen super stable, and longer lasting for when you're running
around town—as most 20-somethings do."
However, this decade
is about more than UV protection. Though you've finally made it out of your
teenage years, you may not be done with breakouts. "It's important to
maintain clean pores to keep breakouts at bay, but you should also avoid drying
agents as well," says Wong. "I recommend Biologique Recherche Crème
Dermopurifiante which helps to purify, regulate oil secretions, and hydrate the
skin."
30-Somethings
Now that you've
graduated to your thirties, your biggest concerns are rosacea, inflammatory
skin, the beginnings of fine lines. "Unfortunately your skin can still be
super sensitive," adds Nazarian. "Niacinamide is a great anti-redness
ingredient to look for. Elta MD UV Clear is an ideal sunscreen
for this age group."
In terms of keeping
wrinkles at bay, it's important to purchase products that are full of
antioxidants and target the first signs of expression lines. Wong explains,
"Wrinkles are directly linked to repeated facial expressions and the
thinning of the epidermis. Start using anti-oxidant serums such as IS
Clinical’s Super Serum Advance + in addition to your moisturizer"
40-Somethings +
Once in your forties,
your metabolism starts to slow down and your skin may become a bit duller. It's
important to exfoliate regularly (using a scrub or a microdermabrasion
treatment) to regenerate and renew your skin—we love our trusty Clarisonic
($99-$249). This will increase brightness and add back that youthful glow. Wong
explains, "During this time, the dermal-epidermal junction also flattens
and the upper dermis loses density." Basically, when the ridges flatten
out, you get wrinkles. She continues, "This leads to skin losing its
firmness." Valmont Firming Lifting Corrector Factor II uses yeast extract to
strengthen the cohesion of the dermal-epidermal junction, which will help
decrease the depth of wrinkles and brighten skin."
When choosing a
sunscreen, make sure it continues to be broad-spectrum, but with ingredients to
soften the appearance of shallow lines and pores. Nazarian offers, "Keep
your sunscreen paraben-free to avoid sensitivities and potential aging factors.
Your best bet is La Roche- Posay Anthelios Daily Anti-Aging Primer."
