Ageing is inevitable; it is a fact of life. But as we become older, we may notice a few changes in our bodies, and this includes changes to our skin and hair. You may be surprised to see a few lines and wrinkles at the corners of your eyes and forehead, or you may notice a bit of grey in your hair. But ageing gracefully is one thing, and ageing whilst looking good is another. This is particularly true for the skin – and there are indeed plenty of things you can do to enhance and improve the look of your skin, even as you age. You don’t have to go for expensive cosmetic surgery either. Here are some prime tips so you can have more beautiful skin in your 40s, 50s, and older.
Why does the skin look different as we age?
For many of us, this is an important question. Why does the skin look different when we get older? The skin’s appearance can become affected by different factors once we reach a particular age, and this can be time spent in the sun, one’s diet, habits like smoking, and even heredity. All these factors can accumulate and change your skin’s appearance as you grow older. Other factors that can affect the look of the skin include obesity, gravity, and stress. Also, as people age, their skin no longer produces and generates new cells as it used to when they were younger – the process of cell production slows down as well. The skin then tends to dry out more and has less elasticity.
Top tips for beautifying your skin in your 40s, 50s, and older:
- If you are into the smoking habit, try to quit. A lot of research has shown that smoking can prematurely age the skin.
- Avoid going to tanning salons and avoid sunbathing, even though it’s fun to stay under the sun when the weather is good. If you have to spend time in the sun, don’t do it between the hours of 10 and 2, because this is when the sun’s rays are at their strongest. And if you spend time outdoors, wear a hat, sunglasses, trousers, and a shirt with long sleeves. Too much exposure can lead to age spots, freckles, and a blotchy and patchy complexion.
- Use sunscreen. This can’t be stressed enough, since sun damage doesn’t just lead to wrinkles and age spots – it can also lead to major conditions like skin cancer. Make use of sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or even higher, and make sure it has 7% zinc oxide.
- If your skin has become dry, soothe it with moisturisers and lotions and soaps and cleansers with moisturising properties; there are plenty of excellent products like these from specialists such as SkinCeuticals, allowing you to benefit from premium, high-quality ingredients that can improve your skin’s look and tone. Make use of a humidifier as well.
- You can also try certain products that are designed to mitigate the ageing process of the skin, such as retinoid creams and products that contain pentapeptides, which encourages the cells of the skin to produce collagen. Collagen is known for making skin look firmer, and you can also take advantage of skin rejuvenating treatments that are safe and effective.