As we age, our skin begins to wrinkles and sag. The good news is that wrinkles can be improved with some skincare products, but sagging cannot, and more drastic measures are required. The most common causes of wrinkles and fine lines are sun damage to the outer layer of the skin, loss of fat pads and support under the skin, poor general health habits, and repetitive facial movements, like smoking, drinking through a straw and smiling and frowning.
Although it’s hard to “turn back the clock” as you get older, having a good skincare program is the best way to hold onto your youthful looks and slow down the ageing process. To help you make changes, we’ve put together the best skincare routine for women over 45…
Morning skincare routine for over 45s
- Start your skincare routine by using a gentle facial cleanser. Creamy cleansers are great for lightly moisturising sensitive skin and avoiding breakouts and flare-ups, but you might prefer a foamy cleanser if you suffer from oily or combination skin.
- Once you have cleansed and dried your face, apply an antioxidant toner or serum to your face. A good toner with antioxidants and niacinamide can help to reduce the appearance of your wrinkles and fine lines, and in some cases, even out fine lines.
- As we age, our skin’s natural oils and collagen levels begin to fall, which can make our faces dry and dull. It’s possible to combat these signs of ageing with a good moisturiser. Look out for moisturisers with Vitamin C, designed to smoothen and plump your face, and consider one with hyaluronic acid which can hydrate your skin.
- Once you’ve moisturised, you should apply eye cream to your face. The skin around our eyes is much thinner and made up of less collagen and elastin compared to the rest of our faces and bodies. Add in the fact that the average person blinks 23,000 times a day, and it’s no wonder why our eyes are susceptible to wrinkling faster than other parts of our faces. With the eye area being so delicate, you should avoid being too rough when applying eye cream. Experts recommend applying eye cream using your ring finger (technically your weakest finger) and smooth it over your eye, your Crow’s Feet area, and pat excess cream onto your brow bone below your eyebrows.
- Finally, apply a quality sunscreen. Sun exposure is one of the most common signs of ageing, so don’t overlook this, even during the cooler winter months. If you don’t want this added step, look out for moisturisers and eye creams with an SPF of at least 30. Ideally, you should look for a sunscreen that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which physically blocking harmful rays rather than allowing your skin to absorb them.
Evening routine for over 45s
- Before you head to bed, you should clean your face. The right cleanser will depend on your complexion, but it’s likely that your skin will be more sensitive and dry in the evenings. Oil cleansers are great for removing makeup, but they can clog your pores if you suffer from sensitive, oily skin, so consider taking off your makeup first before then removing any leftovers with micellar water. After that, cleanse as usual.
- Once you’ve cleansed your face, consider exfoliating. Remember: your skin will be thinner as you enter into your 40s, 50s, and 60s, so you should avoid abrasive scrubs and look for softer, gentler alternatives. If you scrub your face too harshly, you could thin your skin further and increase your sensitivity, which can be virtually impossible to reverse. Exfoliate with an acid-based solution twice per week to stimulate circulation – this will carry oxygen to your face and give you a natural glow.
- Next up, you’ll want to apply a good retinol-based product or prescription-strength tretinoin. Retinol is known to minimise the skin, smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles. It can also brighten your skin, regulate oily skin, and fade hyperpigmentation and dark spots. If you’re new to retinol, go slowly: our skin has to build up a tolerance, and if you overdo it, you could damage your face. Look for an anti-ageing serum with a retinol percentage of 0.3 and use it once or twice per week. You can then “build up” the percentage up to 1%. If you go in high too quickly, you could cause redness.
- Finally, consider applying a moisturiser or night cream to your face. Shop around for one that’s packed full of nourishing ingredients that will boost cell repair. Affordable solutions like CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream will hydrate, whilst premium brands like Biologique Recherche Creme Dermopurifiante are ideal for those who suffer from skin conditions such as acne. Augustinus Bader The Cream is a high-end solution but is reported to activate your body’s stem cells to regenerate your skin.
There you have it – a morning and evening skincare routine for women in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. Once you’ve made changes to your skincare routine, whether that be the order of application on the products used, stick with it for at least six to eight weeks so you can see the difference. It’s easy to assume a cream or regime isn’t working because it doesn’t deliver the results you’re expecting in a couple of nights – the truth is, skincare takes time.
And if you’re looking to take your anti-ageing regime to the next level, consider the Oralift anti-ageing device. Our small mouthguard is designed to be worn for short periods and takes advantage of your facial muscles’ natural ability to adapt. Over time, your muscles will adapt to a greater freeway space, repairing capillaries which have been damaged due to ageing. Click here to find out more about our groundbreaking device and check back soon for more.