Looking and feeling fabulous
is the aim and there's lots here that can really help.
What's happening to your skin
The best thing about this
decade is that everything starts to settle down, though you may have a bit of a
bumpy start - the average age of a woman's last period is 51 and menopausal
symptoms such as hot flushes may continue for a few months. By this point, oil
production is really slowing down and most skins will be getting drier. The
oilier-skinned among you will be at a big advantage now.
The breakdown of collagen and
elastin, mainly due to declining estrogen, means that the structure of the skin
becomes looser and you may start to notice dewlaps. Also, the padding of fat
over your cheekbones may start slipping, altering the contours of your face:
this will be significant for skinnies - a good reason to consider putting on a
few pounds. Fashion designer Carolina Herrera once told me that 'a woman of
"a certain age" has to choose either her face or her backside'.
Personally, I'd opt for plumping the face, as this is seen by rather more
people.
Skin is also likely to be
thinner and more fragile, primarily due to the decrease in collagen in the
dermis. This makes it more sensitive, particularly to UV radiation and
pollutants - but even to skincare that has never upset your
complexion before. Confusingly, although melanin production declines overall -
skin literally fades with age - it's more likely to be overproduced
sporadically, resulting in pigmented 'age' spots or patches. The most common
trigger is sunlight, so these tend to appear on exposed areas, principally your
face and backs of your hands.
TLC for your skin
My mantra here is give your
skin a helping hand, with extra protection, nourishment and hydration. As sebum
(oil) production declines and the skin is also more fragile, it's more
important than ever to support the skin barrier by applying oils.
The products I suggest you
use daily for your facial skin are a cleanser, toner, daytime moisturizer, night cream and an oil, a day and night eye cream
or serum, with a gentle exfoliator and mask for weekly use. Some experts
suggest a neck cream but my experience is that taking your moisturizer and night cream from bosom to hairline works well,
even for dry skins.
Always use a cream-based
cleanser, never soap, as it is too alkaline for drier skins. Avoid anything
that foams on the face, as that usually means it contains a detergent, most
likely sodium lauryl sulphate.
Exfoliation is very useful,
as it helps to shift the top dead layer of skin cells, leading to visibly
fresher, brighter and - crucially - smoother-looking
skin. The key is to keep it gentle! Don't be tempted by dermabrasion or
pot-scouring type buffing pads. You only need a soft cotton cloth to gently
dislodge the dead grey skin cells. Use this with your cleanser morning and
evening, and once a week give your skin a boost with a specific exfoliating
treatment. Choose one with tiny round beads that gently buff the skin (natural
jojoba beads or synthetic polyethylene ones), not jagged particles of ground
pumice or nut kernels, as these can cause microscopic scratches and irritation.
Follow your weekly facial
buff with a generous layer of a moisturizing and
firming facial mask. Exfoliate first, so the active ingredients of the mask can
penetrate the upper layers of the epidermis. Choose an intensive nourishing
treatment that's specially formulated to remoisturize: ingredients I like include St John's wort or
avocado oil, and GLA (from borage or evening primrose seed oils).
Even dry skin benefits from
using a toner, removing any last residue of cleanser and brightening the skin,
but avoid any product containing alcohol, which will overdry your complexion.
Many formulations include remoisturizing
ingredients, such as aloe vera and vitamin E. Skin toners can also help to calm
flushed faces: look for products with anti-inflammatory ingredients such as
cucumber, chamomile and calendula.
When choosing a day moisturizer, opt for a formula containing plant oils such as
avocado, apricot or peach kernel. Make sure it also includes antioxidant
vitamins or extracts: look for vitamin E. beta-carotene, green tea, grapeseed
and pomegranate extracts.
If you spend time outdoors,
layer a sunscreen on top of your moisturizer.
Choose one made with broad-spectrum mineral sun filters (titanium dioxide or
zinc oxide), rather than synthetic chemicals (such as
cinnamates or benzophenones), which can trigger sensitivity.
At bedtime, give your skin a
generous layer of goodness to feast on overnight. Massage in a few drops of
facial oil first - choose a blend of pure plant oils such as rosehip, argan,
evening primrose or borage seed - then turbo-charge with night cream. At this
age, you need to switch to a richer product - the thicker the better; just make
sure it has no mineral oil in the formula, as this is occlusive and won't let
other ingredients sink into the epidermis.
It's also the right time to
add a good eye cream or serum, specifically formulated to help fill out lines
around the eyes. I'm a fan of hyaluronic acid (often called sodium
hyaluronate), a naturally moisturizing
skin sugar, which
really helps plump out facial lines. I
also Ike to see high levels of essential fatty acids, including GLA and
omega-3s. Use these products along any crevices. to subtly fill them. It's a
myth that eye creams clog the skin: you can use them anywhere.
Bodywise, a good moisturizer is
essential. Make sure this is based on pure plant oils and doesn't contain
mineral oils - they are less efficient and may clog pores. Treat yourself to a
body cream, as this has a higher lipid content
than lotions, and will keep skin softer for longer. Be lavish from chin to toe,
after every bath or shower to help rehydrate the skin, rubbing a little extra
into parched areas such as elbows, knees and heels. Look for products
containing moisturizing and nourishing plant
butters such as cocoa and shea butter. Dry skin brushing will improve the
condition of skin immeasurably and help to prevent cellulite.
Hands and feet will welcome
as much daily TLC as your face. Hands give away your age at a glance - just
look at those of any Botoxed beauty over the age of 50. So make sure your hand
cream contains plenty of antioxidants - vitamin E is especially useful to help
fade pigmentation spots, though it will take time - and always put on sun
protection: easiest to rub on a dot of your face product. In general, rub a
little of whatever you're putting on your face on the back of your hands. And
whenever you apply a mask to your face, treat your hands too. Slipping on a
pair of gloves is a great hand-saver: use rubber gloves for indoor chores,
gardening gloves outdoors.
Facial massage will help
increase blood circulation to the face. Some experts say the extreme movements
of facial exercise can slacken the skin over time. However, I do think a few
specific moves are useful to
help keep the underlying
facial muscles toned and tauter. I try to do two sets of the following
mini-exercises twice daily, after brushing my teeth.
1. Push your chin out and lift your bottom lip over the
top one, hold for a count of five, release, then repeat ten times.
2. Pull the corners of your mouth downwards in a fiercely
exaggerated grimace, stretching and tightening the muscles that run down the
neck and into the collarbones. Hold and repeat as above.
It's also said that dancers
and yoga fans never need a facelift because the movements keep their jaws and
neck defined and smooth, as with the rest of the body.
Making up
* In general go for softer shades. Swap black mascara
for dark brown, use a softer, more natural lip shade - in sheer rather than
matt - and the same with blusher.
* A favorite base for this
stage is Chanel's Teint Innocence, as it is slightly richer and more covering
than most, but with a sheer, natural finish on the skin. Skin brighteners perk
up dull skin, helping to give it a little extra glow. (Try Prescriptives'
Vibrant Vitamin Infuser for Dull, Stressed Skin or Guerlain's Midnight Star.)
* Women with good skin who
like a lighter look may prefer a tinted moisturizer to even out skin tone (good ones are Crème de la Mer
and Revlon), plus concealer or foundation only where it's really needed. Dust
on translucent golden powder for evenings.
* Eyebrows may well become
thinner and paler during this decade; opt for a light taupey shade of eyebrow
pencil, rather than anything dark or with red in it.
* For thinning eyelashes, try
supplementing with Eylure's individual lashes (the shortest are the most
natural looking). They are excellent for filling out sparse patches. I just
apply two or three 'sets' to the outer corners of my upper lashes. I have also
tried the semi-permanent individual lash extensions, which are quite expensive,
but worked very well (though not for as long as expected). They are a useful
option for holidays, camping or traveling - or if you lose your lashes due to
medication.
Nutritional needs
* Carry on with Ladies
Choice, beauty oils and antioxidants.
* Calcium and magnesium
supplements are crucial from now on, as bone degradation may already be
occurring.
No comments:
Post a Comment