It is a New Year. Re-think Perfect Skincare. It's Attainable at Every Age...
The Teen Years
During the teen years, skin is extremely acne-prone due to over production of sebum (oil) and raging hormones.
However, there are amazing products that not only help reduce oil, but also help eliminate blemishes and keep it all under control.
Salicylic Acid-based cleansers are a great choice, primarily because they don’t over-dry the skin, but also thoroughly cleanse. Furthermore, Salicylic Acid is actually a gentle exfoliant.
**Did you know: naturally-derived salicylic acid actually comes from the bark of a willow tree?
Product recommendations:
1. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Cleanser is an amazing salicylic acid-based cleanser that is both affordable and effective.
2. When breakouts happen unexpectedly, an emergency treatment is key. In many cases, a benzoyl peroxide based product is the best bet, as the concentration of medication is more potent and in isolated areas, it will not over-dry the skin. Derma Doctor's Ain't Misbehavin' Medicated Emergency Acne Spot Treatment is a great choice because it also contains a number of soothing extracts to calm the skin while the benzoyl peroxide is doing some serious "zit zapping."
Additional Professional Recommendation:
The Acne or Detox Facial. Typically performed with Glycolic or Salicylic Acid-based products, the acne facial both thoroughly cleanses and also removes impurities buried deep within pores. While skin may immediately experience new breakouts, this is only temporary and part of the overall, long-term healing process.
A great choice - the Clarifying Facial at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa.
visit: www.reddoorspas.com
Your 20s
These are the years when the damage is actually done…..sun, alcohol, late nights….during your 20s, women feel invincible. However, they actually have no idea that they are setting the stage for the wrinkles, sun damage, loss of firmness and dehydration they will begin to realize over the next few decades.
Products that hydrate and infuse beneficial ingredients will help dramatically, because let's face it….late nights and bad skin behavior happens. Thus, correcting the early damage and beginning maintenance in the early 20s is critical.
The 20s are also the time to begin a skincare religion known as SPF. UV damage can be most detrimental for young skin, even though most young women feel immune to the effects of sun damage. By starting an SPF daily regimen at this time in life, a great deal of age-related damage can be avoided.
Product Recommendations:
1) A great product for gals in their 20s is a tinted moisturizer with SPF. Shisedo's The Skincare Tinted Moisture Protection SPF 20 is fabulous, as most young women don’t need or want a heavy foundation. Therefore, a lightweight tinted moisturizer with SPF not only helps protect skin from UV damage, but also adds the necessary daily moisture young skin needs. This particular version also contains a pore and oil control powder, as post-teen skin can still sometimes appear oily, especially if not fully-graduated from the acne phase.
2) For those late nights, check-out Skyn Iceland's Hydro Cool Firming Gels. An emergency treatment when you’ve really outdone yourself, these short-of-a-miracle eye pads will calm, soothe and depuff dark circles you were convinced just might never leave!
Additional Professional Recommendation:
A Vitamin C or Oxygenated Facial increases blood flow and enhances skin's 02 level. This imparts a radiance and heightens a fresh, young glow.
Visit: www.blissworld.com and check-out the Oxygen Blast Facial. With the Regenerating Vitamin A, C and E Oxygen Spray Add-on, it’s the perfect combination for the ultimate, youthful complexion.
Your 30s
This is the time for maintenance - it's all about taking care of skin in the here and now. The 30s decade is critical because skin goes through a great deal of changes during this time period. Significant life changes typically take place for most women during the 30s (marriage, childbirth, metabolic changes, stress, work promotions, work lay-offs, divorce)….let's face it, the 30s are when life really happens!
Accordingly, your skin (and body!) will reflect it all.
Therefore, products that help maintain the status of your skin before those life "experiences" hit are key.
Skincare products with peptides help plump the skin and fill-in wrinkles. Skin rejuvenation ingredients such as hyaluronic acid also do some heavy-lifting.
Product Recommendations:
1. Nude Skincare's Miracle Mask bills itself as the ultimate pre-party mask. However, at this point in life, a quick fix and pick-me-up is the ideal treat for tired, over-stressed skin. This mask contains a healthy dose of oligopeptides for wrinkle smoothing and AHAs for exfoliation. Plus, the entire line is paraben and phthalate-free, a huge plus for those who are pre (or post) pregnancy.
2. Women in their 30s are always on the go: Touché Éclat Radiant Touch by YSL is a great quick fix. A few quick strokes of this radiance booster (reminder: it's not a concealer, rather a brightener) will temporarily help tired, sallow skin look refreshed and polished…in a flash!
Additional Professional Recommendation:
IPL (Intense Pulled Light)- IPL helps eliminate skin damage and imperfections via a photo rejuvenation process that gently pulses intense light over the area requiring treatment. IPL can help reduce red or brown spots, rosacea, wrinkles, remove veins, as well as smooth the face and body. Most Med Spas (in all major cities) offer a series of IPL treatments, generally sold in packages, as anywhere from 3 to 6 sessions can be necessary to achieve optimum results.
Your 40s
By the time women hit their 40s, they will have a good sense of how their skin is aging. Some women will be doing so gracefully, while others (depending on lifestyle and heredity - yes, behavior counts!) will have pre-determined a not-so-graceful path.
Here are some great options for skincare that are both aggressive AND preventative, depending on the nature of how skin firmness and elasticity is progressing at this point in a woman's life time.
Product recommendations:
1. Neutrogena's copper is a perfect choice for 40 or 50+ skin because this particular mineral does a fantastic job of firming and lifting. Copper-based products, however, are only intended for mature skin, as this particular mineral can exacerbate acne-prone skin.
Additional Professional Recommendation:
Thermage- this professional technology uses radiofrequency (RF) to help tighten and contour skin by delivering volumetric heating to the deep, collagen-rich layers of the skin. This stimulates the body's skin renewal process, which helps tighten existing and form new collagen. Over time, the collagen remodeling helps create tighter skin where it has started to sag, as well as improve tone and texture. Thermage is available at most Med Spa's and Dermatologist offices.
Your 50s
Deep hydration is critical at this stage in skincare. Most mature skin is parched and in desperate need of a double-dose of moisture, which can only be achieved by utilizing products with the richest ingredients.
1) Guerlain Orchidee' Imperiale Exceptional Complete Careline is fantastic for ultra-dry skin because of its rich, intense recipe derived from rare orchid extracts, one of the most coveted and expensive anti-aging ingredients on earth. The secret power of the ingredient in this luxe elixir dramatically improves firmness, density and suppleness….all issues facing women face in their 50s.
2) Another top pick for its amazing revitalization properties: Dior's L'or De Vie Anti-aging Line is a revolutionary blend of anti-oxidants derived from the Yquem wine vines that contain rich healing and wrinkle reduction properties - all backed by dramatic clinical results. A skin care line this rich and luxurious is an absolute must for skin that is mature and in need of the most potent hydration possible. The Dior line is ideal for improving the overall condition and appearance of 50+ skin.
Additional Professional Recommendation:
Cool Laser Treatment: this patented process literally lasers off years from your appearance (and, does so quickly, safely and painlessly!) A fave among celebs and long-lasting, it is offered exclusively at the Epione MedSpa in Beverly Hills, CA. It’s the next best thing to a face lift….without being so invasive.
Visit: www.epione.com
