Great Skin At Every Age

Here's what you need and want to know about helping your skin age well. So often, clients ask us what they "should be doing" because there is much fear-mongering about preventive skincare and getting Botox in your early 20s. And we continually hear that more young people worry about looking "old." We don't love that and want to shift the goal to "healthy skin," not "young-looking skin."

Here’s your guideline for healthy skin at every age, and we finally weigh in on the hot topic of when you should start Botox. 

Ages 9-18: Practice makes perfect

Skincare doesn't have to start before puberty, but some youth have a desire to get into beauty and/or hygiene at an early age. Practicing cleansing, toning, gentle serums, moisture, and SPF is great. But don't start the bad habit of using large quantities of products and ingredients you don't understand on your skin. It's important to keep a small batch of fresh products. 

Start avoiding cheap pore-clogging ingredients, whether you are acne-prone or not, to save yourself trouble down the road. Because when puberty strikes, well over half of adolescents will experience acne – and that moves skincare from a “want” to a “need”. You can learn more about talking to your kids about acne here. 

Also, in this phase of life, start supporting your skin barrier and never use too hot water in the shower. Wear hats and sun protection to get in the habit because sun damage starts at a very young age and presents in numerous ways over the years.

Ages 18-30: It’s getting real 

Every era can spike some serious skin challenges; this one is no exception. The changes that come during these years are endless. Adjusting to post-high school, college, post-college, and first job life can be hard on the skin – just one or all of these will have significant skin impacts. But then settling into early 20s with all the hormonal and lifestyle changes that come with it, are sure to stress and break out the skin additionally.

Luckily, thanks to the skincare practices you started early in life, you use only a handful of quality skincare products that are free of icky pore-cloggers, so your skin issues aren't exacerbated by bad habits and bad products… right? You stay away from the TikTok trends and now know that what works for YOU is what works. 

If you aren't using serums, now it's time to start. Serums do everything from exfoliating the skin to protecting against free radicals. While vitamin C and retinoids are the most hyped serums, and we love them too, we also like the idea of starting with something gentle yet powerful that does a little of both of what those two buzz-worthy ingredients do. Mandelic acid can be the go-to active for your active years.

Acne or not, mandelic acid will start to shed those sticky skin layers and reveal your true skin. You may not need professional treatments quite yet, but if you have the time and budget for it, you should absolutely find an aesthetician to be your skin therapist. We recommend a clinical facial treatment over a spa facial. Your session should feel more like a wellness visit than R&R – but it can be both!

Skip the spa if you have acne. Work on learning what is triggering your acne because all the skincare piled on top of acne triggers won’t do anything if you are using pore-cloggers or taking supplements that spike breakouts. Aim to follow a low glycemic lifestyle that is great for both acne and overall skin health. Remember, there is nothing “wrong with you." If you have acne, you are not alone. 

Healthy living with great topical care is the true way to age slowly. Protect yourself from the sun because UV rays are the main cause of skin aging. Sunscreen is a good start, but that, paired with hats and shade-seeking behavior, is the real ticket to the healthiest skin in the long term. Protect your neck! Don't look down at your phone too much, and bring your skincare products down to your neck.

Botox? We think not yet (or at least until your late 20s). Wait to start to see those lines and then correct them. Some start in their 20s for very specific lines like 11s that they already see, and that is okay. However, if you blow your budget on botox and makeup and skimp on skincare, you will regret it. Older clients never say, "I wish I would have started with botox earlier," but they do say, "I wish I would have stayed out of the sun!"

Ages 30-45: All about the collagen 

You can fake many things in life, but you can't fake collagen. Everyone's collagen starts breaking down as they age, but it happens at different rates. This is determined by genetics, sun exposure, and your internal health. Collagen supplements are a bit too good to be true because your body needs to make the collagen on its own instead of supplementing it. You need omega-3s, vitamins, minerals, proteins, and antioxidants to give your body the tools to make collagen. And beware that weight fluctuations and stress will also mess with your collagen, so stay consistent on that healthy living journey, even though this may be arguably one of the most stressful eras of your life.

Hormone fluctuations aren't going anywhere because birth control changes, pregnancy, fertility drugs, and other medications like antidepressants can all play roles in your skin. Learn how to help your hormonal acne here. If you haven't already, it's time to start with facial treatments or at least a customized homecare regimen. Prioritize the right homecare, then regular facial treatments, then deeper treatments (like microneedling and laser) to keep collagen production high. Start with at-home devices like microcurrent and LED. Never use at-home exfoliation devices like dermablades and microdermabrasion machines.

Go to the dermatologist regularly for skin checks, but keep the skin care advice to your aesthetician. Pills and prescription creams are not magic bullets and can have adverse long-term effects.

You can start with botox anytime, but don’t feel peer pressured. If you are happy with your skin, then save the money – expression lines and wrinkles are normal and beautiful. Always prioritize skincare before spending thousands on expensive treatments because the results will be even better when performed on already healthy skin. Lastly, eye cream is not a scam – it really works and you absolutely need one. 

Ages 45-60: Time to reverse 

Depending on your skincare in your previous decades, you may be at the point in the Cha Cha Slide where it’s time to “Reverse, reverse!” Even if you read this guide 30 years ago and saved yourself as much future skin damage as possible, you will surely have sun damage and predisposed genetic conditions like broken capillaries and rosacea to reverse.

To reverse skin damage, microneedling and lasers are a great options and have fewer side effects than more invasive plastic surgery. Once again, remember that homecare is key, and if you still need to catch up in that department, it's time to invest. It's still important to prevent future damage, so don't overanalyze everything "wrong" with your skin. Think about refining what you can and then keeping it there with the right products. If you don't want to spend at least 10 minutes daily on your routine, you won't be able to make real changes in your skin. You can still get monthly or quarterly facial treatments, but it's important you know that homecare is more important. Also, remember that tons of sun and smoking will be too much aging to keep up with, so if healthy skin is important to you – add that to the list of reasons to stop smoking or sunning.

Let's talk about the thing that no one talks enough about: menopause. Read more about how that affects your skin here. To summarize, perimenopause usually comes in your 40s and lasts an unfair several years until you're officially in menopause. As the changes start to wreak havoc on your hormones, mood, and temperature control, your skin is not immune to its path of destruction. The imbalance in your shifting hormone levels can cause breakouts, and lowered estrogen can cause dry, lax, and lackluster skin.

It's easier to treat acne than depleted skin, so stay on top of facial treatments and microneedling to prevent depleted skin from happening in the first place. Don't treat acne like an uninformed teenager and buy anything over the counter; talk to a good aesthetician instead. Remember, high levels of biotin, iodine, and B12 can still trigger those premenopausal breakouts as well, so don't blame your hormones when it may be your multivitamin. While people assume menopause isn't sexy – we will debate that any day because, at this age, you have all the confidence and wisdom. Use some of that wisdom to care for your skin during this chapter and the next!

The most common mistake this (and the next) age group makes is in the first step – the cleanse. Cleansing is a vital part of your routine. If you are still a Cetaphil girlie and have managed decent skin thanks to genetics, it's time to realize that drugstore products and makeup removers must go. Those harsh detergents have been and will continue to strip away your barrier and irritate your under eyes. And if you are still using a washcloth, it's time to throw that out! Here is how to wash your face. You can learn something new at every age!

Ages 60-75: Don’t stop believing 

This is when you may start to see your skin become thinner. Microneedling and lasers will help, but only alongside your good products. Thanks to years of lectures or potentially a skin cancer scare or two, you are most likely wearing sunscreen now. But ensure you are always in a hat while you spend time in your garden or vacation home down south.

At this age, you may be in and out of the dermatologist quite often, which is a great way to catch skin cancer early or before it strikes. However, have a healthy amount of skepticism when it comes to creams they may prescribe. Frequently, we see topicals getting recommended, and the patients don't know what they are or what they do – so ask questions. While they can have a time and place, nine times out of 10, you will see better, healthy skin with the proper skincare products and treatments than these harsh creams that can thin the already thinning skin.

Did you know regular skin treatments and laser treatments may actually lower your chance of missing a dangerous skin growth on your face? Trust us; we will always recommend you to the dermatologist when it comes to a medical issue, but when it comes to your skincare, trust the holistic beauty expert (AKA your aesthetician).  

Ages 75+: It’s all about how you feel 

Dry skin is the number one concern at this age. Dry skin is uncomfortable, and things like tearing and bruising happen more easily when the skin is dry. So, this era is all about nourishing your skin. If you have been exfoliating all your life, chances are you can keep up with it and just pile on the moisture to boot. If you have not been using professional skincare your whole life, that is okay – it is never too late! However, you will start with just the most gentle products and treatments. We love enzymes for any delicate skin. They are derived from fruit and gently eat dead skin while hydrating and brightening. Consider looking into lasers that can correct gene expressions in your skin tissues to improve your skin's health. This is a wonderful and safe option for this age. 

This group's beginner regimen to help your skin look better and feel better is a barrier-supporting cleanser, Iso-Cell Recovery Solution, vitamin C hydrating enzyme mask, rosehip oil, and a great night cream. If you are reading this to try to help your mother, grandmother, or great-grandmother, encourage them to take care of their skin because it will truly bring them comfort and relief!