4 Ages When Your Skin Changes—and What to Do About It
Are they welcome changes? Not exactly. But we've got expert advice to help you manage and minimize them.
By Emma Haak
AGE: 35 or so
Change #1: Volume loss, especially in the lower half of your face, says Ploch; plus, the wrinkles of your 20s seem to be getting a little deeper.
What to do about it: Plumping moisturizers, like those with hyaluronic acid, can help give skin a temporary fuller, smoother look. It's also a good idea to keep up the retinoid routine that you started in your 20s. If you're seeing serious volume changes or wrinkles (like if you've recently lost a significant amount of weight, which could add to these facial changes), fillers may be your best bet. "You don't need a ton, just enough to look refreshed," says Ploch.
Change #2: Dark spots brought on by sun exposure. Ploch notes that her patients used to notice these in their 40s, but that she sees more patients finding them a little younger, possibly because todays 30-somethings may have visited tanning salons more frequently than older generations did.
What to do about it: For sun spots, topical products containing vitamin C or retinoids are best, says Chapas. (Vitamin C helps fade the spots, while retinoids help exfoliate spotted layers away to reveal new skin underneath.)
Change #3: Your complexion seems dull, and here's why: Your cells are turning over more slowly, meaning dead (read: less glowy) cells are staying on the surface of your skin longer. "When we're kids, our cells turn over every 28 days," says Ploch. "By our late 30s, they're turning over every 45 days."
What to do about it: Look for the key ingredients alpha hydroxy and glycolic acids in your products, both of which help speed up skin-cell turnover to expose newer, younger skin underneath. Retinoids can also help with this job.
What to do about it: Plumping moisturizers, like those with hyaluronic acid, can help give skin a temporary fuller, smoother look. It's also a good idea to keep up the retinoid routine that you started in your 20s. If you're seeing serious volume changes or wrinkles (like if you've recently lost a significant amount of weight, which could add to these facial changes), fillers may be your best bet. "You don't need a ton, just enough to look refreshed," says Ploch.
Change #2: Dark spots brought on by sun exposure. Ploch notes that her patients used to notice these in their 40s, but that she sees more patients finding them a little younger, possibly because todays 30-somethings may have visited tanning salons more frequently than older generations did.
What to do about it: For sun spots, topical products containing vitamin C or retinoids are best, says Chapas. (Vitamin C helps fade the spots, while retinoids help exfoliate spotted layers away to reveal new skin underneath.)
Change #3: Your complexion seems dull, and here's why: Your cells are turning over more slowly, meaning dead (read: less glowy) cells are staying on the surface of your skin longer. "When we're kids, our cells turn over every 28 days," says Ploch. "By our late 30s, they're turning over every 45 days."
What to do about it: Look for the key ingredients alpha hydroxy and glycolic acids in your products, both of which help speed up skin-cell turnover to expose newer, younger skin underneath. Retinoids can also help with this job.
Published 12/06/2016