SKINCARE SPECIALBetween your 30s and 40s, you’ll start to notice considerable differences in your skin, so it’s time to
take corrective as well as preventative steps. Up until your mid-30s, most damage is extrinsic ageing caused by
external factors, such as sun damage, but after that intrinsic ageing, such as internal glycation, starts to take effect.
“What this means for skin is a deterioration in the quality of its connective tissue, which causes deeper lines and
increased sagging,” says Linda Blahr, education and science manager for SkinCeuticals. Accordingly, ramp up your
routine with punchy actives such as L-ascorbic acid – an antioxidant that’s a pure, potent form of vitamin C- which will make a visible difference to skin: brightening, firming and protecting.
In your 40s, the signs of ageing are more definite.
“Physiologically, skin becomes thinner and less elastic as collagen
is systemically broken down, resulting in loss of volume,” says
Atoshi George, L’Oréal senior scientific advisor. “It also gets
thinner and produces less oil and sweat.” Add to this increased
dryness, dark circles, enlarged pores, crepiness around eyes
and a rougher skin texture, and it means extra hydration plus
hard-hitting skin-renewing
ingredients are vital. “Find
a cleanser that will deeply
cleanse your skin, without
irritating or stripping it,”
says Kevin Mun, co-founder
of Korean-inspired skincare
line Venn. “Also, it’s time to
use products with powerful
antioxidants and other actives,
such as peptides, that can help
stimulate and increase collagen
and elastin production.”Your 50s are typically the
decade when huge hormonal
shifts in your body cause
noticeable changes. “The
epidermis contains precious
lipids including free fatty
acids, cholesterol and
ceramides. They give skin
that cushioned feel, but at
this age, their synthesis has
started to decline,” says
SkinCeuticals’ Linda Blahr.
To counteract this, incorporate
rich moisturisers to help
rebuild volume from within.
It’s not just the skin on your
cheeks and forehead that is
susceptible to this; you may
notice your lips and under-eye
area become drier and thinner.
Veneffect’s Anti-Aging
Lip Treatment uses
phytoestrogen technology
to help minimise lines.At this time, lack of elasticity will be visible
both in the face and the neck, due to thinner
skin and weaker muscles. If you’ve been
slapdash about taking your SPF right down to
your décolleté, then prolonged UV exposure
will also have had an effect. If you haven’t
already started, use a strong active such as
retinol, a wonder ingredient that helps support
collagen production to improve plumpness.
Hydrating serums that can be layered under
other products are also ideal.From far left:
SkinCeuticals
CE Ferulic Serum,
£135. La Roche-Posay
Pure Vitamin C10
Serum, £38Right: from left, L’Oréal
Paris Age Perfect Intensive
Re-Nourish Manuka Honey
Night Cream, £20. Dr Sebagh
Supreme Day Cream, £145.
Clarins Super Restorative
Day Cream, £74Sensai Absolute Silk
Cream, £145Veneffect Anti-Aging
Lip Treatment, £68Drunk Elephant
Lala Retro Whipped
Cream 2.0, £50Sarah Chapman Skinesis
Ultimate Cleanse, £48Medik8 Liquid
Peptides, £45Shiseido Ultimune Power
Infusing Concentrate, £92A loss of elasticity can still be addressed in your
70s. “Ideally, you want a formulation that helps
the skin aid its naturally slowing repair process,”
says L’Oréal’s Atoshi George. “Active hydration,
barrier repair and nourishment help to plump and
provide tone and firmness for better radiance.”
Look for powerful natural ingredients to help lock
in moisture, such as the manuka honey in L’Oréal’s
Age Perfect Intensive Re-Nourish range – “It’s
known for its reparative properties, is antioxidant,
antibacterial and actively moisturises,” adds
George. At 70-plus, avoid harsh treatments, too.From far left: Vichy
Minéral 89 Skin
Fortifying Daily Booster,
£25. Paula’s Choice,
Clinical 1% Retinol
Treatment, £53Sunscreen SPF30, £55
145ATELIER DORE/TRUNK ARCHIVE; PIXELATE.BIZ11-19-BTY-SUPP-Skincare-Any-Age.indd 145 12/09/2019 16:11