SUPERB SKIN CARE AT EVERY AGE

Need on target, fail-safe skin care guidelines for every decade? Look no further…

TEENS

Challenges

While the teenage years can be fun, acne, blemishes and skin pore issues due to hormonal changes are anything but. 

Solutions

Keep it simple:

1. Protect — This means using a daily SPF as a shield from the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays. There are many great choices for acne prone skin, including Elta MD UV Clear — one of our favourites! An effective sunscreen that’s transparent, lightweight, and doesn’t clog pores, it makes application feel like a luxury rather than a chore.  

2. Cleanse — Teen skin requires an effective but gentle cleanser to get rid of dirt and excess oil. Products with active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid get the job done right. Our picks? CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser or SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser. 

3. Hydrate — A good moisturiser helps reduce the occurrence and intensity of breakouts by keeping the skin’s barrier intact. We love hyaluronic acid-based products like SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel and Daily Moisture.

Once these basics are in place, we can slowly add more active, corrective ingredients to the routine. Retinoids are excellent at stimulating cell turnover, lowering inflammation, and reducing the appearance of acne. Our dermatologists will usually recommend these in lower strengths at the beginning, as everyone’s tolerance level is different. 

20s-40s

Challenges

Believe it or not, in our 20s, our skin has already started to slow down — our youthful glow becomes slightly more elusive, and dark spots or discolouration begin to appear, thanks to everything from hormonal changes to sun damage.

Solutions

The key to dealing with dullness and darkness? Prevention and gentle correction: 

1. Cleanse — All cleansers are not created equal. You need one that doesn't strip your skin bur rather, is responsive to your skin’s changing needs.

2. Consider serums — Your 20s are a great time to start incorporating topical antioxidants like Vitamin C into your skincare routine, as these brighten skin and protect it against free radical damage. In our experience, SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic produces the best, most visible results.

3. Moisturise — A must-have for well nourished skin, oil-free moisturisers are preferred (even better if they contain hyaluronic acid). Some options we would recommend are SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier, Metacell Renewal B3, or Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment.   

Regardless of your age or skin type, you should commit to a daily sunscreen — the skin protection it offers will definitely pay off later on, since UV rays are one of the most common contributors to discolouration and hyperpigmentation. To combat dullness and dark spots, our dermatologists may also recommend hydroquinone-based products, which help stabilise the skin’s pigment cells. 

40s-50s

Challenges

This is when most people start to look their age. Wrinkles begin to appear; skin looks and feels less firm, and you wonder where your youthful glow went. 

Solutions

Worry not! Corrective products that work at a cellular level — think retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids — can help revive skin’s tone, plumpness and glow: 

1. Go gentle — Starting with a product like SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3, which has low levels of retinol, allows you to slowly build your tolerance for the nutrient. Alternatively, Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight is both gentle and effective. 

2. Moisturise — Pair such corrective products with the staples. Moisturisers go a long way in preserving the skin’s barrier and keeping it hydrated as we age. Nourishing creams like SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore or A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced really get the job done, while the HA Intensifier has a deeply hydrating effect. 

3. Lock the block — Sunscreen is non-negotiable, especially for ageing skin. Both SkinCeuticals and Elta MD have great choices to suit practically every preference and skin type. Pair with a good Vitamin C antioxidant like CE Ferulic as a preventative measure. 

At this age, you’ve also got to protect areas of the body where the skin is thinner. SkinCeuticals Tripeptide-R Neck Repair, for instance, gently improves shortcomings in neck’s tone and texture. As women enter perimenopause and things begin to slow down, the introduction of gentle retinoids like VI Derm Retinol Moisturiser boost cell rejuvenation and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

50+

Challenges

Once you’re past 50, skin is more susceptible to dryness and sagging. This is especially true for women because of hormonal changes, but men’s skin also begins to show its age thanks to decades of environmental exposure. 

Solutions

Consistency and diligence are key:  

1. Cleanse — Ageing skin is naturally drier, so cleanse but do it gently. Avoid harsh products that strip the skin bare; you need to maintain the skin’s barrier with proper hydrating products like SkinCeuticals Soothing Cleanser and Simply Clean.

2. Apply the sunscreen — You need SPF protection now more than ever, and whichever sunscreen you choose should be at least SPF 30+ and protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Make sure to reapply liberally throughout the day. 

3. Moisturise — Go for rich, thick moisturisers like SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore or Renew Overnight Dry to assist with correction and prevention. They seal in hydration and keep skin looking younger and fresher.  

You can also exfoliate once a week in an effort to get rid of dead cells and reveal a fresh layer of skin. SkinCeuticals Micro-Exfoliating Scrub is gentle, yet effective.