21 Skincare Tips Every Woman Over 50 Should Know
Environmental factors such as smoking, sun exposure, and even stress can hasten your skin's aging process, especially as you reach the age of 50. The speed even doubles when you're genetically predisposed, or you're obese.
While medical journals and magazines can be brutally honest about the relationship between wrinkles and your age, it doesn't mean you can't do anything about it. With these 21 skin care tips, you can still feel beautiful both on the inside and outside.
1. Eat a Healthy Diet
The foods you consume are actually a lot more important than the products you apply on your skin. A healthy diet serves as a positive fuel for your body- making your skin vibrant, healthy and glowing.
There are fad diets that promise to help you lose weight. While they may seem effective, they can be detrimental to your skin by causing it to look unhealthy, discolored and sallow.
Instead of following trends, try to shoot for a healthy mix of foods. You can start with low-fat dairy products such as cottage cheese, skim milk, and tofu as these foods help with skin cell rejuvenation.
Strawberries, plums, and blueberries are high in antioxidants and can help guard against premature aging. You can also detoxify your skin and body by having a cup of green tea every morning.
Other essential food sources include leafy greens as well as tuna and turkey. You can also include sweet potatoes, tomatoes, whole-grains, nuts, and oils.
2. Exercise Regularly
The benefits of exercise are extensive. It can help with weight loss, better mental clarity, stress relief and even cancer treatment.
Regular movement is also beneficial when it comes to achieving healthy skin. In general, any type of exercise that improves your circulation can be as helpful in keeping your skin vibrant.
Exercise helps nurture the skin by increasing the flow of blood throughout your body.
The more blood circulating in your system means the more efficient your body becomes in flushing out bad cellular debris.
3. Increase Hydration
Skin can rapidly lose its elasticity, especially in women over the age of 50. If you’re worried that your skin is looking older than your actual age, you can address this by making sure you're hydrated.
Water is one of the easiest ways you can moisturize and repair your skin cells. Drinking at least eight-8 ounce glasses of water each day can help minimize fine lines and wrinkles.
If you find water too dull, you can add something healthy but flavorful to it. You can try tossing in fruits, such as cantaloupes, lemons, strawberries or watermelon.
In case you have excessively dry skin, you can try using a humidifier at home. In addition to hydrating your skin, it can also help in clearing your sinuses and in controlling allergies.
Hydrating lotions and soaps can also moisturize the skin. In fact, they are helpful in managing flakiness and cracking.
4. Stop Smoking
Whether you are 20 or 50 years old, quitting smoking won't only improve your skin, but it can help lengthen your life, too.
Smoking just one cigarette is enough to constrict your blood flow for up to 90 minutes. Once the body gets deprived of oxygen, elastin and collagen breakdown and become limited.
This is one of the reasons why people who smoke usually suffer from premature skin aging, dark undereye circles, and loss of their skin’s natural glow. Aside from these effects, they are also at a greater risk for suffering from psoriasis.
5. Go Makeup-Free
From air pollutants, stress to heavy makeup and grime, your skin can take a hard beating during the day. Going makeup free periodically will allow your skin to breathe and recoup.
If skipping makeup is not an option, be sure to thoroughly clean your face when removing it. You can also take this opportunity to treat your skin to a good facial mask or moisturizer.
6. Say No to Sun Bathing
Your body needs sun exposure to get the required amount of Vitamin D. Unfortunately when you get too much sun exposure, premature skin aging happens.
If you’ve been a sun worshipper most of your life, there’s still time to undo the damage. One of this includes staying out of the sun during the peak hours of 10 a.m to 4 p.m.
In case it's inevitable to go outdoors when the sun is at its strongest, make sure you're skin is protected. You can wear a hat, pants, and a long-sleeved shirt.
Sun exposure is not the only way you can get tanned skin. As a matter of fact, there are alternatives, such as self-tanning lotions, that can provide your skin with the added color you want without posing any harm.
7. Check for Signs of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer can happen to anyone, at any age, and any time.
To protect yourself, it's a must that you regularly check your skin for any moles, bumps and discolorations. You should also schedule an appointment with a dermatologist for a routine checkup, particularly if you notice any irregularities or you are genetically predisposed.
8. Wear Sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen should become a daily ritual whether you’ll be out in the sun or not. The best time to apply the product is right after you’ve completed your normal skincare regimen.
As much as possible, shoot for a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. It should also contain both UVA and UVB protection.
Damage from the sun can result in deeply embedded lines and wrinkles. It can also cause brown spots and discolorations on your skin.
To get the best benefit, try to find a sunscreen that's perfect for your skin type. If you'll be out in the sun for a long time, keep in mind to reapply your sunscreen every two to three hours.
9. Follow a Proper Cleansing Program
Going to bed without completely taking your makeup off can clog your pores, reduce cell renewal and cause acne. In cleansing your face, however, try to avoid using soap as much as possible.
As you age and as you go through menopause, your skin becomes more prone to dryness. The use of soap during this stage can make the condition even worse.
A good cleansing program should include properly selected products. If you have sensitive skin, you’ll want to test the products first on your arms or neck.
If redness or bumps occur, discontinue using the product right away.
10. Exfoliate Dead Skin
The outer layer of the epidermis typically thickens over the years because of the accumulation of dead skin cells. Without proper exfoliation, you don't only lose your glow but it can also make you look older than your actual age.
Exfoliation is an essential step in maintaining your skin's natural youthful glow. Depending on your skin and sensitivity, it may be beneficial to exfoliate every few days.
In addition to a gentle brush, you can also use an exfoliating facial scrub. You can either purchase online or make an all-natural scrub at home.
11. Make Time to Moisturize
As you age, your skin tends to lose its natural moisturizing capabilities.
In case your skin is already suffering from cracking and flakiness, you’re going to need a substantial moisturizer to help your skin re-hydrate.
For best results, you should apply your moisturizer after you’ve washed, exfoliated and applied your sunscreen.
If you'll be wearing makeup, make sure to allow the product to completely dry before applying your cosmetics.
Nighttime moisturizers can deliver extra hydration to the skin while you sleep.
If you have oily or sensitive skin, make it a point to look for a product that can reduce wrinkles and hydrate your skin without causing blemishes.
12. Try Your Hand at Anti-Aging Products
Because a lot of people are now taking a serious look at their skin health, you may notice a massive influx of skin products on the market today. This, however, doesn't mean that all of these products are equally effective in keeping you young-looking and glowing.
If you want to save both your skin and wallet, it's wise if you can take time to know your skin's needs. Having an idea about your skin type, for example, can really help tone down your choices.
If you suffer from wrinkles, fine lines and brown spots, choosing products with Vitamin A and retinol can help.
These components can also rejuvenate and help the skin rebuild cells.
13. Know the Importance of Under Eye Cream
The eye area is one of the most predominant areas in your body that can show the early signs of skin aging. Because of this, it's essential that you include a good under eye cream in your beauty arsenal.
As you age, the skin around your eyes becomes thinner and more fragile. They become prone to wrinkle formation, puffiness and even redness.
A good eye cream should be able to address these issues. To get the most out of your eye cream, however, you also have to know the proper way to apply it.
14. Opt for Warm Water to Wash Your Face
While hot water may feel good on your tired skin, it can steal moisture and cause premature aging. It can also leave your skin looking dry, dull and flaky.
When it comes to washing and rinsing your face, it’s important to put your water setting at lukewarm level. In testing the temperature, make sure to check using the back of your hands, your forearm or your elbow as these areas are more sensitive than your palms.
15. De-stress with Yoga and Meditation
A busy day at home and work can take a toll on you- both mentally and physically. The stress and exhaustion, however, are not limited to internal manifestations.
There are a lot of things stress can do to your skin. If you're not able to handle it well, you can experience breakouts, rashes and even bumps.
Meditation exercises, such as yoga and Pilates, can help manage and release stress. They can also help enhance the flow of oxygen to your skin.
If you don’t have time to attend a formal class, you can try personal breathing exercises instead. They are simple to do and can be done for around 30 minutes each day.
16. Be Gentle on Your Skin
Cleansing and moisturizing the skin are important parts of conquering the aging process. Aside from products, the methods on how they are applied can greatly affect the results, too.
When it comes to applying creams, moisturizers, lotions or makeup, you always want to use gentle movements, especially around the eye area. Soft brushes, applicators, and delicate sponges are great options if you want to avoid skin irritation.
Because the epidermis becomes remarkably thin as a person ages, you need to be extra careful in the way you treat it. In taking off your makeup and washing your face, make sure to use soft fabrics and clothes to avoid harming the delicate tissue.
17. Treat Yourself to a Facial
The benefits of a facial treatment are numerous. Aside from eliminating toxins, it can also assist in stimulating collagen production and in getting rid of skin dirt and debris.
Facial treatments can also boost the skin's circulation, especially in women beyond the age of 50. In case you're unsure about which type of facial treatment is best for you, you can try consulting a specialist.
Anti-aging facials, for example, work best at reducing lines and brightening the appearance of your skin. You can take this either in a salon or at home using the right massages, creams, masks and peels.
18. Shave or Tweeze
Women are more prone to chin hairs as they age. While electrolysis and tweezing can help get rid of the errant hairs, some people still prefer shaving.
It's a common misconception that shaving promotes hair growth and stubble, especially in the face. In truth, however, it has added benefits other than hair removal.
Shaving, for one, helps remove excess dead skin. It also allows moisturizers to be absorbed better into the skin.
19. Wear Age Appropriate Makeup
You may begin to see noticeable changes in your skin as you age, especially around the face, eyes and lip areas. These changes are actually cues for you to start modifying your regimen to meet the present needs of your skin.
In addition to re-tweaking your moisturizers, your makeup will also need to be updated as you age. Some cosmetic products that you use may no longer be as effective as before.
Powders, for example, are drying and tend to settle in fine lines. To address this, replacing them with cream blushes and liquid foundations are recommended.
If you notice your lipstick bleeding into your wrinkles, you may need to use lip liners to prevent your lip color from escaping. Aside from this, moisturizing concealers and eyeshadows are also good options as they help minimize creasing.
20. Use Natural Products
There are tons of skincare and makeup products that contain harmful chemicals and overly processed ingredients.
Women over 50 can achieve better results by going natural.
In choosing products, you should aim for beauty treatments that are organic or made from natural ingredients.
Herbs, coconut oil, olive oil, lavender and tea tree oil can nourish the skin and help it to look healthier and more youthful.
21. Never Soak Long in the Tub
While soaking in a bath can help reduce stress after an exhausting day, it can also be harmful to your skin, particularly if done longer than necessary.
If you’re not willing to give up bath soaks, then you may want to add nutrients to the water to keep your skin hydrated and nourished. You can try salt scrubs, moisturizing soaps and oils to get the best experience.
When you get out, make sure to also slather additional oil, lotion or moisturizer on your skin while it is still damp. This can help replenish the lost moisture from your bath.
Conclusion
It's common for women to experience changes in their skin once they've reached the liberating age of 50. It's also common for some of them to choose quick fixes to address these changes.
Fortunately, with today's natural products and the above tips you can now help slow down or even reverse the signs of aging on your own.
Isn't it time to begin your own journey to a more youthful glow?
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