Skin Aging through the Decades
Table of Contents
How do you most effectively take care of your skin as you age?
With all of the conflicting advice out there, it’s sometimes hard to know which products to use and what services to invest in.
Just like the rest of our bodies, skin also changes as we age, so it’s essential to know how to approach your skin in every amazing decade of your life.
Below, we’ve put together our cheat sheet for amazing skin at any age, including our recommended products and treatment options best suited for each decade.
Decade: Your Twenties
Up first are your twenties.
The twenties are ideally all about preventative care. This means good skincare and a solid SPF routine.
Especially compared to later decades, we still have plentiful collagen and elastin in our twenties, making our skin appear youthful and plump.
Preventative care will make the most of this natural state of youth— protecting it from unnecessary damage, ie. UV rays, pollution, etc..
Skin Advice for Ages 20-29:
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Quality Skincare Products with Antioxidants
Now is the time to start with the daily application of antioxidant-rich products. As we age, cell turnover progressively slows down.1 This results in signs of aging like wrinkles, poor skin tone and texture, and pigmentation issues. Products high in quality antioxidants will help protect your skin through all decades of life.
At Skin by Lovely, we recommend anyone in their 20s to incorporate products with:
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Broad-Spectrum Sun Protection
If you’ve experienced a lot of sun exposure throughout your life, you may begin to see pigmentation on sun-exposed areas of your face as early as your twenties.
Sun damage is cumulative, so it is imperative to start protecting your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen as early as possible.2
On top of sun damage, if you are on birth control pills or pregnant, you may start to notice a type of hyperpigmentation called melasma. Melasma usually appears as medium to large brown patches on the face and is spurred by hormones. It is commonly seen on the upper lip and cheeks.
To help combat UV damage, we recommended the daily use of a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen.
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Preventative Neuromodulators
Mid-to-late twenties are typically when most people start to notice wrinkles forming when they move certain parts of their face.
These lines are called dynamic wrinkles.
Harmless, really, because the wrinkled skin goes back to being smooth once the muscle contraction is over.
If you notice those lines sticking around even at rest, we highly recommend neuromodulators, like Botox and Dysport.
Neuromodulators, aka wrinkle relaxers, work by preventing the underlying muscle from contracting, therefore inhibiting the overlying skin from folding and wrinkling. This reduces the chance of deeper set wrinkles forming in the first place!
Decade: Your Thirties
On to your thirties.
The thirties are when we start to build to more in-office treatments and add a few more active ingredients to our skincare routines. A fair amount of prevention is still at play during this decade, so don’t neglect our recommendations from the 20s and be sure to carry over your use of Antioxidants, SPF, and Neuromodulators like Botox.
Because cell turnover continues to decrease, pigment issues and dullness typically increase in this decade. Some other issues that may be present are skin laxity, facial hollowing, and scarring leftover from breakouts.
Skin Advice for Ages 30-39:
In addition to Antioxidants, SPF, and Neuromodulators, we recommend incorporating the following during your thirties:
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Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF)
Platlet-Rich Fibrin consists of a quick blood draw, spinning your blood, & extracting your own growth factors & stem cells from the solution. This can then be re-injected or microneedled into the skin for skin rejuvenation, collagen stimulation, under eye brightening, & treatment of hair thinning.
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Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers for Volume Loss
Volume loss in the under-eyes or lips can be easily remedied by using dermal fillers.
Dermal fillers, which last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, are Hyaluronic Acid-based gels that replace lost volume in the skin.
Chemical Peels are one of the most effective ways to reduce unwanted pigmentation, uneven skin tone, and acne blemishes or scarring.
We especially love the Cosmelan Depigmentation Peel for stubborn Melasma!
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Enzymes and Hydroxy Acids
To help combat dullness, Enzymes and Hydroxy Acids can be incorporated into your daily skincare routine. They work by dissolving the bonds between our skin cells, encouraging sloughing and increased cell turnover.
If you are struggling with adult acne, you’re not alone! GLOWBIOTICS Acne Clarifying + Refining Treatment contains both Beta and Alpha Hydroxy Acids along with other skin brighteners and is incredibly effective at clearing adult acne blemishes.
Decade: Your Forties
As you progress into your forties, cell turnover— you guessed it— continues to decline.
This makes utilizing all the tips from the earlier decades incredibly important, so no slacking on your SPF or Retinol!
Collagen production has slowed by about 20% since our early twenties, so the firm skin of our youth naturally starts to shift and change.3 One of the most noticeable results of this is facial hollowing. Facial fat pads also begin to noticeably reduce, especially around the cheeks, temples, and just in front of the ears.
Due to this combination of fat pad reduction and decreased collagen, sagging skin may make an appearance in this decade, resulting in the formation of jowls. Neck skin laxity is also extremely common.
Skin Advice for Ages 40-49:
Continue with all of the recommendations mentioned above for ages 20-39, but now is the best time to integrate the following into your routine:
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Sculptra Aesthetic for Collagen Production
Sculptra is a unique injectable that encourages the body to produce more of its own collagen. We recommend this treatment to anyone looking to address skin laxity, sagging, and wrinkles.
Because it stimulates natural collagen production within the skin, this is one of our team’s favorite treatments!
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Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers for Facial Hollowness
Dermal Fillers can help restore the volume loss along your cheeks, chin, and jawline.
Injected properly, hyaluronic acid dermal fillers help with the appearance of facial hollowness and provide a younger, more plump appearance.
While many patients fear looking too “done,” fillers done correctly can look incredibly natural. A good Injector will leave you looking refreshed, not different.
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Kybella for Jawline Contouring
In addition to dermal filler for jawline enhancement, Kybella is an excellent option for those in need of contouring in addition to the added structure a filler will provide.
Kybella is a non-surgical injectable that destroys fat cells in the double-chin area. The slimming results are permanent too!
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Neuromodulators for Static Wrinkles
Even if you haven’t started with Neuromodulators before your forties, it’s not too late to see significant improvement in static wrinkles. Some people worry about looking too frozen from Botox or Dysport, but results can be effective yet subtle in the right hands.
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Neck Targeted Treatments
Address neck skin laxity and sagging with Sculptra treatments as well as nightly use of Nectifirm Advanced, a powerful product designed to reduce signs of aging, specifically for the neck.
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Growth Factors and Peptides
Topically applied Growth Factors and Peptides are an excellent way to support in-office treatments like Sculptra and Botox. These impressive ingredients promote skin repair and collagen production.
A Skin by Lovely top-seller featuring both Peptides and Growth Factors, SkinMedica® TNS Advanced+ Serum is perfect for anyone looking to take their skincare routine to the next level.
Decade: Your Fifties and Up
By your fifties, you’re probably fairly comfortable with your skin at this point. You know what it likes and what it doesn’t. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t add things to your routine that can benefit specific aging concerns!
By this decade, skin cell turnover has reduced to 45-50 days, down quite a bit from every 28 to 30 days as a young adult!4
Skin is thinner, which paves the way for broken capillaries to appear. You may experience increased skin dryness due to hormonal changes, and your skin can also become more sensitive.
Because of the loss of elasticity and volume in your skin, you may experience more sagging or laxity- especially in the lower face. Volume loss will also contribute to this as your temples and cheeks won’t ‘anchor’ your face like they did when you were younger.
Skin Advice for Ages 50+:
Continue with all of the recommendations mentioned above for ages 20-49, but now is the best time to integrate the following into your routine:
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Calming and Hydrating Skincare for Sensitive or Hormonal Skin
Our go-to recommendation for anyone experiencing increased dryness or sensitivity is always Glowbiotics’ Calming Restorative Treatment.
This serum is hydrating, anti-inflammatory, and will make your skin much more comfortable.
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Full-Face Rejuvenation using Dermal Fillers and Neuromodulators
Dermal Fillers in the mid-face, temples, and cheeks will help to anchor the face and lift the lower face, thereby improving the appearance of sagging, lax skin. At the same time, Neuromodulators can be used to subtly smooth away fine lines and wrinkles.
A full-face, comprehensive approach will ensure natural-looking results.
Like the neck, our hands can be another body part susceptible to visible aging.
Radiesse is an FDA-approved treatment that smooths and plumps the backs of the hands by encouraging collagen production.
Healthy Skin Aging in any Decade
Our skin advice for all ages:
- Wear your SPF rain or shine and see your dermatologist for annual skin exams.
- Avoid tanning beds and sunbathing.
- Eat an antioxidant-rich diet— think lots of colorful veggies!
- Accept your skin for all it does for you, and know that no one’s skin is perfect. Be kind to yourself!
Ready to invest in your skin and get started with our recommendations?
Book a consultation today at any of Skin by Lovely’s locations in Santa Monica, CA, Portland, OR, Lake Oswego, OR, and Camas, WA
About Skin by Lovely™
Skin by Lovely specializes in FDA-approved, natural-looking, non-surgical, medical facial aesthetics, and rejuvenation treatments. With practices in Santa Monica, CA, Portland, OR, Lake Oswego, OR, and Camas, WA, Skin by Lovely is certified by Allergan, the makers of Botox® and Juvederm®, as a Top 10 facial aesthetic practice in the United States and a Top 25 account for Galderma, the makers of Dysport® and Restylane®.
Convenient online scheduling is available for all three Skin by Lovely locations.
References:
- Farage, M. A., Miller, K. W., Elsner, P., & Maibach, H. I. (2013). Characteristics of the Aging Skin. Advances in wound care, 2(1), 5–10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3840548/. Accessed January 11, 2022.
- Queensland University of Technology. Cancer-causing skin damage is done when young. ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510100521.htm. Accessed January 11, 2022.
- Scientific American Website. Why does skin wrinkle with age? What is the best way to slow or prevent this process? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-does-skin-wrinkle-wit/. Accessed January 11, 2022.
- National Cancer Institute, SEER Training Modules. Layers of the Skin https://training.seer.cancer.gov/melanoma/anatomy/layers.html. Accessed January 11, 2022.