For those of us who once had a very oily skin in their twenties, may now, in their thirties, notice the skin behaving more drier than oily and perhaps the appearance of fine expression lines are beginning to be noticed. Or sensitivity may be present, perhaps products that you once used to use, can no longer be tolerated on your skin? All of these changes within our skin can be effectively treated whist helping to prevent the inevitable ageing concerns that so many of us dread by simply taking the time to educate ourselves on the best skincare we can use.
It is now time to banish those all-in-one face wipes and concentrate on committing to a more advanced routine to ideally include a cleanser, toner, moisturiser, exfoliator, mask and eye product – did you know that our eyes start to deteriorate at the age of 16, therefore it is advised to be using an eye product from this young age, this is something that most people do not realise and would only start to think about using later on in life. Neck and bust creams and lip products may also be worth thinking about as these delicate areas often notice the signs of ageing earlier than other parts of the body.
By using a professional line of skincare, you can be sure that the product will be more advanced and contain a higher grade of ingredients. Using a professional skin care line will enable you to achieve a better more advanced result in a shorter space of time, professional products also tend to lend themselves to a variety of complex skin conditions so its important to know what your concerns are and convey this information to your therapist who can speak to you about the recommended course of treatments and products specifically tailored to you.
As a general rule, sensitivity within the skin should always be treated first, as sensitivity can lead to premature ageing and hypersensitivity, this is not to say that other concerns can’t be treated, however, as a therapist, sensitivity is something that needs to be strengthened and controlled immediately. As we age, the oil content within our skin does tend to reduce, therefore dryness or dehydration may be something that is also noticed within the skin, it is worth remembering that as the seasons change this can dramatically change and alter the skin, I would strongly advise to book in for a skin analysis or consultation so see if treatment courses and homecare products need to be reviewed as this is something that often a lot of people benefit from.
When selecting products to deal with skin complaints for people in their thirties, looking for products with anti-ageing ingredients is key. Preventative ageing is often what’s thought about, our skin is at its peak at the age of 26, after this age we loose on average 1% of collagen from our skin, therefore I would highly recommend feeding the skin with as many actives that focus on putting the brakes on ageing. Ingredients such as marine collagen will work at plumping out fine lines and wrinkles, it also delivers a burst of hydration to the skin, other ingredients such as evening primrose oil and blackcurrent seed oil feed the lipid layer, this is the protective layer that surrounds each of our cells and prevents water loss and hydrates and protects the skin cells enabling the cell to function much more effectively. Appling a serum or concentrate under your moisturiser can positively impact the complexion by introducing ingredients such as vitamin C and retinol, this can magically change the skin to function better, brighten the complexion and keep the skin looking youthful for longer.
Eye products are an important part of a daily routine, when applying eye products this is often something that many people get wrong or apply incorrectly. The delicate eye area can only take a small amount of product, therefore a grain of rice sized amount is enough for both eyes, this product should be tapped around the eye bone, using the upper brow bone and upper cheek bone as a guide, this is as close to the eye that you should be applying eye product. The way the skin works around the eye area is to draw the product in towards the eye, if you are applying too much too close, then this can have negative effects rather than positive ones due to the eye being overloaded with product very often resulting in puffiness, soreness and irritation. Ingredients such as arnica, vitamin C and magnesium work wonders around the eyes, restoring vitality, brightness and youthful eyes. For those specifically concerned with fines lines and expression lines then marine collagen would be an added benefit and a reduction in lines and wrinkles would be noticed.
For those people suffering with puffiness, tired eyes or for those concerned with fine lines and wrinkles and perhaps don’t have too much time on their hands to go for professional in salon eye treatments, then applying Active Collagen eye patches will really help to revitalise the eye zone.
During our thirties our bodies can go through some big changes, pregnancy being the main one that can have a dramatic effect on the skin and the way it acts. During pregnancy our hormone levels change, therefore causing the skin to be ‘unpredictable’, for some expectant mothers the skin can appear bright, glowing with health and vitality, however for others the skin can become oilier, congested or become very sensitive.
During pregnancy I would always recommend using products suited to sensitive skins, it is definitely worth avoiding any products that will cause a detoxing effect, such as stimulating essential oils and acids such as salicylic or glycolic. During pregnancy, some people can notice an increase in pigmentation within the skin, often moles will appear darker and new ones may be noticed. For some women the pregnancy mask can appear which is a large patch of pigmentation most usually noticed over the forehead, although sometimes can be seen on the cheeks and upper lip. The best advice during pregnancy is to ensure you are wearing an SPF on a daily basis, SPF 15 is the required protection for everyday use, but if you are specifically out in the sun or away on holiday, then an SPF 30 would come highly recommended.
For people in their thirties who do not have the time for a complex daily skincare routine but who still require some extra TLC for their skin, then using an exfoliator and mask once to twice a week to remove dead skin cell build up, whilst boosting the skin with vitamins and minerals will benefit. As we age our desquamation process slows down, therefore keeping up with regular exfoliation will enable the skin to function much more effectively and promote. Applying a mask to the skin for 10 minutes once or twice a week is like giving yourself a facial at home. There is a variety of different facial masks available dependant upon skin type, so ensuring you are selecting the correct one for your skin and its concerns is key, but again this is something that can be discussed with a trained professional.
Most salons and spas will be happy conduct a skin analysis to give you advice and homecare recommendations for your skin type and concerns. Speaking to a professional and allowing them to have a closer look at your skin, will enable you to hear their educated opinion and should then guide you in the right direction to youthful, flawless looking skin.