Essential Skincare Tips for Women in their 50s and Beyond. It starts from the moisturizer swaps to make to the mistakes to avoid, everything you’ve ever wanted to know
BY HASINA KHATIB
As we grow and age, our skincare kits mature with us. If your vanity shelf was once dominated by anti-acne heroes in your 20s, it is likely being fronted by anti-aging potions as you grow older. As our skin ages, its needs, concerns, and requirements change in accordance—but looking and feeling the best version of you doesn’t require a complete overhaul. Here, Dr. Madhuri Agarwal, founder of Yavana Aesthetics Clinic, tells us about the easy swaps and changes to accommodate to give your skin the care that it needs in your 50s.
The most common skincare concerns post 50
As we age, the texture of the skin matures with us—and this can branch out into an assorted array of skincare concerns. “With age, the skin cell turnover slows down from the normal 28-day cycle to over 45 days. This translates to dead skin cells staying on the surface for longer, giving a dull appearance,” explains Dr. Agarwal. This coincides with a loss of collagen, elastin, and fat underneath the skin—structures that lift and tighten the skin. As a result, skin appears thinner and more translucent, causing the blood vessels to become more prominent. She adds, “Due to the menopausal changes in women, there is a severe fall in estrogen levels—the hormone that provides suppleness and moisture to the skin, causing the face to appear dry and wrinkly. Though normally acidic, the skin pH level starts to become more alkaline in this age, leading to loss of moisture and increasing the skin sensitivity.”
The textural changes unite to pose a fresh set of skincare concerns, the most common being dry, dull skin, open pores, deep folds and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and brown spots over face and hands, sagging in the mid and lower face, changes in nose shape and lip thinning, necklines and droopy eyes, says the Mumbai-based dermatologist.
Essential skincare habits to develop in your 50s
While the list may seem unsurmountable, help is always at hand. Dr. Agarwal believes that developing a few conscientious habits that go a long way towards rewinding the clock on age-related skincare dilemmas. The numero uno priority? “Upgrading or modifying your skincare routine as what worked in your 40s may not work in your 50s,” she says.
1. Use sunscreen and moisturise well
Establishing a diligent sunscreen routine everyday—even indoors—is of utmost importance as well. “Sunscreen is a must-have in your skincare kit as photoageing can worsen the changes your skin is undergoing. You’ll also find the need to adopt moisturisers that are richer and thicker in texture as the skin gets extremely dry at this age,” she adds. “Adding stem cell and peptides to the routine can also help augment skin health,” says Dr Agarwal.
2. Exfoliate gently
Antioxidant skincare products and retinol daily therapy can also be adopted to cut down on the wear and tear faced by the skin daily and stimulate skin cell turnover. “It is time to invite enzyme peels or AHA/BHA masks for chemical exfoliation into your routine once a week to exfoliate dead skin and stimulate the skin appearance.
3. Protect your eyes, neck and lips too
If you are looking to beef up your skincare arsenal, it also pays to watch for potential pitfalls. The most culprit in Dr Agarwal’s rulebook is skincare routines that are focused solely on the face. “Developing a vigilant neck routine is essential as well as the skin can give away the age. As a rule of thumb, it is advisable to include the neck, ears, décolletage and hands in your routine as well, even if you are using the same facial products,” she says. This needs to be supplemented with a good lip-care and eye care routine too, as the area tends to thin with age.
At the end of the day, she believes that a healthy skincare routine is one that isn’t driven by panic and hyper-diligence. “Do not rush into trying multiple anti-ageing products at the same time, and also try not to get alarmed by signs of ageing and look for ways to correct them instantly. Including sufficient exercise, sleep and anti-inflammatory foods in your diet will also go a long way towards keeping skincare concerns at bay,” she advises.
