The body's ability to produce the proteins, humectants and hormones necessary for youthful skin (such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, and estrogen) decreases incrementally as we age. Slowly but surely, this creates roots for many health issues women over fifty face to occur - including dehydration.
Contrary to popular belief, dehydration can actually present some pretty serious health risks if gone unaddressed for too long. Lack of proper hydration can cause seizures, brain swelling, kidney failure and chronic headaches; but is most notoriously known for resulting in premature aging of the skin.
How does a grape become a raisin? Dehydration.
When it comes to aging skin, hydration is key. With mother nature's rationing of our body's natural resources, adjusting our skincare routine is critical to getting our dry, irritated skin the increasing support it needs.
Skin care = health care.
Our first tip for those struggling with post-fifty skin is to be consistent. The advice below is useless if it's not prioritized and put into daily action. If you're someone who's mostly gotten by with a minimal system to care for your skin (cleanse, moisturize and go, anyone?), we're here to break it to you: your oversimplified routine will no longer sustain you the way it has in the past.
You might dread the idea of adding more steps and products to your regimen, but we promise you, it will make for a world of difference.
Prefer not to take our word for it?
We implore you to try it out for yourself. Not only do we recommend layering oils, serums and eye creams into your daily skincare practice, but also to ensure each product is concentrated with effective, high quality ingredients. The last thing your skin needs is products with mediocre performance whose efficacy is diluted by a bunch of fillers and preservatives.
Our #1 rule for aging skin? Nourish & protect.
In addition to thoroughly supporting and subscribing to your new skincare routine, Ladykind experts also recommend becoming more mindful of sun exposure. Everyone knows sun damage causes premature aging of the skin, and your skin's ability to endure this, along with the production of the body's natural resources, decreases over time. Hydration is the first order of business. The second is making sure you're properly protected. Whether you use a daytime moisturizer, tinted moisturizer, foundation or powder, make sure your face is protected with SPF 30 or above before leaving the house.
Repeating the same steps every day can eventually start to feel tedious and monotonous, but remember, consistency it what does the trick. If skincare isn't something you enjoy spending time on, you might think of your regimen as just another 'task' to check off your to do list. It can be especially hard to stick to when life's distractions are pulling at you, or when you're in a rush and don't have the capacity to give your skin the superintendence it deserves.
Our last tip for caring for your post-fifty skin is to pay meticulous attention to areas of your body you might normally neglect. Your neck, decollete, and back of your hands are parts of the body that are regularly exposed yet often forgotten about in our skincare routines.
Nani Dominguez
Nani is a writer, co-host of TFAW Project and Tsismis with Jen & Nani podcast shows, and communications consultant residing in Oakland, California. Visit notesbynani.com to learn more.
