Look after your skin at any age

As your skin changes, your skin care routine should also alter. The most effective way to approach skincare – and manage the ageing process – is to adapt your routine to your skin’s ever-changing needs.

In your 20s

Your skin cell turnover is high, giving your complexion an enviably fresh and glowing look. Plus, your dermal support system of collagen and elastin is still strong. You may take good skin for granted now, but there are a few key steps that are worth taking.

Set up a routine. It does not have to be fancy or expensive, says dermatologist Dr Jo-Ann See, who recommends a simple two-step regimen of gently cleansing and hydrating skin. Avoid harsh products that may strip the skin of its natural barrier and if you are prone to pore clogging and breakouts, look for exfoliants with fine granules, not sharply angulated ones.

While you do not need rich anti-ageing treatments just yet, a good sunscreen, applied daily, is the best preventative-ageing strategy around.

A good eye cream can help smoothe the skin around the eyes, which is usually the first place where signs of ageing start to set in.

In your 30s

This decade has a huge impact on skin, experts say. The stress of juggling family life with work commitments can take its toll, and early signs of ageing manifest in the form of dappled pigmentation and lines that are etching into the skin more and more deeply.

In your 30s, sun damage that occurred years ago may start to make its way to the outer skin layers, creating mottled-looking patterns of pigmentation. Applying an antioxidant treatment in the morning may be beneficial. Antioxidants neutralise free radicals in our skin that increase the breakdown of collagen or elastin

In your 40s

Women in this age group generally have a little more time and money in this phase of life. Managing the ageing process in this decade requires an upgrade in effort.

The skin no longer “bounces back as quickly” in your 40s.  If you eat unhealthily, have a late night or drink too much, it shows in your face straight away in the form of sluggishness and dehydration.

Face serums and masks to counter such lifestyle effects may help. Of course, you could try to avoid them in the first place. Experts suggest you should start looking after every organ in your body.

In your 40s, oestrogen levels also start to drop, which affects oil production and collagen. While anti-ageing creams aim to work long-term to prop up the collagen network, they are also rich in formulation, meaning they have an immediate super-moisturising effect, softening the appearance of lines.

If you haven’t yet committed to regular facials, now is the time. It is said to be the best thing you can do for the long-term quality of your skin.

In your 50s

The skin appears to be ageing in overdrive all of a sudden. The skin is said to become thin and loose in this decade.

You should try to prevent the skin from becoming dry and dehydrated, which in turn protects the skin from the environment and increases skin sensitivity.

Menopause causes a drop in sebum production; for this reason, consider pampering your face with beautiful skin oils.

You may notice various types of pigmentation making their marks on your face and limbs. See a doctor to have them checked out; once you know they are benign, you can visit a skin clinic to discuss removal options, which may entail topical or laser treatments.