Skin Care by the Decade

By Tiffany M. Darnold, MMS, PA-C, Couture Med Spa Oviedo

When I was a teen, I loved the idea of being older one day. Then, in my 20s, I felt like age 30 was going to be the perfect age. Unfortunately, it is hard to imagine the real truth about aging until you get older. Then it hits you!

Skin damage from tanning, lack of nutritious foods, and free radicals all start to catch up with you. You wake up one day feeling like you look 100. The aging process can be brutal. So, let me be brutally honest with you: Though you may have cried when you looked in the mirror this morning, aging gracefully is possible! It all starts with proper skincare. In fact, you can even turn back a decade if you start taking proper care of your skin now!

Proper skincare starts with understanding what’s good and what’s damaging to our bodies. We don’t just wake up one day with tired-looking skin. To help you on your skincare journey, let’s look at the common issues our skin faces through each decade of our life. Starting, of course, in the 20s!

YOUR 2OS AND ALL THEIR GLORY

Dancing Queen? More Like Suntanning Queen!

Sunbathing at the beach and relaxing in tanning beds seems to be the trend in your teens and early 20s. When we are young, we feel invincible but that can be foolish sometimes.

My father always told me I would be in trouble if I came home from college sunburned and now, I truly understand why. He was not being mean. He was protecting me and wanted me to be the best version of myself.

The first step in any skincare regimen is to use sunscreen 365 days a year. Sun damage is more than just a sunburn. It can lead to wrinkles, dry skin, sunspots, hyperpigmentation, and skin cancer! So, protect yourself with a medical-grade sunscreen daily and reapply every two hours. The younger we start, the better. About 80% of our sun damage occurs before we are 20!

But don’t worry! You can reverse the damage that has already occurred with photo facials (IPLs), medical-grade peels, and retinol.

Eww, Acne!

In your 20s, you probably have been or were battling acne for a while. Many of us will also start to transition into adult acne which may be hormonal as well as leftover bacterial teenage acne.

The great news is that we have a few weapons to combat your stubborn acne breakouts. I recommend doing facials, especially the HydraFacial, monthly. Use clarifying pads and couture antioxidant cleansers between visits to get clearer, more beautiful skin.

Ouch! Ditch the Razors.

Tired of spending hours every month shaving? Or worse, showing up at the beach with razor burn or missed hairs on your thighs? Well, ditch the razors and save time by doing laser hair removal. Always be beach ready. Just don’t forget your sunscreen! Smoother legs are just around the corner at Couture Med Spa.

Still on the fence about laser hair removal? Read our article and see if it’s right for you!

YOUR 30S ARE FOR STAYING FLIRTY

Renew with Retinoids!

Did you know that as we age, starting in our 20’s, we lose 1-2% of our collagen every year? Collagen gives you that youthful appearance by supporting and increasing your skin's elasticity. Retinol fights wrinkles and renews your skin by speeding up cell turnover and stimulating more collagen to develop naturally.

Start your retinol use 3 times a week at night. Then boost your youthful look by increasing to 4-5 times per week. I also recommend using a medical-grade moisturizer and sunscreen during the day which pairs well with your specific retinol.

Fight Back Against Free Radicals!

If it seems like the world is stealing your youth,  it is time to fight back! Vitamin C serum can help fight aging free radicals and give you glowing skin.

I also recommend incorporating anti-oxidant rich products into your routine. Try our Couture Antioxidant Cleanser and Ultimatte Sunscreen, which uses UVA blocking medical-grade zinc to prevent further aging due to sun damage, in the mornings and Couture Age Defying Cleanser in the evenings.

Photofacials (IPLs) and Fractional laser treatments can also fight back by reversing sunspots, broken capillaries, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.

Cheers! Drink Up.

Brace yourself… dry skin is coming! Many things can contribute to drying skin including the internal aging process. Give your skin the hydration it is craving with a moisturizing day cream and hyaluronic serum.

Already have severe dry flaky skin? Don’t fret! Couture Night Cream can combat the driest of skin, but don’t use it if you are still acne-prone. Instead, spot-treat in dry areas that are acne-free for combination skin.

I also recommend my absolute fave: Age Rewind Eye and Lip Serum to rehydrate those dry wrinkly lips and dehydrated skin under your eyes which contributes to more visible wrinkles. Who doesn’t love dewy wrinkle-free skin?

YOUR 40S CAN BE FUN

Ah! So Hormonal!

Hormone changes are a drag! Not only are you starting to deal with hot flashes, but other changes occur as we lose estrogen, such as dryness, breakouts, more wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, uneven texture, sagging/loss of elasticity, and fat malposition.

Yikes!

These changes are partially due to loss of collagen, slowing of sebaceous glands, metabolism changes, and other factors. To help combat them, continue your facials monthly and try Age Rewind Neck Cream, Fractional laser treatments, Hydroquinone, Retinol, and Bodybella (aka Kybella). You’ll start to look 30 again!

Thirsty?

Your skin is starting to dry even more now in your 40s. Quench your skin’s thirst with medical grade moisturizers and hyaluronic serum. Don’t forget your Age Rewind Eye and Lip Serum.

I’ve Got that Sinking Feeling!

Are your temples starting to look sunken in? Looking a little skeletal? Weight loss is not hard for everyone, but if the loss occurs in unwanted areas of the body it can cause you to look older.

Many avid runners start to lose wanted facial fat pads which keep us looking young! Sculptra can rebuild volume in hollow temples as well as volume loss in the cheeks and jawline-- helping you look young for years!

Learn more about Sculptra and other filler options!

YOUR 50S AND 60S ARE NO TIME TO STOP

Plump It Up!

Step up your game as your face is falling down! It’s easy with cosmetic fillers.  If you haven’t tried cosmetic filler yet, I recommend using only hyaluronic acid fillers as well as Sculptra.

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies and, best of all, it’s safe! As we age, our bones begin to erode and fat pads in the face disappear.  This leaves you with loose, sagging skin and deeper facial lines. Hyaluronic acid fillers such as Juvéderm and Restylane can enhance your natural beauty and restore your youth by plumping up and filling in facial volume loss.

Dry as the Sahara Desert!!!

Natural oils in your skin are starting to decrease yearly causing your skin to look as dry as a desert. This is because your body can no longer produce sebum correctly, which puts you at risk of increased skin sensitivity. Using a good medical grade moisturizer, such as Couture’s Moisturizing Day Cream and Couture Night Cream, can revive and protect your skin. Hyaluronic serum can also plump your skin and lock in moisture.

Too Focused on Your Elevens.

I always recommend Botox starting in your 20’s or 30’s depending on when your wrinkles start to develop and prevent them from getting worse, but it’s never too late to start! Botox can soften your eleven lines, which are the wrinkles between your brows, as well as treat wrinkles in the forehead, crow’s feet, and other specialized areas.

Remember, looking young starts with good skincare! At the end of the day, it’s not about buying the most expensive products. It’s about becoming healthier and more vibrant as we find the best versions of ourselves!