Recently Turned 50? Then You’ll Love These Skincare Tweaks

Turning 50 is a pretty big deal for your skin so get ahead of dryness, dehydration, wrinkles and dark spots with these skincare strategies that truly work.

When you combine decades of natural aging with the added stress of sun exposure, hormonal changes, environmental pollution and questionable lifestyle habits it’s no wonder that skin needs help as you reach your 50s and beyond. As natural aging goes, skin undergoes significant changes when you hit 50. Collagen production decreases annually by around 1 percent – and, btw, this may have started as early as age 20! – while menopausal hormones often lead to thinner skin, decreased sebum production and a compromised barrier function. Cue dryness, sagging and sensitivities to name just a few.

Then there’s the rate at which your skin turns over which significantly slows down in your 50s. As a younger adult, the life cycle of your skin usually sits around the 28 day mark, during which time skin cells form, move up to the surface, then die and slough away. In your 50s, however, this 28-day life cycle can extend to more than 45 days which allows dead cells to hang around at the surface for way too long, making your skin look dull, gloomy and feel rough to the touch.

Couple all this with elastin fiber degeneration, an increase in transepidermal water loss and accumulated sun damage and, well, it’s a wonder your skin looks as fabulous as it does. 

On that note, let’s not forget what an absolute privilege it is to have reached the age of 50  – wrinkles and all. So let’s celebrate your mature skin by ensuring you’re following a few important steps to help soften the signs of visible aging. Because, we don’t know about you, but we’re all for that.

1. Focus On Hydration

As you age, skin loses its ability to hold on to moisture. Why does this happen? Well it’s mainly down to the skin’s barrier function whose job it is to repel irritants and allergens while retaining the optimal levels of moisture to keep your skin soft, supple and healthy. The protective barrier is made up of around 20 brick-like layers of cells, all ‘glued’ together by important substances like cholesterol, ceramides and fatty acids.

Your barrier function is fantastic at its job… until it’s not. For example, the natural aging process causes it to lose vital ceramides which makes it become thinner, weaker and less able to retain water. This means you have to give it a helping hand to help your skin stay moisturized and hydrated. And the best way to do this? Simple. Invest in products that are rich in humectants like aloe, hyaluronic acid and glycerin as these absorb moisture and plump up the skin. A great trick is to apply a hydrating toner like Ocean Minerals Super Toner or a serum like Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum to damp skin, layering it underneath your moisturizer to lock all that delicious hydration into your skin.

2. Take Extra Care When You Cleanse

Harsh cleansing is a killer on the skin’s barrier function which you have to really, like REALLY look after as you reach age 50 and beyond. Whatever your skin type, choose the gentlest formulation possible and, if nothing else, avoid synthetic fragrances, strong alcohols, dyes and harsh surfactants like SLS and SLES as these can cause irritation and dryness. Skin becomes drier and more fragile as it matures so unnecessary chemicals are a big no-no.

Of course, cleansing is still a crucial part of your daily routine as it helps remove surface debris which reduces your chances of breakouts (because yes, adult acne is a thing). Just don’t go wild with products that strip your skin because these will either cause excess dryness or excess sebum depending on your skin type. Instead, choose a product that cleanses thoroughly, but doesn’t suck all the life from your skin – it just removes the bad stuff. We love Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser.

One final word on cleansing: hot water is seriously bad news so stick with lukewarm water as you cleanse to avoid stripping your barrier of important oils.

3. Exfoliate Weekly

Remember the chat about the life cycle of your skin slowing down as you age? That is no joke and leaving dead skin cells to build up at the surface will totally screw up your complexion.

One word: exfoliation.

Exfoliation is non-negotiable for 50+ skin as it removes buildup and accelerates cell turnover, allowing younger, fresher, brighter skin to come to the surface. There’s a definite sweet spot, however because too much of a good thing can upset the delicate balance of your skin, potentially causing micro tears and exacerbating sensitivities.

Our advice is to start slowly, using Vitamin C Gentle Face Scrub on a weekly basis. Most skin types should be able to tolerate a weekly exfoliation session if you go carefully and don’t rub at your skin too much. And if you reckon you need more and your skin can take it you can always up the frequency to two or three times a week. Just remember to use a delicate touch and to rinse thoroughly with lukewarm, never hot, water.

4. Protect Your Skin Every Day

OK, this is a biggie so listen up. No matter your age, gender, skin color or skin type, you simply have to protect your skin from that devilish ball of fire in the sky called the sun. Every day of the year. We know it can be tedious to apply sunscreen but nothing is more damaging to your skin than exposure to UV radiation.

To make it more bearable we created a lightweight, sun protective SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Facial Serum that shields your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. This means you don’t need to slather on that extra layer of cream at the end of your routine, you simply smooth this beautifully wearable serum over your skin before moisturizing and hey presto, you’ve got immediate SPF 30 coverage thanks to zinc oxide, combined with superpowered antioxidants, emollients, vitamins and botanical extracts.

Prefer to go down the more traditional sunscreen route? No problem: try our award-winning SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C which provides everything your skin needs to prevent early wrinkles and dark spots.

Sunscreen isn’t the only way to defend your skin from the harmful effects of the sun, however. Topical antioxidants also provide environmental protection, working hard to neutralize pesky free radicals while hydrating, brightening, firming and all sorts. In our opinion vitamin C is the most superior antioxidant but other goodies include green tea, vitamin E, niacinamide and retinol.

5. Become Well Acquainted With Retinol

There’s no arguing the fact that retinol remains the gold standard in aging skincare. Extensive clinical research prove its efficacy and its visible benefits simply can’t be denied. Both prescription tretinoin and over-the-counter retinol have been shown to penetrate the skin at a deep cellular level, helping to stimulate collagen synthesis, improve turnover and assist with healing. All of which 50+ skin needs in abundance.

If you’re yet to get on board with this powerhouse there’s no time like the present. Don’t get us wrong, it won’t turn back the hands of time, but it will give your skin the best chance to look and feel its absolute best. Ditto bakuchiol which is retinol’s gentler, natural alternative.

A few things to remember when introducing retinol into your routine for the first time…

* Always patch test first to reduce the risk of irritation.

* Don’t overdo it. Take it slow to begin with then increase your usage over time. This’ll help your skin to acclimate.

* Remember, mild side effects like temporary redness and slight tingling are OK; pain or burning are not. If you experience  the latter reduce usage, stop completely or try a bakuchiol serum like Rejuvenating Longevity Serum.

* Daily SPF is EVEN MORE important than ever.

* Patience is key. Retinol and bakuchiol take time to deliver so don’t give up if you don’t see results immediately. Trust us, you will in a few months.