By: Shop Good Holistic Estheticians - January Armstrong, Ashley Wittke, and Karlin Cerise
Truth is, just like everything else in life, our skin changes as we age — due to years of sun exposure, lifestyle choices, and of course, the slowing down of our skin’s regenerative processes. This means your skincare routine should change too!
If you’re a creature of habit, maybe you’re using the same skincare products you were using 10 years ago. That lightweight moisturizer you reached for in your teenage years to help with oil production? Should still do the trick… right? We say, not so fast!
While you really can’t stop the aging process (and we wouldn’t want to - aging skin is beautiful + should be celebrated!!), you can take control of your skin by using the best products for your age. We’ve enlisted the help of our Holistic Estheticians to break down exactly what you should be using for each stage of your skin.
Let’s dive in —
Baby skin
Ahh, baby soft skin! We may think, because its so beautiful, that it requires no skin care at all! But due to the skin’s delicate nature and the fact that it’s still fully developing, this is a crucial time to take care of your little one’s skin. Let’s get scientific for a minute. The stratum corneum (top layer of the skin) maintains the normal functions of the skin by keeping a beautiful balance of moisture from both our NMF (natural moisturizing factor), and intracellular lipids. Baby skin has much less of the two making it vulnerable to dryness and irritation. Our favorite gentle balancer? Erbaviva makes a Baby Body Wash that both cares for and cleanses the delicate skin with soothing ingredients such as oat kernel extract and chamomile, without any irritation. Follow up with their Baby Butter to give your baby much needed moisture thanks to cacao seed butter as it calms with organic lavender. Bath time will turn into pure luxury for the both of you!
Skin in your teens
Between school, BFF time, sports, tests and oh-so much more, breakout prone, dehydrated or overly oily skin are the last thing teens need, but unfortunately, are very common. Changing hormones (like the increase of androgens during puberty) can oftentimes be to blame! Our number one rule of thumb? Avoid stringent products. Breakouts are a bummer, but what's worse? Permanently damaging our moisture barrier by over-stripping with harsh alcohols, salicylic acids and other preserving chemicals. Doing this can actually lead to MORE breakouts (it’s really a vicious cycle!). Rather than drying out the acne, work on bringing moisture and hydrating back into the skin. Our go-to is the powerful but lightweight Sandalwood Cream from Berlin Skin. It soothes and hydrates with aloe and hyaluronic acid, while fighting bacteria with lavender, geranium and thyme and healing acne scaring with powerful sage. Another new favorite showing incredible results for acne and skin inflammation? Our newest transformational supplement on our wellness shelves, Zilch, is an all natural, Chinese Medicine based herbal tablet designed to help lower heat in the body and relieve stubborn acne. Overall? Consistency is key when it comes to reaching your teenage #skingoals!
Skin in your 20's
A decade of many fun firsts and, and just maybe, the first signs of, ahem, aging. It’s ALL about prevention here and it’s never too early to start with a killer anti-aging regimen. Because collagen and elastin begin to decrease at age 25, its totally normal to notice fine lines around your eyes and pigmentation for the first time. Our non-negotiable? Applying sunscreen on the daily is an absolute MUST. Suntegrity’s Natural Face Sunscreen & Primer with SPF 30 is the perfect addition to your regimen. Think skin food ingredients like hyaluronic acid to plump and hydrate, antioxidant rich pomegranate to rejuvenate and free radical fighting green tea. Top of the line nano zinc oxide protect from both UVA and UVB rays. Top this off with the fact that it’s a makeup primer and you really have no excuse to not to always have this 3 in 1 in your bag. To boost your anti-aging regimen further, add in Nuori’s Supreme-C Serum in the evenings to protect from photodamage, improve texture and tone, and enhance that youthful glow!
Skin in your 30's
The 30’s are often approached with a bit of wariness and, in some cases, downright panic. We say good riddens to this misconception and embrace the coming years with open arms and take a moment to reflect on all that we’ve accomplished thus far. As we dive into this new and exciting chapter, our skin is also going through a transition. The 30’s oftentimes brings more dryness and dullness as our cell turnover rate slows. Say buh-bye to dullness with Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask for that instant glow (available on our skincare shelves at both locations!). Pomegranate enzymes and BHA from white willow bark will not only leave your skin glowing, but it also helps ensure that the products you layer on top are absorbed more readily!
Skin in your 40’s
As women enter their 40s, there are a few changes happening in the body. Sun damage may become more evident, skin’s elasticity may decrease, and hormonal changes can occur. This is the best time to re-evaluate your home regimen and be sure you're using the most effective steps to balance your skin and body! Protecting your skin is one of the most important things you can do for your skin at this point - so continue applying sunscreen diligently before leaving the house. Josh Rosebrook's Nutrient Day Cream leaves skin supple and hydrated... plus, get's you ready to indulge in a little vitamin D! Lastly, if you haven’t already, now is the best time to slowly introduce a natural retinoid (a.k.a YOUR NEW BFF). Retin-A stimulates collagen production in the skin, helps slow down oil production, promotes that glow and evens skin tone! Tata Harper's Retinoic Nutrient Facial Oil (find at both One Paseo and North Park locations) is a must - it will not only help reduce the signs of aging, but also help reduce inflammation as well (including cuts and burns). If you don't have this already, we think it reallllllly deserves a special spot in your line-up.
Skin in your 50’s
In your 50’s, you deserve to be looking your absolute best while you celebrate this milestone decade! But what's going on with our skin at this age? A continued reduction in collagen, elastin and moisture may lead to fine lines and decrease in elasticity. A decrease in estrogen may also be the source of increased inflammation, making skin more sensitive to sun damage or external pollutants. While we can't reverse our body's natural rhythms, it’s not too late to improve the health and appearance of your skin through proper skincare. By now you’re probably familiar with the usual powerhouse suspects; Vitamin A, Vitamin C and you would never dream of skipping your sunscreen! But... what about the rest of your body? Osea’s Anti-Aging Body Balm is rich with anti-aging ingredients like mineral rich Patagonian seaweed, brightening acai, babassu, passion fruit and raw virgin coconut oils. This luxurious buttery balm leaves the skin glowing, hydrated and oh SO soft.
Skin in your 60’s
It is not unusual for our skin to become drier in our 60’s due to moisture loss and the reduced integrity of the skin’s barrier. This is a time where we often require richer moisturisers to rebuild our hydration levels. Our advice is to layer! Layering a lightweight hydrating serum underneath your moisturizer will give your skin that extra boost so you aren’t left feeling dry mid-day. By now, we're' sure you are all obsessed with Botnia’s Hydrating Serum (if not, you will be). Packed with vitamin B5 and hyaluronic, this serum keeps your skin feeling plump and oh-so hydrated. Next up, Tata Harper’s Creme Riche (find on our NP and OP skincare shelves). Target visible aging with natural antioxidants and essential fatty acids while you feel your skin become instantly soft and supple with ingredients such as vitamin E and jojoba. This insanely rich moisturizer will leave your skin wanting more (in the best possible way!)
Skin in your 70’s
We all want to age gracefully, and often that means making some adjustments to our skin care routines! In our 70's, skin cell turnover begins to slow down. New skin cells may not be making their way to the skin's surface, so this calls for some extra TLC to achieve healthy, vibrant skin. No matter your age, your consistent at-home regimen is the bread and butter to your goals! The most important step is your serum, which is the medicine for the skin for that daily dose of glow. Our top pick? Tata Harper's Rejuvenating Serum (psst.. it's available at both our North Park and Del Mar shops!). This multi-tasking formula targets visible signs of aging with 10 sources to minimize the look of wrinkles, 12 sources of plumping hydration, and 7 sources to smooth and soften skin texture! Follow by layering a rich moisturizer to lock it all in - our go to is Osea’s Advanced Protection Cream. This ultra rich Organic Seaweed and botanical moisturizer deeply hydrates and firms the skin instant plump and radiant complexion!
Wiser, stronger and yep, more beautiful with each passing age. Plus, we can totally get behind any excuse to explore new skincare options for a refreshed, more vibrant glow! If the same products have been in your daily line-up for a few years, there's a good chance your skin is ready for something new. Check in with your current #skingoals. They're ever-changing... and that's a good thing! Our product experts and Holistic Estheticians are hear to support you at every step along the way and make natural skincare works powerfully for you.
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