With age comes experience, wisdom and beauty. We have entered a new era of skin care that celebrates the aging process, focusing especially on the needs of mature skin. Instead of focusing on anti-aging, it’s time to focus on keeping your skin healthy and glowing, regardless of your age. Read on for our guide to embracing aging gracefully with skin care for mature skin.
How the skin ages | Signs of aging | How to age gracefully
How the skin ages
Two aging processes
As we age, our bodies naturally begin to age, a process called endogenous aging. This is a constant mechanism by which our cellular and biological functions slow down. Over time, the strong and flexible matrix of the skin begins to weaken and hyaluronic acid, elastin and collagen are naturally depleted. Intrinsic aging accounts for only 10% of skin changes. The remaining 90% is caused by these external influences that accelerate the aging process. Our bodies are also subject to extrinsic aging, caused by exposure to environmental stressors. These include lifestyle choices such as smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise as well as external factors such as pollution, blue light radiation and UV rays from the sun. ,
Free Radicals
How does environmental aging happen? Pollution, blue light and UV rays expose the skin to free radicals. Heidi Waldorf, MD he likens these highly reactive molecules to “anti-oxygen bombs that cause inflammation and cascades of damage.” Unchecked free radicals cause oxidative stress that damages the skin, degrades its structural proteins and leads to premature aging.
Inflammatory
When the skin is repeatedly exposed to free radicals, a process called inflammation can begin. Product Support Agents: “Inflammation is a term used to describe aging caused by chronic, persistent, underlying inflammation that eventually depletes the skin’s defense system. This weakens the skin’s structure, results in the degradation of collagen and elastin, and impairs the skin’s barrier function.”
Signs of aging
As we get older, it’s normal for our age to start showing on our faces. Here are some signs of aging that develop due to the loss of hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastin over time.
Fine lines and wrinkles
Hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastin are essential ingredients that maintain the skin’s youthful, firm appearance. But over time, the skin loses its ability to return to its original state. Repetitive facial expressions, such as frowning and smiling, stretch the skin. Several factors contribute to this loss of resilience:
- Decreased moisture: Skin dries out and becomes less pliable, making it prone to lines.
- Decrease in structural support: As we age, substances such as collagen that give the skin support and firmness gradually decrease.
- Loss of elasticity: Elastin is the protein that allows the skin to stretch and relax, and this also decreases as we age.
As a result of these changes, the skin can develop permanent folds, leading to fine lines and wrinkles, such as those seen on the forehead from repeated expressions.
Relaxed skin
As the skin loses strength, it also has difficulty defying the pull of gravity. Our skin begins to sag and hang looser, especially around the lower face and neck. Eminence Organic Skin Care International Educator, Brian Goodwinexplains: “When foundation slips, we see pinks forming, sagging of the tissue around the eyes, and a generally droopy look to the entire face.”
Hyperpigmentation
Another sign of skin aging is hyperpigmentation in the form of sun spots and age spots. In aging skin, these Dark spots are usually caused by years of sun exposure. When confronted with UV rays, the skin protects itself by triggering the production of a pigment called melanin. As time passes and the skin’s melanocytes (melanin-producing cells) are stimulated again and again, they begin to overproduce and cause pigment deposits on the surface of the skin.
How to age gracefully and maintain healthy skin
While you can’t turn back the hands of time, you can make simple changes that ease the aging process. There are several ways to keep aging skin in good shape, including adopting a healthy lifestyle, eating a balanced diet, and using results-oriented skin care.
Healthy lifestyle
One of the best ways to minimize the visible signs of inflammation is to reduce stress. According to Huffington Post, studies show that people with high levels of stress have shorter telomeres, which are located at the ends of DNA chromosomes, causing faster cell death or destruction. Adopting healthy habits such as regular exercise, meditation and a sleep schedule can help reduce stress and, by extension, slow down premature aging.
Take care of your Mental Health
When we effectively manage stress through practices like mindfulness, meditation, or regular physical activity, our cortisol levels balance out, leading to fewer stress-related breakouts and more vibrant skin.
Balanced nutrition
Another way to help your skin age gracefully is to adjust your diet. Sugar, salt and alcohol are major culprits of premature aging and can be easily reduced. Swap in antioxidant-rich foods like berries and leafy greens to help your body fight free radicals. And, (surprise!) drink plenty of H2O to keep your skin (and body) hydrated and healthy.
Use a nighttime skin care routine
Did you know that your skin undergoes the most intensive repair process at night? Surprisingly, one way to wake up with smooth skin is to create a nighttime routine. During sleep, the skin has the opportunity to neutralize environmental influences from the day. Our bodies are in repair mode while we sleep, so rest is imperative for skin that looks and feels healthy.
In addition, our skin experiences transepidermal water loss (TEWL) during the night, which can weaken its protective hydrolipidic barrier. Night treatments offer the opportunity to apply moisturizing ingredients topically, preventing water loss and providing effective product benefits. Treating your skin with nourishing, moisturizing products every night is ideal, as oil production at night is twice as low as during the day.
Some of the Monoi Age Corrective Collection products are exclusive Argan Stem Cell Complex which is joined by monos rich in antioxidants. The ingredients in this collection work to visibly tighten, hydrate and nourish all skin types. Brian recommends incorporating the Monoi Age Corrective Collection into your nighttime regimen for every skin type: “The skin is more receptive to absorbing ingredients at night, when the skin becomes more permeable. This factor makes it even more important to incorporate moisturizing ingredients and protective oils into your nighttime routine.”
Choose specific skin care ingredients
You can also minimize the visible signs of aging by looking for powerful active ingredients in your skin care. Applying products that restore moisture, offer antioxidant-rich and health-promoting ingredients is key to maintaining youthful-looking skin. Here are some ingredients to look for when choosing products for your skincare routine:
Our product support agents recommend the following products, which contain many of the ingredients listed above:
Exfoliation is an important skin care step to reduce the signs of aging and this can be achieved using Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant. This exfoliating powder is formulated with lactic acid and our Botanical Hyaluronic Acid Complex. Lactic acid is an exfoliating alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that removes the build-up of dead skin cells, while the Botanical Hyaluronic Acid Complex contains hyaluronic acid and marshmallow root, providing deep hydration.
Next, Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Serum is formulated with vitamin C to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and minimize the appearance of free radical damage. The vitamin C in this serum is stabilized by botanically sourced ferulic acid, which provides antioxidants to brighten the complexion.
Finally, you can use anything from the Marine Flower Peptide Collection to fight the signs of aging. For example, Peptide Marine Flower serum rejuvenates the skin thanks to a Smart Collagen+ Complex as well as the use of seaweed extract that increases hydration and improves the appearance of firmness.
Protection with SPF
Sunscreen is a very effective preventive product for maintaining youthful-looking skin and protecting yourself from health risks associated with sun exposure. By blocking harmful UVA and UVB rays, sunscreen reduces the risk of skin cancer by up to 50% and also helps to mitigate premature aging of the skin.
You can protect your skin from fine lines and wrinkles with our Radiant Protection SPF liquid. This sunscreen combines bakuchiol with niacinamide to smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while also offering SPF 30 broad-spectrum protection.
Explore face sculpting tools
Does facial contouring really work on visible signs of aging? Absolutely, and we have an in-depth tutorial on how to use face sculpting tools that leave skin looking dewy and dehydrated.
Watch Lead Skin Care Trainer, Natalie Pergaras she shows you how to contour your face using ice balls and learn what products you need for the most effective routine.
Ready to age gracefully? For a skin care routine tailored to your unique skin type, book a consultation with a licensed esthetician at an Eminence Organics Spa partner near you.
