One day you have effortless curls, the next you have straight hair that won’t hold a wave. We’ve all been there! As you age, your hair and skin changes. Follow these steps to be one step ahead.
Your 20’s – Control acne and prevent signs of aging. Have fun with your hair.
LONG TERM SOLUTIONS
Control acne. Topicals like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide help control blemishes and reduce oiliness without drying out the skin. The Acne Kit by Skin Medica includes a face wash, toner, and lotion with ingredients like sage, panthenol and allantoin to help soothe and heal. Used twice a week, the Clarifying Clay Masque by SkinCeuticals, which contains a 5% alpha hydroxyl blend, will gently exfoliate and lift impurities while deeply cleansing pores and refining the skin.
Prevent the intrinsic and extrinsic signs of aging by using a state-of-the-art antioxidant and protection. Topical vitamin C offers antioxidant protection (Serum 10 by SkinCeuticals) while SPF 30 provides a physical barrier to environmental damage (Environmental Defense SPF 30 by Skin Medica).
QUICK FIXES
Got a pesky pimple? Blemish Control Gel by SKinCeuticals with salicylic acid will ensure blemishes disappear quickly without leaving skin discoloration or causing irritation.
Late night? A quick solution to burning the midnight oils is to gently tap some instant cooling and soothing Uplifting Eye Serum by Skin Medica around the eye area. This oil-free serum contains a restorative blend of plant extracts and antioxidants which help diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles while rapidly reducing the appearance of puffiness.
HAIR
While you want to establish a polished, professional look for the weekdays, you may want to be a little edgy on the weekends. Talk to your stylist about a haircut that can be styled accordingly. With color, don’t play it safe. Be bold and have fun with your hair. But be sure to consult with your hairstylist, especially if you opt for an extreme color change. Otherwise, it can look sloppy
Coloring and frequent heat styling can rough up the outer cuticle of the hair, resulting in weaker strands over time. KMS Flat Out Hot Pressed Spray and Anti-Humidity Seal protects against stress from heat styling products. KMS Moisture Repair Restructuring Therapy provides moisture and deep conditioning.
Your 30’s – Moisturize every day and renew your skin. Strengthen your hair.
LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS
Using a good moisturizer every day is important. A great moisturizer for normal to dry skin is HydraContinue Instant Moisture Cream by Phytomer. Your skin will feel protected, quenched, and more comfortable thanks to the macadamia nut oil it contains. If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to invest in a good eye cream. Try Phytomer’s Lift Contour for the eyes and lips for instant moisture protection. Active ingredients like mulberry leaf, avocado oil, and horse chestnut extract deliver vitamins, hydration, and soothing properties. Bump up your antioxidant reserves with Serum 15 or, for drier skin, CE Ferulic by SkinCeuticals. The vitamin E in this formulation provides anti-oxidant protection while providing some moisturizing benefits.
QUICK FIXES
Renewing the skin is an essential part of keeping your skin youthful. It’s never too late to begin. Exfoliating Cleanser by Vivite combines a cocktail of alpha hydroxy acids with microbeads for thoroughly cleansed and vibrant skin.
HAIR
As you juggle your career and home life, you want a versatile yet polished style. You also want to continue looking young as the gray starts to creep in. Working in highlights or lowlights will create a sophisticated look. To keep hair shiny as your highlights grow out, get a base color and gloss service in between your highlight treatments. Avoid a flat, matter color which creates an older appearance and opt for a reflective, multifaceted color which gives a youthful appearance.
As hair begins to thin out, products with protein help strengthen it. Purology Nanoworks Restorative Hair Treatment and Goldwell Color Glow Bright Shine Hair Masque replenish moisture and leave hair looking more lustrous and feeling stronger. Consider a professional keratin treatment such as a Goldwell Inner Effect to provide intensive moisturizing and protein. This custom-mixed, individualized treatment is perfect between color services.
Your 40’s – Layer your skin care, and get serious about exfoliation. Add shine to your hair.
LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS
For an eye cream that does absolutely everything, try SkinCeuticals new AGE Eye Complex. This three-Dimensional treatment is designed to dramatically improve signs of aging around the eyes. Optical diffusers improve radiance and minimize the appearance of dark circles and capillaries. Within 4-12 weeks, dark circles and puffiness are visibly improves. And in 12 weeks and beyond, elasticity is increased for a dramatic improvement in wrinkles and crow’s feet.
Layer your skin care with a preventative and corrective topical antioxidant treatment. Phloretin CF by SkinCeuticals protects against free radicals and other reactive molecules known to cause damage and DNA mutations. It also corrects existing damage by stimulating the synthesis of essential proteins and fibers and accelerating cell turnover. The result is a strengthened support structure on the inside and a more youthful, firm, radiant appearance on the outside.
QUICK FIXES
Get serious about exfoliation as it’s an essential part of cellular renewal and revealing youthful skin. Some products are definitely better than others. The brand new, dual-system Resurfacing Peeling Duo by Phytomer provides a micro-exfoliation using a combination of naturally derived alpha hydroxy acids, enzymes and semi-precious ciritne microbeads. This is followed with a restorative cream which optimizes cellular renewal and moisture retention capabilities. Use it as a treatment regimen twice a week for three weeks, and your skin will be glowing like never before.
HAIR
Don’t get stuck in the rut of getting the same hair color. As we age, our skin starts to lighten and we lose some of those pretty tones that we had when we were younger. Darker colors create shadows, while lighter colors soften facial features and wrinkles. So soften your hair color with lighter or warmer tones. An added bonus to hair color is that it adds volume to the thinning strands. To add shine to dull-looking hair, try Pureology Shinemax or Goldwell Melting Diamonds. The KMS product line also contains restorative qualities to ptomote healing and shine. For an extra boost of shine at your next appointment, add on a Gloss Service to your haircut or color.
Your 50’s – Focus on moisturizing, correcting, and repairing your skin. Add volume to your hair.
LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS
As we age, our skin naturally becomes drier while the collagen and elastin break down, revealing more fine lines and skin imperfections. Continue to focus on moisturizing, correcting, and repairing the damage that’s been done. And establish a program of regular cellular renewal by using an exfoliant. TNS Essential Serum by Skin Medica is like having seven products in one. Combined together, these products work synergistically to transform and regenerate your skin into a more youthful appearance, improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and the overall tone and texture of skin. In addition, it rapidly smoothes and fills in fine lines, strengthens the skin’s natural ability to regenerate itself, fights against environments damage, and brightens and lightens age spots too. Dermal Repair Cream by Skin Medica helps to reduce the appearance of age spots as it provides skin protection against harsh environmental conditions. TNS Night Eye Repair by Skin Medica is the ultimate eye treatment cream formulated with human growth factors, peptides, high concentrations of Vitamin A, C and E, and hyaluronic acid to dramatically improve the appearance of the delicate skin around the eyes.
QUICK FIXES
For instant gratification try TNS Line Refine by Skin Medica. Using growth factors, peptides and light reflectors, it rapidly fills and smoothes lines to visually reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around your mouth, eyes, and crow’s feet, while providing long term anti-aging benefits and concealing skin imperfections.
Brighten and lighten age spots with Vibrance Therepy by Vivite, which is specifically formulated to help even skin tone and diminish discoloration. This restorative, antioxidant-rich cream also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
HAIR
Maintenance becomes important as we age. If you feel that you’re constantly visiting the salon to get your hair colored, it may be because your hair color is darker. Opt for a lighter color or highlights instead. It will also soften your look. To add volume to thinning, weaker hair, try Bumble and Bumble Thickening Serum. Applied overnight, it helps plump up the hair, giving it more fullness.
Originally from PRO Pulse January-February 2010
