Once you’ve hit 50 (or close to it) you will start to see major changes in your complexion. You’ll most likely notice the brown spots and uneven tone that resulted from all the prior decades of sunbathing, dark circles beneath your eyes that even a goods nights sleep cant shake off and a level of dryness that rivals the Sahara dessert. In addition, expression lines no longer fade away after you stop smiling and pores are larger and more visible. Although we cannot help you erase your wrinkles or to completely transform your sagging skin, we can help you to get your skin looking its absolute best. Here is what you need to know about caring for your sink in your 50’s and beyond:

Make Sunscreen your BFF
Hopefully by now, you have been wearing sunscreen religiously for at least a couple of decades. If not, it’s still not too late to start. Unprotected exposure to the sun is one of the biggest contributors to skin damage, wrinkles and skin cancer. Skipping sunscreen is not a good idea at any age. Look for a natural, lightweight formula containing zinc oxide (we love Badger Balm’s new line of sunscreens) and wear it every single day- rain or shine! While you are at it, slather some on your hands too. Your hands one of very first areas to show signs of aging- In fact many dermatologists say that they can tell a woman’s age simply by looking at her hands.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!
As we age, the cell turnover and oil production processes of our skin naturally slow down, resulting in very dry skin. In addition, Menopause contributes to further dryness, an issue that can be quite frustrating at this age. Dryness makes existing wrinkles looks more defined and it also contributes to causing more fine lines and wrinkles. Luckily, this issue can be easily solved. We recommend hydrating your skin with antioxidant-rich oil, which helps to replace your skins diminished oil and can penetrate your skin deeper than a cream-based moisturizer. Natural oils can also work wonders in restoring your skins lipid barrier and protecting your skin against oxidative damage, both of which help skin maintain its youthful glow. When picking a facial oil, opt for one comprised of naturally extracted oils that are known for their anti-aging and skin-regenerating properties. Some examples of these include argan oil, carrot seed oil and helichrysum oil.   In addition to hydrating topically, don’t underestimate the importance of hydrating your skin from the inside-out by drinking tons of purified water and eating foods that are rich in healthy fats (think salmon, macadamia nuts, coconut oil, etc…)

Be Careful Not to Dehydrate
Restoring moisture to your skin is ultra important at this age. It’s equally as important to make sure that your not stripping moisture from your skin by using products or ingesting foods and drinks that have a drying effect on your skin. We recommend that you use a creamy moisture-rich cleanser and a hydrating toner. In addition, try to avoid consuming anything that will dehydrate your skin from the inside such as alcohol, coffee, excessively salty foods, and processed foods. If you absolutely cannot live without coffee or alcohol we suggest that you make it a point to drink an additional 2 glasses of water for every alcoholic beverage or cup of coffee you consume.

Pump up The Peptides
While there is no “magic bullet” for making wrinkles disappear, there are certainly ingredients that can help minimize them. One of the best ingredients for this is Peptides, which are molecular links of amino acids that help your skin to produce the anti-wrinkle protein known as collagen. Peptides also combat wrinkles by helping the skin repair itself. Avoid relying on any one ingredient to combat your aging skin and instead look for skincare products that contain antioxidants, essential oils and vitamins in addition to peptides. Not to “toot” our own horn, but we’ve managed to create a product that is chock full of an array of wrinkle-fighting ingredients, including peptides. CELSUS makes a great addition to your daily skincare regimen and works great at minimizing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, stretch marks and scars.

Include Your Whole Body
Starting sometime around 50, you will notice big changes in the skin on your whole body. If you haven’t done so yet, now is the time to start paying special attention to ALL of your skin. We recommend exfoliating daily with a dry skin brush (ideally before showering). Exfoliation will help stimulate circulation and cell turnover, which can help your skin retain it’s youth longer.   As tempting as it may be, try to avoid showering in hot water and instead use warm water. Hot water has a tendency to dry skin out.   After showering, hydrate your freshly exfoliated skin with an antioxidant-rich oil. Coconut oil, Almond oil and Jojoba oil all make excellent body moisturizes.

Embrace your Age
Wrinkles, sagging skin, and loss of elasticity are natural signs of aging that we will all have to face one day (provided we are lucky enough to make it that far). Unfortunately, the beauty industry and media have made it very challenging for women to believe that they are still beautiful once their faces start to wrinkle and sag. We can assure you that nothing is more beautiful than a woman who embraces herself the way she is. And the lines on your face? Those are nothing more than proof that you have lived. Lucky you!

Not 50+?  Check out our skincare tips for Radiant Skin in Your 20's, 30's and 40's!