Aging can be a beautiful thing that many of us have the privilege to experience. With age comes wisdom, patience, knowledge, and the ability to feel more comfortable in our skin. However, sometimes the visible parts of aging can be challenging. As women's skin ages, it undergoes multiple transformations due to hormonal, genetic, and environmental changes.
Some common fluctuations women in their 60s experience include reduced collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin are the proteins that give the skin elasticity and structure. As a result of aging, the skin produces less collagen and elastin, which leads to noticeable wrinkles and sagging skin. Also, oil production decreases, causing dryness, age spots, and hyperpigmentation to become more visible. The cell turnover decreases faster, causing the skin to often look rough or dull. Fortunately, there are five simple tips that can help women in their 60s upgrade their morning routine to feel and look rejuvenated.
Be Gentle When Cleansing
Avoid extremely hot water, which can irritate fragile skin. Instead, use lukewarm water and a soft, sulfate-free cleanser in the morning. This can help remove any overnight debris without stripping the skin of its natural oils. Also, look for ingredients like aloe vera, which is well-known for its restoring and soothing properties. Aloe also helps minimize skin dryness.
Use an Antioxidant-Packed Serum
Serums can provide extra hydration, which is vital as the skin ages. Look for serums containing vitamins B3, C, and E. Vitamin C and E help neutralize the oxidative effect of free radicals, unpredictable molecules that damage collagen and cause skin dryness and wrinkles. Antioxidant vitamins C and E and beta-carotene neutralize free radicals.
Choose a Moisturizer with Broad-Spectrum SPF
As skin ages and becomes thinner, it's visibly more vulnerable and sensitive to the sun's UV exposure. Applying a moisturizer with broad-spectrum SPF will not only protect your skin from ordinary UV exposure, but it will also provide moisturizing properties to help skin feel soft and supple. A broad-spectrum SPF protects you from both UVA exposure, which you cannot see or feel, and UVB exposure, which can burn the skin. Both can damage the skin and cause accelerated collagen breakdown, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. If you stay out in the sun all day, you should consider other protective measures, as well, such as wearing a long-sleeved shirt, pants, hat, and sunglasses.
Exfoliate Twice a Week
Cell turnover slows down as we age. Fortunately, using a manual exfoliator can help reveal healthy-looking skin in minutes. Exfoliation helps remove dead cells from the skin's surface and promotes cell turnover. Make sure to use a gentle exfoliator with ingredients like pomegranate and blueberries. It is recommended to use products that are dermatologist-tested for safety and effectiveness.
Consume Hydrolyzed Collagen
After the age of 20, a person produces about 1% less collagen in the skin each year. In menopause, that rate increases to around 2%. Consume hydrolyzed collagen to help your skin age gracefully. Hydrolyzed collagen works from the inside out to support the skin's structure. It can stimulate collagen production. This can support skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. For added benefits, some products also contain antioxidants and minerals to keep healthy nails and hair. Look for products that have clinical studies to validate their claims and effectiveness.
As a woman ages, following these tips can help keep the skin looking its best. With age, the skin produces less oil and becomes more delicate and thinner making it more susceptible to damage. Using gentle products and protecting the skin from the sun can help minimize the signs of aging and keep the skin looking radiant. The intake of hydrolyzed collagen can rejuvenate the appearance of skin. Aging can be graceful and something that women in their 60s can take pride in, especially when they have the tools that can help them take control.