Skin Care
For Those Under 40

For most people, skin care does not become important until we see the signs of aging, habits and environment in the mirror. By this time, we are usually in our late 30’s, and some of the damage is irreversible. Beginning a good skin care routine at any age is great, but the earlier one begins, the greater the rewards. Skin care must always include the neck and décolleté areas.

Do you have large pores, adult acne and a general thick and shiny appearance to your skin? If so, look for a cleanser with gentle exfoliating abilities, such as glycolic or lactic acid, and use twice a day, massaging into your face, neck and décolleté area for at least 20-30 seconds. Granulated cleansers are generally too rough for daily cleansing. Twice a week follow the cleansing step with an exfoliation, which is much easier to rinse if used in the shower. A Clay based masque, avoiding the eye area, can be used once a week, up to two times during summer months. Oily skin, due to the very weight and properties of the oil, tends to hold on longer to skin cells, almost as a magnet. Oily skin collects bacteria and pollutants more quickly. Follow the cleansing steps with a toner to restore the PH levels, not a harsh astringent. A light eye gel, patted gently in eye area can be used morning and night. When you see acne and wrinkles at the same time, take heart, your skin will naturally age at a slower pace. Men appear to age better due to the thickness of their skin, and the daily exfoliation shaving provides.

Dry skin, which can appear thin and almost crepe like as we age, strives to retain moisture. This causes the buildup of excessive cells as a barrier, which can lead to a dull appearance. Gentle cleansings, twice daily moisturizing, and weekly exfoliation aid in the regeneration and appearance of the skin. Hyaluronic Acid is an excellent ingredient to look for in a moisturizer. Depending on the brand, this ingredient can deliver twice the weight of water to the dermal layer. For weekly masques, try Collagen, Vitamin C, or Multi-layer products which can include individual items for specific deficiencies. Copper and Vitamin E are also effective for this skin type. For the eyes, a cream, as opposed to a gel, is usually better for dry skin.

Sensitive skin comes with its own set of issues. Diet, stress and climate can affect the skin regardless of the care you are giving it topically. Avoid steam and sun whenever possible. Look for ingredients such as Chamomile, Licorice and Lavender, all very soothing. Tepid water for cleansing is best. Lactic and Glycolic acid (between 8-20% active acids) are better than granular exfoliation for deep cleaning the pores.

If you are one of the fortunate ones to have normally aging skin issues, your routine will be the same for cleansing, exfoliating, toning and moisturizing, but the ingredients will be milder than when you are treating a specific problem.

If you are experiencing and inflamed acne condition, Rosacea, sunburn, are using Retin-A products, or are under a Dermatologists care, consult your Physician or Skin Care Specialist before beginning a new skin care routine.

Regardless of your skin type, daily sunscreen use is critical. If you use make-up, look for the foundations that include an SPF of at least #15.

Pigmentation changes can easily be treated with professional Acid washes, or laser treatments. Sun exposure and hormonal changes raise the melanin levels, making these areas appear much darker.

The use of inject able wrinkle reducers and fillers have vastly improved over the past few years. These are usually started in the mid to late forties. While these can be excellent appearance extenders, they must be administered by medical professionals who specialize in this area of expertise.

American cosmetic counters are far busier than the skin care counters. Manufacturers insert skin care items into ‘gift with purchase’ kits in the hopes we see the difference good skin care makes. The main difference between European and American skin care is the age at which we begin to care for our skin, and the use of make-up. European’s take their young daughters to skin care experts to learn the importance of good products and routines. In general, they purchase and use more skin care than make-up, and this is reflected in their appearance.

People often ask me which products they should use. My response ‘the products you can afford, the items you use on a regular basis, and the ones that make a difference after two weeks of use’. Anything else will get dusty on your shelves, and be tossed when we no longer feel guilty for spending on something we didn’t use or like. A professional skin care consultation can save you hundreds of dollars spent on items that have been marketed successfully, but are not quite right for your skin care needs. Ultimately, we see if we are having the result we want after skin care becomes a part of our routine.

Start your skin care regimen immediately and stick to the basic steps. Use a sunscreen daily, limit caffeine and refined sugars, increase water intake, burn stress effectively and sleep well. Your skin will thank you!

Editorial provided by the Sewickly Spa. Dorothy Andreas Tuel has spent 27 years as an entrepreneur, speaker and writer in the beauty profession. She has taught locally, nationally and internationally.