Men’s skin is naturally thicker than women’s and produces more sebum, making it oilier. Don’t be tempted to steal your partner’s skincare products as they won’t be as effective for you. There is something that’s specially formulated skincare for men in their 40’s and 50’s. Most men also stress facial skin out with shaving regularly. This can cause sensitization and irritation and needs male-oriented skincare.
Skincare for Men as they Age
If you’re noticing lines and wrinkles as you head past 40 and towards 50, you’re not alone. Reduced production of collagen causes them in your body as you age. Collagen is the protein that gives skin elasticity and strength. As collagen reduced its production, your skin starts to look older.
It’s perfectly normal to lose collagen as you age; once you get to about 30, you’ll lose around 1% of your collagen every year. Unfortunately, it’s unavoidable – and the older you get, the worse the wrinkles and lines get. So how do you stop them in their tracks, or at least make it look like you have?
Maintain a Skin Care Routine
If you haven’t already done it, invest in some good quality professional skincare products and start using them every day. You’ll need a cleanser (or facial wash) along with moisturizer and exfoliator at a minimum. And you can also add in eye serum or cream if you notice signs of aging around your eyes too.
After cleansing your skin, the second step is to hydrate it. The latest wonder ingredients for anti-aging products are retinoids, a range of ingredients from vitamin A. Retinoids are shown to visibly decrease some of the main signs of getting older on your skin; crow’s feet, wrinkles, and lines. They not only work by boosting collagen production but are also powerful antioxidants. They also protect your skin from damage by any free radicals. Moisturizers and serums containing retinol can also help repair existing skin damage. Some treatments and products can help if you have any dark spots or suffer from rosacea or acne.
If you want to take things a bit further, the next step is a licensed esthetician. Call us or book online if you want something a bit more professional and experience the best skincare for men in their 40’s and 50’s.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion could be for you if you have small fine lines and want your skin to look brighter and tighter. The esthetician uses a vacuum suction device with a mild chemical crystal mixture to gently remove the top layer of your skin cells. It doesn’t hurt, there’s no downtime needed, and it can give you a more youthful glow. You will need more than one treatment to see the full effects, though.
A chemical peel is where a mixture of chemicals is applied to your skin to remove the top, dead layer of skin cells. This helps to soften lines and wrinkles and even out the look of your skin. And it’s not as scary as it sounds.
Strong peels or ‘deep’ peels have impressive effects on damaged skin but DO require downtime, so they aren’t most people’s first choice. These deeper chemical peels work by stimulating collagen production in your skin. These can be really effective at reducing wrinkles, even out pigmentation and texture, and reducing the signs of sun damage.
Most people start with a light peel which is more of a skin brightener and may soften lines but isn’t going to help with deeper wrinkles.
Deep peels are permanent, but lighter versions will need more than one treatment plus ‘top-ups’ to make sure the effects last.
