Take Good Care of Yourself

By Shirley Larson−

Although there are some benefits to growing older and wiser, witnessing the effects of aging is not one of them. Looking in the mirror can be a bit depressing when you realize that the days of not having to worry about wrinkles or dry skin are long gone.

Thankfully, there are plenty of products out there to make this gloomy yet inevitable experience a bit more bearable. However, there are so many different things to consider when looking for a facial care product such as anti-aging serum or regenerist cream that choosing one is a tricky business.

Never fear. The following buying guide should provide every over-50 with essential information about choosing the right cosmetic products.

Know your skin type

Even though dry skin is a common ailment that comes with aging, you may also suffer from oily or sensitive skin too. A change may occur depending on the weather or hormonal activity, but choosing a facial cream that compliments your skin type is crucial.

Dry skin requires facial creams with nourishing and moisturizing formulas that alleviate tightness and dehydration. Water-based creams suit oily skin whereas people who have a delicate complexion would be better off looking for products with natural ingredients and hypoallergenic formulas.

Choose a night cream

Owing to the fact that our skin regenerates during the night, you can do your skin a massive favour by lending it a helping hand with an appropriate cream. Dry complexions benefit from rich and creamy textures, but those with oily skin often prefer lotions or gels.

To ensure that your choice of regenerist night cream is as effective as possible, always cleanse your skin properly and remove make-up before application. Waiting until your face is dry will also reduce the risk of irritation.

Buy a moisturizer with sunscreen

The weather has a huge impact on the condition of your skin, but having a moisturizer with sunscreen makes sense all year round. Whether it is summer or winter, ultraviolet rays from the sun can cause dehydration, skin damage and even cancer.

Look for a moisturizer with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 and if you’re outside for prolonged periods of time, reapply your chosen lotion frequently.

Additional anti-aging tips

Although cosmetic products help reduce the signs of ageing, there are several other steps and preventative measures to make you look and feel a lot younger too:

Stay hydrated — Moisturizer keeps the skin around your eyes hydrated, but drinking plenty of water can help as well. Proper hydration will also increase energy, reduce fatigue, promote weight loss, flush out toxins and bolster your immune system.

Pamper yourself — Take a day off and get a facial, manicure, pedicure and massage at a spa. Trained beauty therapists can offer great advice about products and techniques for your skin. You’ll leave feeling refreshed, revitalized and ready to look after those grandkids again!

Update your wardrobe — Even if you can still squeeze into a pair of jeans that are now a couple of sizes too small, tight clothing often makes you look much bigger. To boot, it’s not exactly flattering when that’s the case, so buy some new clothes that feel good to wear and more importantly, look great.

Stay active — As you get older, your metabolism slows down and it becomes increasingly easy to put on weight. That can be averted with some regular cardiovascular exercise. Throw in a bit of weight training — it doesn’t have to be excessive — and you can maintain a somewhat more youthful figure.

Even if the thought of getting older is daunting, you can stave off the physical effects for longer. Choose the right products and take there are various cosmetic products and anti-aging tips you can put to good use in order to maintain youthful looking skin.

Images by Pannonius Rex and [Duncan], used under Creative Commons license.

Shirley Larson is a beauty therapist and life lover. As soon as the holidays come, she can’t wait to get out on the slopes and do a bit of snowboarding or skiing.