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Best skincare routine for when you're in your '50s

Photo credit: BURGER/PHANIE
Photo credit: BURGER/PHANIE

From Red Online

Skincare in your '20s is practically non-existent (let's be real), your '30s you'll likely still be doing battle with adult acne as well as the first signs of ageing (it's all about prevention at this stage), and your '40s will likely be accompanied by young children, which means your poor, tired skin will suffer from sleepless nights and eating leftover spaghetti hoops.

Now you've reached the golden decade of 50, the kids will be grown up (physically, that is), you can reclaim some of your time back, now that the school run and 5am wakeup calls don't dominate your mornings, so you'll hopefully be able to kick start your beauty routine up a gear or two.

Realistically, your '50s is also when the menopause will likely start, which can not only be a challenge physically and mentally, but lots of hormonal changes can sap essential moisture from your skin, leaving it dehydrated and dull. When a woman's oestrogen levels drop, the skin barrier's ability to retain water also drops. Which is why stepping up your skincare regime is essential for beautiful, glowing skin.

You'll hopefully be rid of all signs of blemishes by now, so you can really concentrate on using fantastic exfoliating acids to slog away dead skin cells (leaving you radiant), flooding your skin with super hydrating hyaluronic acid, massaging in thick, luscious night creams and even adding some facial oil on top to lock in as much moisture as possible.

Step 1 - Cleanse

As the skin is already fairly dehydrated, avoid harsh cleansers and go for a gentle cleanser.

Cleanse & Polish™ Hot Cloth Cleanser, £16.50, BUY NOW

Step 2 - Exfoliate

Use a good quality exfoliating acid like glycolic acid or lactic acid, or (even better) both, to slog away dead skin cells. Revealing fresh skin underneath, promote radiance by encouraging oxygen and nutrients to the surface of the skin, and reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

BIOLOGIQUE RECHERCHE LOTION P50, BUY NOW

Step 3 - Active ingredient

For the day time, This could be a powerful, antioxidant filled vitamin c serum to fight free radicals and pump the skin full of goodness, a collagen booster to plump and fill or a hyaluronic acid to lock in 10 times more moisture than water. For night time a mild retinol-based product is your best friend. A derivative of vitamin A; this wonder product will exfoliate, tighten pores and keep your skin looking clear and youthful - just don't go overboard or this strong ingredient may overwork delicate skin rather than enhance it.

No7 Lift & Luminate TRIPLE ACTION serum, £27, BUY NOW

Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum, £42, BUY NOW

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex, £49.50, BUY NOW

Step 4 - Moisturise

For the day time, a lighter lotion/ cream is usually best, preferably with added hyaluronic acid to hydrate and niacinamide to protect the skin barrier, more night time a rich, nourishing cream is advisable, preferably with a powerful anti-ageing ingredient that can get to work while you sleep.

Clinique Moisture Surge™ 72-Hour Auto-replenishing Hydrator, £24, BUY NOW

Step 5 - Additional products

Adding a few drops of facial oil over the top of thinner consistency products like lotions and creams helps to seal in moisture and penetrate through the other skincare layers to add oil back into the skin now that our natural oil production has started to slow down.

Romilly Wilde Active Boost Facial Oil, £75, BUY NOW

Eye cream is ESSENTIAL, as tiredness will show up under your eyes more and more as we age. Lots of brands have specific night time treatment eye creams that intensify the anti-aging products as we sleep.

Clinique Smart™ Custom Eye Treatment, £42, BUY NOW

An SPF is an essential part of the anti-ageing process, as well as necessary if using retinol which makes the skin highly sensitive to sunlight - layer factor 50 on top of your day time skincare to protect from harmful rays.

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