Facial Skin Care Guide for mature skin

The Basic Steps
Cleanse
Begin your mature facial by cleansing your face to remove pollutants that collect on the skin during the day. Cleansing will also remove any makeup that you are wearing. Ideally you will pick a creamy cleanser that is gentle and designed for dry or sensitive skin. Cleansing should be done twice each day.

Exfoliate
As your skin ages, the epidermis is less efficient in producing new cells. Removal of waste is also slowed, resulting in dry, dull looking skin. Exfoliation helps restore your skin’s youthful appearance by sloughing away dead skin cells, revealing fresh, revitalized skin in their place.

Many exfoliants contain microbeads instead of natural ingredients, such as crushed apricot seeds. Either product will exfoliate, but if your skin is dry or sensitive (as mature skin often is), a microbead exfoliant may be your best choice. Unlike natural exfoliants with harsh, irritating and potentially skin-damaging ingredients, microbeads are rounded. Their shape and texture make the exfoliating process a more gentle experience. Microdermabrasion products are especially helpful for your mature facial because they gently resurface dry, dull skin and leave it smooth and beautiful. Depending on the type of exfoliant that you use, this step can be performed daily or weekly.

Mask
Your mature facial routine should include a weekly deep moisturizing mask. A mask will purify and renew your skin, leaving it soft and supple. Gently pat the mask onto your skin and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Then wash the mask off gently with warm water.

Moisturize
Mature skin types require special moisturizers designed to meet the unique needs of aging skin. As you age, the dermis generates less collagen. Collagen is responsible for keeping the skin soft and smooth. Therefore, less collagen means less elasticity, resulting in wrinkles, fine lines and dryness.

Select a moisturizer designed to rejuvenate mature skin. Ingredients such as vitamins E and C, retinol, alpha hydroxy acid and sunscreen will renew and protect your skin. Moisturizers should be applied twice a day. Your daytime moisturizer should contain a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to protect your skin from the UV damage that accelerates aging. At night you need a heavier moisturizer that will help your skin renew itself while you sleep.

Facial Skin Care Guide for mature skin

Professional Mature Facial
About once a month, schedule a little extra pampering for yourself. Visit a day spa or your dermatologist. A professional can treat your mature skin with a chemical peel of alpha hydroxyl acid to smooth wrinkles and dry skin.

Retin A may be prescribed by your dermatologist to treat fine wrinkles. A gel or cream is applied topically each night before bed. The desired result may take several months or up to a year. Results are maintained by applying two to three nights a week.

Laser Resurfacing may be recommended to remove wrinkled skin layer by layer. Your skin will appear red or pink for up to six months before it heals, but the results are long lasting.

For deeper, more stubborn wrinkles you can try injections of collagen, Botox or hyaluronic acid to plump your skin and give you a more youthful appearance.

With minimal effort you can face each day with more youthful looking skin. A mature facial regimen will delay your skin’s aging process and allow your inner beauty to shine through.