How to Have Flawless Skin at 50

Effective skin care routines help you achieve flawless skin at 50.

Factors including sun exposure, poor diet, inadequate hydration, excess alcohol, smoking and lack of sleep lead to dull and dry skin that shows signs of aging, such as wrinkles and age spots. A sedentary lifestyle leads to poor circulation and pallid skin, while hormone changes in the years around menopause cause skin dryness. To have flawless skin at age 50 and beyond requires a commitment to healthy lifestyle choices. Effective skin care routines to cleanse and moisturize skin, and protect it from environmental aggressors also help you achieve a clear, smooth and healthy-looking complexion.

Things You'll Need

• Face wash
• Exfoliating face wash
• Towel
• Eye cream
• Moisturizing lotion
• Foundation primer
• Eye makeup remover
• Cotton wool pads
• Night cream

Instructions

Day-Time Skin-Care Routines

1. Cleanse your skin with a gentle face wash, and rinse with lukewarm water. Use an exfoliating face wash two or three times a week that contains alpha-hydroxy acid to stimulate cell renewal. For dry skin, choose a product that also contains moisturizing lactic acid.

2. Pat your face dry with a soft towel.

3. Apply eye cream to your eyelids and underneath each eye. Pat the cream into the skin with your ring finger, and avoid dragging delicate under-eye skin.

4. Apply moisturizing lotion that contains sun protection factor of at least 15 to your face, neck and decolletage. Blend the lotion into your skin with your fingertips in circular and upward motions. To lighten age spots, apply day cream that contains 2 percent hydroquinone for three months, then use a skin lightener that contains kojic acid or licorice extract.

5. Apply lightweight foundation primer to minimize fine lines and to provide a smoothing base for subsequent application of makeup.

Night-Time Skin-Care Routines

1. Remove eye makeup by using gentle eye makeup remover and soft cotton wool pads.

2. Cleanse your skin with face wash and lukewarm water; then pat your skin dry.

3. Dab eye cream onto the skin around each eye, then apply rich night cream to your whole face. Use products that contain up to 1 percent retinol to boost collagen production.

4. Sleep with your head slightly raised to enable fluid drainage away from the eye area.

5. Sleep in a well-ventilated room that has a temperature of about 65 degrees Fahrenheit for a restful sleep.

Tips & Warnings

• Drink fluids at regular intervals throughout the day to keep your skin plump and hydrated. Total daily fluid intake for adult women is approximately 2.2 liters, or nine cupfuls, according to the Institute of Medicine.

• Eat a balanced diet each day that includes all food groups, such as protein and fats, and ensures adequate intake of vitamins and minerals. A poor diet contributes to sallow, dry and aging skin, and worsens chronic skin conditions, such as eczema, explains registered dietitian, Samantha Heller of the NYU Medical Center. Adhere to safe limits of alcohol consumption.

• Take regular cardiovascular exercise for about 30 minutes each day, at least five days each week to improve blood circulation and promote a healthy-looking glow.

• Spend 30 minutes each evening on a quiet and meditative activity to wind down before bedtime and promote peaceful sleep. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.

References

• Skin Care Physicians: Causes of Aging Skin
• Dr. Nick Lowe: Dull Skin and Skin Discoloration
• Mayo Clinic; Water: How Much Should You Drink Every Day? April 2010
• WebMD; Foods for Healthy Skin: You Are What You Eat; Colette Bouchez
• Microsoft National Broadcasting Company: Your Best Face: Beautiful Skin at 40 and Beyond

Resources

• Natural Skin Care Secrets: Healthy Skin Tips