Our skincare needs evolve throughout various stages of life, influenced by hormonal changes, lifestyle factors, and environmental stressors. Understanding how to change our skincare routines to fit different life stages is crucial for maintaining healthy, radiant skin.
From that first zit in middle school, to embracing your smile lines as the years pass, there’s always ways to maintain a healthy skincare routine that evolves with you over time.
Puberty:
Hormonal Changes: It’s no secret that hormones can be off the charts during puberty. This can cause excessive oil production, acne breakouts and skin sensitivity that can become uncomfortable. Though some of these hormonal rollercoasters have to be ridden out with time, opting for a gentle cleanser and establishing a consistent routine early on can help regulate and calm the skin.
Pregnancy:
Pregnancy Glow: The radiant complexion some women experience during pregnancy isn’t fully understood, but there’s a few key factors that many believe contribute to the bountiful beauty.
During pregnancy, a women’s body produces more blood to support the fetus which leads to increased circulation. This is thought to make the skin appear healthier with a natural glow. Same is said with hormones as estrogen and progesterone surge allowing for increased oil production and a change in pigmentation that leaves the skin more radiant than ever.
Even though this glow is a welcomed change for most women, it’s important to protect your skin during this transitional time. Staying away from ingredients like retinoids and salicylic acid, as well as using pregnancy-safe products, are important during this time.
Preventing Stretch Marks: Stretch marks are nothing to be ashamed, they’re a beautiful reminder of the skin’s resilience to change! Even so, there are ways to support your body as it’s being pushed to it’s limits. Staying hydrated during pregnancy does much more than just keep the skin supple, but it’s an easy place to start. Using more intensive moisturizers like cocoa butter or almond oil, along with practicing massage techniques, can help lesson the appearance of deep stretch marks.
Menopause:
Hormonal Shifts: Just like in puberty, your hormones can shift a lot during menopause. These changes can lead to dryness, thinning skin, and increased susceptibility to wrinkles and age spots. Incorporating skincare products that contain hyaluronic acid, retinol, and antioxidants can be great to combat premature aging, wrinkles, and pigmentation abnormalities.
Bone Health: During menopause, hormonal changes, particularly a decline in estrogen levels, can significantly impact both bone and skin health. Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining bone density by inhibiting bone breakdown and supporting bone formation.
The connection between bone health and skin health lies in collagen, a protein that provides structure and elasticity to the skin and forms a significant portion of bone tissue. Collagen production naturally declines with age, starting in the mid-20s, and accelerates during menopause due to hormonal changes. Try taking collagen supplements, eating calcium-rich foods, and practicing resistance training to keep your muscles and bones strong.
Aging Gracefully:
Holistic Approach: Skincare is an absolute must when it comes to taking care of yourself, but it should exist as one piece of a much bigger self-care puzzle. As we get older, eating a balanced diet, regularly exercising, getting enough sleep, and managing mental health are just as important.
Sun Protection: If there’s anything any one of us should be doing not just in older age, but our whole lives, it’s sun protection. Exposure to UV rays over time without protection leads to wrinkles, premature aging, dark spots, and higher risk of certain cancers. Using a moisturizer with SPF every morning is an easy way to add that extra layer of protection your skin so desperately needs.
By understanding the changes in our body over time, we can tailor our skincare and overall self-care to support our needs. Aging is a privilege and one we should all be so thankful to experience, adding a little extra TLC along the way can simply be the cherry on top.
