Seven Types of Products for Youthful Skin in Your Fifties

Prevention is the key.

Today women in their fifties definitely don’t look like their mothers and grandmothers did. There has been a shift in attitudes and many fifty years olds have more youthful outlooks. I know because I am one of them and have many friends with the same mindset. I’ve read that fifty is the new forty and I do believe that it’s true.

Aging Gracefully

Women in their fifties aren’t trying to look like they are in their thirties. They just want to age gracefully. The beauty industry just keeps expanding, and there are so many products on the market that promise miracle results.

They would have you believe that you need to spend hundreds of dollars on a face cream for it to work, but that isn’t true. There are certain companies that doctors and aestheticians promote because they get kickbacks. You can find quality skincare at any price point.

Tip: The key is having a daily routine and using the products consistently.

The following are types of products I can’t live without.

1. Gentle Cleanser:

Now that I’m older, I look for cream-based cleaners. I try and pick something that is tried and true. My dermatologist had told me that most store brand cleansing products work well. I usually start with micellar water to take my makeup off before cleansing.

If you have oily skin in the summer, as I do, you may want to change to a gel-based cleanser. One thing that I am an advocate of is using a washcloth or sponge when using a cleanser. It aids in removing debris and makeup from the skin.

2. Toner:

I have been using a toner since I was in high school. Back in the day, I used Sea Breeze to control oil, but now I use something much less stripping. You can spend lots of money on toner, but I use witch hazel. I apply it on cotton squares and wipe it over my skin until the cotton is clear of residue. Toner preps skin for your treatments and creams.

3. Vitamin C Serum:

Vitamin C is another excellent product I have been using since my thirties. It is used in the morning and applied before your day cream. It helps protect against free radicals, anti-aging, and skin pigmentation. Usually, I buy it separately in serum form, but you can also find it in a day cream.

Tip: I like to get a serum that is at least ten percent vitamin c.

4. Eye Cream:

It would be best if you never used the cream for your face on your eyes. The skin around your eyes is thinner and much more sensitive. I have seen a difference around my eyes when using eye creams with retinol.

Tip: with eye cream, you need to use it for at least six weeks before seeing a difference.

5. Moisturizer:

I have used moisturizer since I was a teenager as well. It makes makeup application easier and more even. I have to admit I’m obsessed with my skin, so I’ve bought creams at every price point.

I also belong to a few different subscription boxes, and I am always trying new moisturizers. I can’t say I ever feel one is better than the other. I use a lighter cream for the day and a richer cream at night. I also use lighter creams in the summertime because my skin isn’t as dry.

6. Retin A/Retinol:

I started using retinol and Retin A in my late thirties. I am currently using a prescription Retin A cream from my dermatologist. Not everyone’s skin can handle Retin A; you also have to integrate it slowly. If you have sensitive skin, I recommend you use retinol and follow the directions on the package.

These products are why I still have minimal hyperpigmentation, not too many wrinkles, and good elasticity. If you look at all the studies, retinol/Retin A make a huge difference and should be part of everyone’s anti-aging routine. Retin A/retinol is best used on clean, dry skin in the evening thirty minutes before putting on your night cream.

Recommendation: if there is one product to splurge on, this is it!

7. Sunblock:

I saved the best, or shall I say the most important for last. I started using sunblock in my twenties when my aesthetician explained its importance. I am so thankful that I did. Sunblock is another reason my skin looks healthy.

I lived in the dry heat of Arizona for over twelve years, and I wasn’t as meticulous in putting it on my arms. My arms have age spots all over them. But the skin on my face and neck has done well. I prefer physical sunscreen over the chemical type. Minerals such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are the main active ingredients in physical sunblocks.

Other Treatments for Anti-aging:

I’m not going to lie about my other treatments because I think it’s not very nice when some women or celebrities in their fifties and sixties look like they are thirty and say they just eat right and use the “said products” they are selling. I am by no means judging someone if they had plastic surgery or fillers, but let’s be honest, so other women don’t feel bad about themselves.

Society puts enough pressure on us. I think being candid with each other is essential. Heck, I may be on board in a few years for more extreme measures, but until then, I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing.

I have been getting facials since I was a teenager. When I was on a fixed budget, I would go to a local beauty school and get discounted treatments from the students. I used to model at beauty shows to get free stuff when I was young, and I have used some great products.

I started getting hyperpigmentation in my thirties due to hormones. I reversed the spots by having an excellent esthetician, getting glycolic peels, and using the right products. In my late thirties, I began getting some IPLs ( intense pulse light) since I noticed some redness and dark spots on my skin due to living in the desert at that time. I mentioned before my obsession with taking care of my skin and trying to stay current with new anti-aging technology.

My aesthetician friend introduced me to more intense acid peels and did a few fractional laser treatments a few years back. I also tried in-office micro-needling and have an at-home kit as well. When I use my at-home equipment consistently, my skin looks glowing, tonicity is better, and my pores are much smaller.

Lasers are amazing and are always getting better. I had won a silent auction at my son’s school three years ago. I won a Halo laser treatment and botox that was done by one of the moms that is a doctor. I got the treatments for five hundred dollars. They are usually three times the amount. I guess I was the only brave or maybe crazy mom there.

Conclusion:

I am not a dermatologist or an esthetician. I don’t claim to know everything going on in the skincare and beauty industry. I’m just an average fifty-something-year-old woman doing my best to slow down the signs of aging. So far, I’m not disappointed.

Ultimately it’s all trial and error. You need to find out what works best for you. I don’t think one needs to spend hundreds of dollars to have great skin.

However, I have quite an extensive collection of products and at-home treatments. Practicing good skincare, not smoking, and staying out of the sun will do more than you realize. I also think genes come into play.

Whatever measures one takes to remain youthful is a personal choice, and no one should be criticized for it. The most significant asset in staying young is having a positive mindset. Women should not be defined solely by how we look, because our beauty emanates from the inside.

We need to remember to be kinder and less critical of ourselves and others. Aging is inevitable, and the lines around our eyes and on our faces indicate that we experienced our lives to the fullest. We will continue to age, but we don’t have to get old.

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life, and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” ~ Sophia Loren