Skincare by Age: How to Take Care of Your Skin

Your face is the body part that most people look at first. The problem is putting your best face forward is easier said than done when things like the environment and genetics are working against you. As your skin ages, it will undergo plenty of changes, from texture changes to pigmentation issues. There is no magic potion on the market that can stop these changes from happening. You will drive yourself crazy trying to get rid of all of your "flaws." Instead, try to take the best care of your skin now and maintain it as you age so that you can feel happy and confident with it.

With so many advances in skincare products, procedures, and technology, you can adapt your routine to address your skin's changing needs through the years. The truth is there will be changes in your skin. Some good while others not so good. However, one thing is for sure, with all the product and treatment advancements in today's world, most of them can help improve aging skin. And if you haven't been doing anything to take care of your skin, it's never too late. Here's what to look for as you age through the years.

20s

The earlier you start practicing healthy skincare habits, the better off your skin will be as you get older. Stay away from smoking. Don't lay out in the sun or use tanning beds. Follow a healthy, well-balanced diet and maintain a steady weight. Use broad spectrum sunscreen daily with at least an SPF of 15 (SPF 30 is ideal). Enjoy youthful, beautiful skin in your 20s. Unless your skin is very dry, don't overly use moisturizers and treatments. If you're still breaking out, go see your dermatologist or skin specialist and use a safe and effective regimen specifically formulated for adult acne. If you are opting for procedures and treatments to enhance your appearance in your 20s, laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, and facials are popular for 20-somethings. During these years, it's not so much about wrinkles as it is about prevention and enhancing your appearance.

30s

In your 30s, you are probably going to start seeing some fine lines and wrinkles. Elasticity will start to diminish. You may also start to see some uneven skin tone, redness, dark spots, or a combination of both. Prevention is very important in your 30s, so you should consider adding a retinoid and/or alpha hydroxy acid to your routine. Skincare products with these ingredients in them can help to reverse some of the damage that has already been done.

You may want to consider Botox or fillers, not because those lines are deep but because they aren't yet. If getting injectables scares you, you can go for a needle-less option such as Acute Care patches. They contain hyaluronic acid and peptides in an advanced liquid cone technology patch. If your Mom has deep lines between her eyebrows or lip lines and she doesn't smoke, then chances are you could get them too. These options can help prevent you from getting those little creases and laugh lines. Once they appear, you can diminish them but you can't reverse them. And men…this applies to you too! Men are becoming more vain and also partaking in these procedures and treatments.

40s

It's all about skin sagging, loss of collagen, and elastin in your 40s. Make sure you give your body 7-8 hours of sleep a night so your skin has a chance to repair itself. Also, now is the time to add additional anti-aging skincare products to your routine. Exfoliating your skin 2-3 times a week along with using a retinoid treatment can help speed cell turnover. In your 40s, using a safe and effective anti-aging regimen consistently is so important to skin maintenance.

If you've abused your skin and feel you need a treatment at the doctor's office, Ultherapy is an option. It is non-invasive and helps lift skin on the neck, eyebrows, and under the chin with ultrasound heat and helps improve lines and wrinkles on the décolletage. Thermage is another treatment option that helps tighten skin around the eyes, jowls, or your body using radio frequency. Kybella is a treatment that melts fat when injected into the chin and stimulates the skin to retract up. There are also laser and IPL treatments that can make reddish-brown damaged skin look more flesh-toned in color. IPL treatments also help with rosacea, little red veins, skin redness from menopause, and hot flashes. An at home skin maintenance treatment that can help with skin firmness and fine lines is the AMP MD system.

50s+

Wrinkles, sagging skin, skin tags, brown spots, dullness, peach fuzz…it may seem like your entire face and body are turning against you. Botox can help lift droopy brows, put volume back in a receding chin, or help with jowls. Your dermatologist can remove skin tags. Fillers also help add volume to sagging skin. But don't overdo it or you can look unnatural. Even if you regularly get fillers, injectables, chemical peels, laser treatments, facials, or have had a face lift, maintaining your skin at home on a daily basis with safe and effective products is still so important in the long run, especially in your 50s and beyond. Invest in a regimen that works for your specific skin type and issues. Maintain a simple but effective morning and night time routine to ensure you're doing everything you can to take care of your skin, regardless of having any surgeries, procedures, and treatments done.

Average Cost of Several Cosmetic Procedures

RealSelf.com provides online patient reviews and patient Q&As. According to RealSelf.com, Kybella averages $800-$1,000 a treatment, with 2-4 treatments needed to see results. Ultherapy cost varies by area of the face or neck, but the average cost is $2,750. Thermage cost also varies by body part, but averages $1,000 or more per treatment. IPL treatments vary from $350-$600 per treatment, again depending on body part. Botox costs around $10-$15 per unit. Average cost per area ranges from $300-$550 with results lasting anywhere from 3-6 months. Restylane average cost is $750 with results typically lasting 3-6 months. Even if you are getting procedures done, maintain your skin at home on a daily basis with quality skincare products. Again, this is still so important for your skin in the long run. Investing in safe and effective skin care products that produce real results should cost you $600-$1,500 a year on average.

I think it's safe to say that when it comes to taking care of your skin, the earlier you start, the better off your skin will be. However, later is still better than never!