In your 30's

How your skin works

If you’ve been careful during your teens and 20's and have protected your skin really well from the sun and other climatic extremes, your skin may still be bright and blooming. But for the vast majority of us, we will notice some dullness. This is because cell turnover starts to slow down and the stratum corneum retains dead skin cells.

With collagen and elastin fibres not working as efficiently, your dermis is likely losing some of its bounceback. Stress can affect collagen formation so, if you’re under pressure, look for ways to relax. Creasing of the skin from repeated muscle activity (eg. frowning) can begin to show now, the start of a central frown furrow, lines across the forehead and crow’s feet.

There will almost certainly be some environmental damage to your skin. It may still be invisible but reckless sunbathers will probably have sun spots and possibly. Don't forget to consult your doctor if you notice any suspicious signs. Those who smoke may may notice a dullness to their skin. In addition, their skill may be dry and there could be evidence of significant lines. This is also true for those who are constantly on a low-fat diet.

Bodywise, you may have to start exercising more to keep that youthful and taut look and you may notice that your skin is drier and toughter.

Recommended skincare routine

The basic products you need for your face are:

• a cleanser;
• alcohol-free toner;
• day moisturiser;
• night cream and/or oi;
• eye cream or gel;
• exfoliator and
• a face mask.

.... and remember ... plenty of hydratation!! Sip at least eight large glasses of water daily.

Cleansing and moisturising are still as important. Choose a cream-based, detergent-free cleanser to work in harmony with the skin’s slightly acidic pH balance. Foams on can be too drying, even for oily skins, which will only serve the production of even more sebum. A cream cleanser can also be used as an eye make-up remover. Use a soft cotton muslin cloth to remove cleanser and to slough off dead grey skin cells.

After using a cleanser, sweep with a skin tonic or toner, using a cotton wool pad. Toner not only feels refreshing but can temporarily minimise enlarged pores. Choose an alcohol-free formulation that won’t overly dry or irritate: a little is ok, but look out for ‘alcohol denat’ near the top of the ingredients. The more of an ingredient there is in a product the nearer to the top of the list it will be.

Make sure you select your moisturiser according to your skin type. Use plant-based oils, not pore-clogging mineral oil (paraffinum liquidum).

Dry skins tend to feel taut immediately after it has been washed, a rich cream packed with skin emollients, such as avocado, wheatgerm and rosehip seed oil together with borage or evening primrose seed oils, which are full of essential fatty acids, will deeply moisturise your skin. It isn't always necessary to use a seperate night cream, more often than not your daily moisturiser will suffice. However, if your skin is very dry, you may want to switch to a slightly richer night cream which, in general, are richer. Skin cells do their repair work whilst we sleep more than at any other time, so this is the best time for the cream to sink into the upper levels of the epidermis.

Whatever your skin types, it will reap the rewards from a nightly application of facial oils. Even oilier skins benefit from their gentle skin-balancing properties. Look for blends based on pure plant oils (not mineral oil – paraffinum liquidum) particularly lightweight facial oils such as hazelnut, passionflower, peach and apricot kernel. Lightly massage into your face and neck, last thing at night ... and while your at it, rub any excess into your cuticles and nails.

Now is the time to start using an eye cream. This will help to keep the finer skin around your eyes smooth and line-free. For best results, use daily. Look for one that contains natural skin plumper’s such as GLA, antioxidants and richer plant oils, such as borage seed, rosehip seed, cranberry seed and/or avocado. It should preferably contain a mineral sunscreen, such as titanium and zinc oxide. Apply the eye cream

in the morning, rather than at night, to gain the benefits of the suncree. Some under-eye creams also contain light-reflecting particles which can help banish the appearance of dark circles and shadows by ‘bouncing’ the light away from the skin. Wearing big sunglasses with 100% UVA/UVB protection and wide arms will also help prevent lines around the eyes.

Humectant ingredients (those that lock in moisture) are also beneficial, including glycerin and hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate).

If you have combination skin with an oily T-zone, choose a lighter moisturiser, specially formulated for normal/combination skin. Even if your skin is oily, it’s still worth using; a tiny amoung of a very lightweight cream with antioxidants and essential fatty acids will do. It’s really important if you live or work in an urban environment to help shield your skin from airborne pollutants that trigger free-radical damage.

For your body, use an all-over body exfoliator or scrub, once or twice a week, not forgetting sun protection for every bit of exposed skin. Apply lots of body cream daily as soon as you have towelled dry after a bath or shower as it absorbs more easily into warm skin. Choose products with nourishing plant oils, such as shea butter, rather than mineral oils, as these just sit on the surface, often feeling tacky, and don’t rehydrate deeply.

Treating your face to a once or twice weekly exfoliation and mask is time well spent. Gentle facial exfoliators perk up the skin by giving it an extra buffing and are ideal to use before applying a treatment mask. Make sure there's nothing scratchy in the product, such nut kernels and choose a mask specif to your your skin type, such as a rehydrating mask for parched skins, or a clay-based mask to draw out impurities for spotty complexions, not forgetting your chin and neck!!.

Exfoliators (or scubs) are brilliant body buffers and one if the fastest ways to improve the overall look and feel of your skin. Rub into damp skin, especially on the hips, thighs and the backs of arms. Particles of olive kernels and ground pumice are great for body buffing.

Even if you use an SPF in a moisturiser, it is still well worth using a seperate facial protector in the summer months, ideally SPF 20, with mineral sunscreens (a blend of titanium and zinc oxide). Apply a fine layer over your moisturiser when going outdoors. If you wear make-up, the mineral ingredients should provide a protective veil equivalent to about SPF 10-20.

Tips on problem skin

Treat small ‘sun’ or ‘age’ spots on your face by massaging in a little rosehip oil mixed with the contents of vitamin E every night.  During the day always cover with a concealer or facial sun block.  For your hands, try a hand cream rich in vitamin E (natural source, d-alpha tocopherol) and use SPF on your hands, too.

It may seem like a lot to remember but by making all the above part of your daily skin care routine, it will soon become second nature and it will be well worth it!

Tanya xx