7 Ways To Have A Youthful-Looking Skin At Midlife

How does it make you feel when someone says “Wow, you don’t look your age.” or “You are so young-looking.”? Flattered and proud? As a woman over 40, who can see the signs of aging creeping in, I often feel cheery receiving such compliments. I don’t see what they see because, like every woman going through midlife, I observe wrinkles, saggy skin, thinning hair, and weight fluctuation. Women in midlife go through immense physical and emotional changes, particularly after hitting the 45-year-old mark. So when someone comments about how young we look, we feel charged with pride and pleasure. We must’ve been doing it right after all these years to get that youthful-looking skin.

That’s how I truly feel about these humbling remarks. Ever since I started my blog women kept asking what is my secret to looking young(er). There isn’t a secret potion or magical formula to explain it. I am going to be clear, cut the crap and share my authentic opinion about this subject of youthful-looking skin.

Eeni meeni miini moe!

Back when we were younger, the beauty market was experimenting with anti-aging products, most of which contained lots of chemicals. Our generation of women wasn’t fully aware of the effects of chemicals infused in beauty products and we bore the brunt of it. And as time passed, the industry grew and we saw more and more beauty and skincare lines; the good, the bad and the ugly.

Today, this market is saturated with treatments making it exceptionally confusing to find a product that truly works. If you google the best skincare products for youthful-looking skin, you’ll see hundreds of articles and thousands of product reviews on every site that curates lifestyle content. We start asking ourselves: which one works for our skin types? What matters, at the end of the day, isn’t the products themselves but a suite of other elements.

The not so secret recipe to youthful-looking skin

Wrinkles, sagging and dark spots happen and they get worst after 40, speaking from experience. Yes, I do have wrinkles, a couple of dark spots that drive me nuts and my skin is starting to sag. I thrive to look like JLo. But who knows what secrets she’s been hiding when it comes to looking exceptionally young. The reality is, looking as young as JLo implies budgeting thousands of dollars on skincare treatments and procedures each month, which I simply cannot afford.

Yet, here’s the thing, achieving a youthful-looking skin after 40 depends on factors outside and within our control. It’s not just about the products and procedures we use to get a youthful face. Our skin is also affected by environmental and lifestyle factors, as well as, genetics.

Genetic

I took after my father’s side when it comes to skin type, Oily! This skin type has the tendency to remain hydrated and is more resilient to wrinkles. On the other hand, it is prone to breakouts and pores grow larger as we age. But the fact is, it’s a hereditary feature no one can change. That could be the reason why I didn’t have wrinkles until my late 30s. On the other hand, women with naturally dry skin are more prone to wrinkles and that’s why it’s very important for them to use hydrating products.

Environmental

The second important factor for youthful-looking skin is living conditions. Exposure to chemicals and harsh environmental factors such as working in factories, or living in a war zone can ruin healthy skin! These working conditions also affect women in the corporate world where the air quality in may office buildings is so poorly circulated and lacks humidity which in turn dries the skin and makes it sensitive to internal pollutants like dust!

Health

Thirdly, illnesses and chronic diseases impact the overall wellbeing of a person’s health including skin condition. It won’t make a difference if we’re using the best skincare products or procedures. The fact is, taking medications for any type of ailment, even extended use of over the counter meds, affect the skin condition.

Lifestyle

The fourth factor that plays a significant role in achieving a youthful-looking skin is our lifestyles. By that, I mean nutrition and physical activities. This is the one factor that is truly within our control and can help us maintain youthful-looking skin. Workout and a healthy diet are what doctors and researchers continuously endorse as a way to stay young, and by young, I mean strong and firm. In my case, I am glad my dad enrolled me in group workout activities and bought me Jane Fonda workouts when I was only 8 years old. I’ve been literally addicted to workout since then and became accustomed to an active lifestyle. As for food, I owe my eating habits to my mother who spent most of her time cooking healthy meals!

A simple routine to get that youthful-looking skin

I have had sensitive skin for decades! As a teenager, I struggled with acne breakouts and developed Rosaceae and mild psoriasis in my late twenties. It is exceptionally important for me to use products that didn’t contain alcohol and retinol as they stimulate further irritation. To this day, I have relied on basic products to manage skin irritation and I don’t think I’ll ever switch them to something else.

Look, I realize there are many wonderful products to try, but I’m a firm believer that “if it’s ain’t broken, don’t fix it”. I use well-known brands established within the domain of beauty and skincare, and I trust they have solid R&D labs to continuously enhance the performance of their product lineup. If they are doing their homework and are dedicated to enhancing customer experience, then why would I switch products? What I am about to share is my personal list of skin-care tips and products I use daily to get that youthful-looking face.

| 1 | Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel

When I turned 30, my skin became extremely sensitive to environmental factors and chemicals. I began to suffer from mild psoriasis and rosacea which made my skin super raw, irritated, itchy, flaky and burning. Most face wash products contained alcohol which caused my skin to dry and make it more itchy and raw. It wasn’t until I tried Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel by Vichy 15 years ago when my skin started to feel less dry and itchy. To this date, I use the face wash religiously each morning and night and recommend it to anyone who asks my opinion.

| 2 | Rose water toner

I’ve tried a number of toners and did not like any even though I’m sure there are great ones out there. Besides, I wanted to stick to a natural alternative which I found in rose water, a natural remedy known in Asia and the Middle East. There are so many benefits to using rose water I’ve previously outlined in this blog.

| 3 | Thermal Spring Water Spray

Some may argue that thermal water sprays don’t make a difference. That’s true, for women who don’t suffer irritation and skin sensitivity. For me, it truly feels like an instant relief when my skin is severely irritated. Vichy Thermal Water Spray is a staple in my bathroom vanity. It contains 15 rare minerals from Vichy France and has the ability to fortify and protect the skin from the environmental aggressors. I love applying it after washing my face with tap water which as you know is not PH balanced. It also helps moisturize my face while traveling since the air quality in planes, airports and some hotel rooms isn’t healthy.

| 4 | Essential Oils

For the longest time, I secretly laughed at the thought of using essential oils to improve skin condition. Last summer, I discovered Immortelle oil in Croatia so I took a leap of faith and gave it a shot after reading multiple articles about the benefits of this oil and documented them here. I also decided to take part in a judging panel and review a number of essential oils from CertClean. Some of my absolute favourite essential oils tested are Helena Lane skincare oils and Routine Woke Glow, both of which I have been using daily for 6 months after applying toner. Let me tell you that my skin has NOT felt this smooth in years.

| 5 | Face Serum

Face serums are very crucial to use after 40, particularly those with vitamin C, Kojic acid and Vitamin A. These 3 ingredients will help firm, brighten and rejuvenate the skin and should be applied daily even if you use essential oils. The thing with essential oils is that they need an agent to penetrate the skin so it’s best to apply the oil then a nourishing serum, and followed by a face cream. Lancome Bienfait Multi-vital Daily Replenishing Oil is loaded with goodness and all it takes is 2 drops to replenish my skin. Sometimes when I’m in a hurry, I just apply it on and skip other steps.

| 6 | Face Cream

The last step of my daily routine is applying face cream. Now since I have very sensitive skin, products that contain Retinol can cause further irritation and redness. Therefore, I opt for mild products like Hydra Zen Neurocalm – Extreme Soothing Moisturising Cream-Gel which I’ve been using for 4 years now.

Confession: I admit that I go for Botox treatments once a year and that’s because anti-wrinkle creams are not suitable for my skin, neither are any of the aesthetic treatments that help regenerate the skin.

| 7 | Water

Yup! the last important step to have a young-looking skin is drinking as much water as you can during the day. I drink at least 2 liters of water each day and throughout the day. Women over 40 experience hot flashes due to perimenopause or menopause. Therefore, staying hydrated helps flush the body from toxins and boosts skin health and beauty.

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