Dermatologist-Recommended Skincare Routine for Your 50s and 60s

Reaching the age of 50 is a huge milestone worth celebrating. By this decade, many things in life have been firmly established, and (hopefully!) you can take time to truly concentrate on yourself. For women, one inevitable change in our early 50sis the onset of menopause, which influences a lot of changes in your body—including our skin.^[1]

If you’ve already been conscientious about skincare during your 30s and 40s, you probably don’t need to drastically change your routine. But given the hormonal changes throughout this decade and beyond, you may consider enhancing your regimen—or refocusing your energy—to cater to your skin’s current needs. See below for a few pointers on how to refresh your skin’s health and restore a youthful glow into your 50s and 60s.

Tip 1: Prioritize skin hydration

During menopause your ovaries stop producing estrogen, a hormone that has been shown to improve skin elasticity, hydration, and thickness.^[2] This estrogen deficiency is responsible for an accelerated decrease in collagen—approximately 2.1 percent per year after menopause—which means skin loses its volume and wrinkles may become more obvious.^[3] In addition, fractured collagen and damaged elastin, created by aging and external factors like sun exposure, pollute the skin, increasing the look of dryness, uneven tone, and fine lines.^[4]

To restore hydration and volume in your skin, use a quality product that helps the body get rid of the old collagen and elastin so that new, healthy proteins can form. Alastin’s Ultra Nourishing Moisturizer with TriHex Technology ® nourishes the skin by locking in hydration and supporting the production of new, healthy elastin and collagen. To hydrate the entire body from the inside out and address the look of crepey skin on areas like your forearms and knees, add in Alastin’s TransFORM Body Treatment with TriHex Technology ®.

Tip 2: Don’t neglect your neck

As we age, the structural integrity of our skin starts to decline, and it can become loose and saggy due to the lack of collagen.^[5] Those delicate outer layers, particularly around the neck and eyes, become even more sensitive. Now more than ever is the time to pay attention to your thin-skinned areas. After washing with a gentle cleanser, use Alastin’s Restorative Neck Complex with TriHex Technology ® to help tone, hydrate, and tighten the skin around your neck and décolleté.

Tip 3: Reinforce good SPF habits

Sun protection was a good idea in your 20s, 30s, and 40s, and it’s still crucial now. Not only can sunscreen continue to protect you against skin cancer,^[6] it can also combat age spots, blotchy patches, and thinning skin.^[7] The most common cause of thin, crepey skin is ultraviolet radiation, which breaks down the skin’s elasticity.^[8] Although those elastic fibers can heal, they can’t repair completely with repeated exposure. The combination of sun damage plus genetics, skin type, and other bad habits (such as smoking and poor nutrition) can lead to a future of thinner skin.

To prevent crepey skin from developing, seek out shade, wear protective clothing, and apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher when you’re outside.^[9] Alastin’s HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Suncreen SPF 36 meets multiple needs in your 50s and 60s: It protects against UVA/UVB rays and pollution while also providing hydration and evening your skin thanks to a universal tint that works with most skin tones.

Tip 4: Seek out treatments that make you happy

Your daily regimen can do wonders, but it can only go so far when it comes to erasing skin damage and minimizing signs of aging. It may take going beyond skincare to feel the best about your appearance—which is something you deserve! Always consult a dermatologist to recommend a procedure that’s best for your individual skin.

If loose skin or facial wrinkles are your main concern, popular surgeries such as a facelift or necklift can help reduce sagging around the face and neck. A browlift or blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)—the latter of which was the second-most popular plastic surgery in 2020^[10]—can fix droopiness around the eyes. Non-surgical skin -tightening treatments such as Ultrasound Skin Tightening or Radiofrequency Treatments achieve firmer skin by stimulating elastic and collagen production.

To improve skin tone and texture, treatments such as Intense Pulsed Light therapy (IPL) deliver pulses of broad-spectrum light to improve the appearance of damage from sun exposure. Microneedling utilizes tiny skin punctures to help produce new collagen and elastin in order to help correct dark spots and mild scarring. Laser resurfacing treatments use highly concentrated light beams to improve skin’s overall tone and laxity.

To prepare for and recover from any in-office procedure—both surgical and less invasive—try treatment-enhancing products such as Regenerating Skin Nectar TriHex Technology® and Soothe + Protect Recovery Balm to improve results and reduce recovery time.

Skin aging may be part of the natural process, but you can always improve upon poor habits and find new ways to feel better about your health and appearance. Adapt these tips and add ALASTIN’s innovative products into your routine to create a healthy future for your skin.

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[1] Balzer, Deb. “Mayo Clinic Minute: Lifestyle changes to manage menopause.” (2021, May 3). Mayo Clinic. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-lifestyle-changes-to-manage-menopause-symptoms/

[2] Cabana, Eliza. “A solution for estrogen-deficient skin.” (2019, June 16). DermatologyTimes. https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/solution-estrogen-deficient-skin

[3] Reilly, D., et al. “Skin collagen through the life stages: important for skin health and beauty” (2021, Jan 8). Plastic and Aesthetics Research. https://parjournal.net/article/view/3863

[4] Varani J, Dame MK, Rittie L, et al. Decreased collagen production in chronologically aged skin: roles of age-dependent alteration in fibroblast function and defective mechanical stimulation. Am J Pathol 2006; 168(6): 1861-8.

[5] “Anatomy and physiology of ageing 11: the skin.” (2017, Nov 27). Nursing Times. https://www.nursingtimes.net/roles/older-people-nurses-roles/anatomy-and-physiology-of-ageing-11-the-skin-27-11-2017/

[6] “All About Sunscreen.” (2021, Jan). Skin Cancer Foundation. https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/sunscreen/

[7] “How to Care For Your Skin in Your 60s and 70s.” American Academy of Dermatology Association. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/care/skin-care-in-your-60s-and-70s

[8] “Crepey Skin? A Surprising Cause—and 4 Expert Fixes.” (2019, Oct 2) Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/whats-causing-your-crepey-skin-and-how-can-you-fix-it/

[9] Nordqvist, Christian. “How to prevent and improve crepey skin.” Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320789

[10] “2020 National Plastic Surgery Statistics.” American Society of Plastic Surgeons. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/News/Statistics/2020/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2020.pdf

Article Reviewed by Wendy Johnson

Vice President, Marketing

Wendy Johnson brings to Alastin Skincare over 22 years of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and aesthetics industry experience in various sales, training, marketing and thought leader development roles.

After spending 10 years in gastroenterology at Tap Pharmaceuticals and Prometheus Laboratories, with sales and marketing oversight for in-line and pre-launch products, Mrs. Johnson transitioned to an aesthetic career at SkinMedica in 2004. While there, she was responsible for marketing one of the top 2 branded prescription hydroquinones, launching a leading branded low potency steroid, and oversight of the acne franchise line extensions.

In 2010, Wendy joined Merz North America where she developed and managed the Physician Relations department in support of injectable, topical and device business units under Medical Affairs, before transitioning into managing a Regional Aesthetics Marketing team.