It seems there's always something. In our 20s we battle the dark circles that are our reward for last night's pub crawl. In our 30s, we lament the first signs of fine lines and wrinkles and the dimming of our youthful glow. In our 40s, those wrinkles are firmly entrenched and we notice age spots in places we never thought possible. But the news is not all bad. It is possible to look great, no matter what our skin says.
We asked celebrity beauty and skin-care experts to share their tricks of the trade for glowing good looks at every age.
20-something
If skin has a heyday, this is it. You've dealt with the worst of adolescent acne and your skin has yet to bear the marks of aging. But with hormones still stabilizing, oily skin may still be a problem, so limit your play to oil-free, hypoallergenic cleansers, moisturizers and makeup.
Toronto makeup artist Michael Bonneville, who has worked with young performers such as Chantal Kreviazuk and Celine Dion, as well as with the more mature Annie Lennox and Vanessa Williams, recommends that all women in their 20s supplement a good basic skin-care routine – cleanser, toner, exfoliator, moisturizer – with healthy doses of prevention.
"A sunscreen and eye cream are essential," he says. "Sunscreens will stall any sun damage, and eye creams will help hold off fine lines and wrinkles."
He also encourages young women to begin exfoliating to speed up the natural sloughing process of the skin and keep that baby face shining.
Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), which are derived from natural ingredients such as sugarcane and fruits and are used in many cleansers and moisturizers, can also hasten the natural sloughing process.
Page 1 of 2 – Read more about skincare in your 30s, plus find tips for women in their 40s on page 2.
