Welcome to 32! My top advice for anyone in their 30's and up.

Yesterday my 32nd Birthday.  I don’t love birthdays anymore.  Once I hit the big 3-0 I was done with getting excited and looking forward to them.  I know it might sound petty and stupid, but age does scare me.  For vanity reasons only. Probably the biggest issue I have is not wanting to look old, but who does?  I have started noticing my skin isn’t as forgiving as it used to be, small lines are appearing and my eyelids aren’t as firm as they were a couple years ago.  The good thing about all of this is that there are amazing products out there that can take care of these issues.  Lucky for me, I happen to have started my anti-aging regimen a long time ago!  So here are some of the secrets that I have learned and hopefully you can use them too!

My biggest piece of advice that I swear by is always using sunscreen daily.  I use it in my skincare, makeup and also in my lotions.  I’ll admit I go out in the sun every once in a while, but I don’t tan.  My fair skin has never been anything close to tan.  If I do go out, I make sure I apply sunscreen everywhere and I keep reapplying during the day.  I don’t go to tanning beds at all.  There is no excuse for anyone anymore to use a tanning bed.  They have wonderful spray tans available that are really good!  I’ve had friends who have had skin cancer scares and I’ve known people who have passed away from skin cancer.  I also believe in using a good self tanner.  It’s something that can be done at home and used as needed.  Jergen’s makes a great product and so do several other companies.  By using sunscreen and staying out of the sun (as much as you can) you are preventing wrinkles, sun damage, age spots and possible health issues.

Moisturizing the skin is key!  As I’ve gotten older, my skin has really changed.  I used to have fairly normal skin and now I have super sensitive, oily combination skin.  I’ve done a lot of research and tried a lot of products and I’ve found some really good moisturizers that keep my skin hydrated and have helpful ingredients when it comes to anti-aging.  I find that when my skin is moisturized properly, my makeup goes one better, my skin appears smoother and I get that amazing glow that healthy skin has.  Paula’s Choice moisturizer is amazing for my skin, but I also happen to love quite a few others.  Kiehl’s Rosa Artica is amazing for a really intense hydration.  The beautiful part of the product is that even though it’s heavy, it’s not heavy on my skin.  Kate Somerville also has some great moisturizers.  Her skincare line features everything from a normal, daily moisturizer to very advanced anti-aging ingredients in her Cytocell and KateCeuticals.   I suggest visiting a location that allows you to sample their products before you make a purchase. Having properly hydrated skin is key to a flawless complexion!

My Clarisonic is my best friend.  This product has changed my skin.  It’s helped my enlarged pores, the texture of my skin and really cleans my skin on a much deeper level than I could alone.  I know these are pricey little gadgets, but if you can save up for one, it is worth the money.  I’ve recently, in the past  couple of months,  started using the Clarisonic Opal for the eyes and what a difference this has made in my dark circles and puffiness in my eye area.  I use both of my Clarisonic products day and night and if I get lazy and I don’t use them, I can tell a difference in my skin texture immediately.

Drink a lot of water!  I mean tons of it!  I start my day with an ice cold water and keep drinking it throughout the day.  Stop drinking things like soda and juices that are loaded with sugars.  Drinking water will keep your skin hydrated and will allow you to get that healthy skin look.  Challenge yourself and see what a difference it can make in even a week!  It will help with lines and wrinkles, any puffiness you might be experiencing, any redness and enlarged pores.  Water is like the cure all for the skin!

It’s important as we start aging,  to make sure we are changing some of the products we are using.  We aren’t teenagers anymore and as we start aging more, we need to include more products like Glycolic Acid’s, Retinol’s and Salicylic Acids to help exfoliate the skin and promote new cell turnover and help fight the signs of aging.  No one wants to look “old” and we don’t have to if we take good care of our skin. The recommendations above are the minimal in a good anti-aging skincare routine, but they will make a difference in your skin!

So as I’m entering my 32nd year, I plan on incorporating some new Anti-Aging products into my daily skin care routine and you better believe I’ll be all over any new product that swears it will take away any lines and wrinkles! This girl doesn’t plan on starting to look old anytime soon! They say age is just a number, so I’ll have to see if that continues to be true!!

What products or good skin care tips have you learned?  Has your skin changed as you’ve gotten older?