Beautiful at every age!
It seems like the minute we turn 40 and our hormones start to go haywire, every glimpse in the mirror reflects back a different aging aww… c’mon! And when new ones keep cropping up, well, we feel like just giving up. But since we’re not quitters— and we
Outsmart double chin, thinning hair, droopy eyelids and more!
Oily, blemish-prone skin
It’s like puberty take two: The hormonal flux in perimenopause send oils glands into overdrive, clogging pores and causing breakouts, says dermatologist Margarita Lolis, M.D. And since skin is more sensitive than it was in our teens, finding a gentle solution is key. Dr. Lolis’ pick: witch hazel. “This astringent sops up oil without sapping skin’s moisture and balances skin’s pH to prevent further breakouts.”
TO DO: Swab skin with a witch hazel–soaked cotton ball daily for results in three weeks.
Age spots
Estrogen plays a role in regulating the production of melanin (skin’s pigment), so as estrogen levels fluctuate, melanin synthesis increases. That, plus years of UV exposure, cause dark spots to appear on the face, hands and chest. What can help: licorice root. Used topically, the plant’s
liquirtin breaks down melanin to fade spots while also increasing cell turnover to reveal fresh, even skin. Dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, M.D., adds that antioxidants in licorice root ward off sun damage to stop new spots from forming.
TO DO: In bowl, mix 3 drops of licorice root extract (at healthfood stores) with 1 Tbs. of plain Greek yogurt (its lactic acid sloughs off dead skin cells). Apply to spots and let sit 15 minutes; rinse. Repeat daily for results in four weeks.
“Estrogen actually reaches its peak in our early 40s, but the body begins to become more resistant to it at the same time,” says endocrinologist Sara Gottfried, M.D., author of Younger (out March 7). That causes the body to act as if estrogen is low. We also see fluctuations in testosterone and a slow in fibroblast activity (cells that produce collagen and elastin). These changes can lead to:
Thin lips
“A drop in skin-firming collagen is the main reason lips shrink,” says Dr. Lolis.
“And since lips lack oil glands, they dehydrate easily, making them look even smaller.” Plump them up with a cinnamon and coconut oil balm. Cinnamon increases blood flow to the area to “swell” lips while its cinnamaldehyde boosts collagen production. And coconut oil’s fatty acids penetrate skin to lock in volumizing moisture.
TO DO: In a bowl, mix 1 Tbs. of coconut oil with 3 tsp. of ground cinnamon. Apply to lips (store leftovers in a resealable container) and let sit 2 minutes; rinse. The instant plumping results will last up to three hours, but using the balm two to three times a week can help plump lips more permanently.
Crow’s-feet
The eyes are the first place people look when asked to guess a stranger’s age, according to surveys. Unfortunately, our eyes are often the first area to show signs of aging. Dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse, M.D., explains that skin around the eyes is 10 times thinner than anywhere else on the face, so it creases more easily. To fight this, she recommends rosehip oil. It’s rich in vitamin A which stimulates fibroblasts to increase elastin production. Plus, fatty acids in the oil instantly plump skin to “fill in” lines.
TO DO: Massage 2 drops of oil (like Acure Organics Rosehip Oil, iHerb.com) around the eyes twice a day for results in three weeks.