Future-Proof Your Skin

As the industry pivots to a more positive message of ageing gracefully, we lay out the strategy for nurturing and protecting your skin in the years to come. By Arissa Ha

Growing old is a given. Ageing gracefully can be too, with a healthier mindset that has you ready to embrace the process while cherishing your skin in a way that works best for you. And with the industry hopping on board to push the same agenda, the call now is less about the pursuit of eternal youth and more about looking healthy, radiant and, well, younger from the inside out. To take utmost care of your skin, no matter your age, it’s vital to first understand the mechanics of ageing. The way skin ages is dependent on intrinsic and extrinsic factors; genetics play a part, of course, but so do lifestyle choices (smoking, an unhealthy diet and stepping out into the sun without proper precautions are prime examples of poor ones) and variables we cannot control, such as the climate and pollution. The latter two stress the skin on a daily basis (hello, premature skin ageing); add to that natural ageing and what you get is an undesirable situation whereby the rate of repair and regeneration lags behind the rate of damage. The most common manifestations of that are wrinkles (when the network of collagen and elastin is compromised) and dry, dull skin (when the skin loses moisture faster than it can be replenished). So help your skin out by taking a two-pronged approach with the things you can change: Your lifestyle and your skincare. Reduce the amount of damage your skin takes (by quitting smoking, for example, and being liberal with your sunscreen) and make an effort to consume more healthy foods high in antioxidants, which help counter the effects of oxidative stress on both the body and the skin. When it comes to skincare, make sure you have a routine that caters to what your skin needs—which will change as you age. Here, we’ve come up with a game plan that’ll take you from your 20s through your 40s.