Beauty Products You Should Never Use After 40

It's no secret that your skin is changing, but tweaking your entire beauty routine to match is a pretty tall task. "After 40, our skin produces fewer lipids, which leads to drier, rougher skin," says Ellen Marmur, MD, an associate clinical professor in the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center. While dryer skin calls for more moisturizing skin care products, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles that hits around this time calls for a different makeup arsenal, too. Here, dermatologists and makeup artists reveal the products you need to lose (and what to replace them with) to look your best now.

Toss: Gritty scrubs
Ageing skin is more sensitive, meaning it can't handle the harsh exfoliants it once did. "The skin turnover time slows from 28 days in your 20s to more than 40 days after you hit 40," Marmur says. "It takes skin longer to recover." When your skin needs a brightening boost, opt for masks, washes, or serums containing gentle chemical (rather than physical) exfoliants.

Toss: Alcohol-rich toners
Most toners are alcohol-based and meant for oily or acne-prone skin, but they strip natural oils, which can leave normal skin Sahara-desert-dry. As you age, it becomes much more important to moisturize because your skin loses water more easily, Marmur explains, so your post-wash product should be a hyaluronic acid gel or serum, instead of a harsh toner. If you love the super-clean feel or zit-fighting effects of using a toner, look for one that doesn't contain alcohol.

Toss: Shimmery shadow

( PHOTO BY ROY HSU/GETTY IMAGES )

The last thing you want to do is make fine lines and crêping around the eyes more obvious, and this is exactly what shimmery and frosted eye shadow does. The reflective particles on your lids can bring attention to signs of aging, says Jo Levy, director of artistry at Rouge Bunny Rouge. She suggests choosing cream or matte eye shadows with a velvet or satin finish that will minimize discoloration and fine lines.

Source:prevention.com/beauty/makeup-mistakes-after-age-40

Coconut Oil

t’s not often a health fad becomes a health trend but coconut oil has done it and is here to stay. 

It is the oil cold-pressed from coconuts and has been used as a staple in Asian cooking, and traditional healing, for centuries. 

Coconut oil has important nutritional properties and has demonstrated some important health effects.

Coconut oil has been used as a staple in Asian coking for centuries and has natural anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxident 

compounds

It preserves natural anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant compounds and when applied topically has been shown to relieve some skin conditions. 

And although a saturated fat it is very stable when used in cooking, much better than other vegetable oils, so it does not create toxic compounds and it does not negatively affect your cholesterol. 

Try cooking with coconut oil in dishes that would benefit from its flavour, like curries and stir-fry’s. 

Topically, coconut oil has been shown to help improve skin health when applied like a cream twice daily. So buy a jar for the bathroom as well as the kitchen.

Source: dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3252310/Which-oils-best-health-flaxseed-soft-skin-peppermint-bloating-expert-reveals-all.html#ixzz3nQ6v6IOd

Acne

Acne is a common skin condition that affects most people at some point. It causes spots to develop on the skin, usually on the face, back and chest.

The spots can range from surface blackheads and whiteheads – which are often mild – to deep, inflamed, pus-filled pustules and cysts, which can be severe and long-lasting and lead to scarring.

What can I do if I have acne?

Keeping your skin clean is important, but will not prevent new spots developing. Wash the affected area twice a day with a mild soap or cleanser, but do not scrub the skin too hard to avoid irritating it. 

If your skin is dry, use a moisturiser (emollient). Most of these are now tested so they don't cause spots (non-comedogenic).

Although acne can't be cured, it can be controlled with treatment. Several creams, lotions and gels for treating spots are available at pharmacies.

If you develop acne, it's a good idea to speak to your pharmacist for advice. Products containing a low concentration of benzoyl peroxide may be recommended, but be careful as this can bleach clothing.

If your acne is severe or appears on your chest and back, it may need to be treated with antibiotics or stronger creams that are only available on prescription.

When to see your GP

See your GP if you cannot control your acne with over-the-counter medication or if it is causing you distress and making you feel unhappy.

Also see your GP if you develop nodules or cysts, as they will need to be treated properly to avoid scarring.  

Treatments can take up to three months to work, so don't expect results overnight. Once they do start to work, the results are usually good.

Try to resist the temptation to pick or squeeze the spots as this can lead to permanent scarring.

Why do I have acne?

Acne is most commonly linked to the changes in hormone levels during puberty, but can start at any age.

It affects the grease-producing glands next to the hair follicles in the skin. Certain hormones cause these glands to produce larger amounts of oil (abnormal sebum).

This abnormal sebum changes the activity of a usually harmless skin bacterium called P. acnes, which becomes more aggressive and causes inflammation and pus.

The hormones also thicken the inner lining of the hair follicle, causing blockage of the pores (opening of the hair follicles). Cleaning the skin does not help remove this blockage.

Acne is known to run in families. If both your mother and father had acne, it is likely that you will also have acne.

Hormonal changes, such as those that occur during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, can also lead to episodes of acne in women.

There is no evidence that diet, poor hygiene or sexual activity play a role in acne.

Who is affected?

Acne is very common in teenagers and younger adults. About 80% of people between the ages of 11 and 30 will be affected by acne.

Acne is most common between the ages of 14 and 17 in girls, and boys between 16 and 19.

Most people have acne on and off for several years before their symptoms start to improve as they get older. Acne often disappears when a person is in their mid-twenties.

In some cases, acne can continue into adult life. About 5% of women and 1% of men have acne over the age of 25.

Source:nhs.uk/Conditions/Acne/Pages/Introduction.aspx