When does skin begin to age?

Starting at around age 25 the skin will begin to age.  Why 25?  Well, at this point we've been exposed to more life.  More stress, more sun exposure, more sugar in our diets, less sleep.  Our skin's physiological skin functions occur in the dermis and these functions include collagen and elastin production, melanin production, cellular turnover, hydration production, etc.  Once we hit 25 we start losing an estimated 1% of these functions every year.  So by the time we reach 50, we have 25% less collagen, 25% less elastin, and so on.  These numbers can vary according to lifestyle- for example someone who has used tanning beds often will have a lot more melanin and a lot less collagen than someone who avoids them.  But this gives us a general idea.  

Good news- it doesn't have to be this way!  If we can get essential nutrients deep into the dermis, we can give our skin the tools it needs to keep functioning at a high rate. 

What are some of the skin issues we face at age 27-36?

• Fine lines around the mouth and eyes begin to show.  These are referred to as expression lines, wrinkles that appear from normal wear and tear on the facial muscles from repeated movement.
• Some photo damage is visible. 
• Hormonal breakouts are possible.

What essential nutrients does my skin need at this age?

The focus here is on prevention.  Like I stated earlier, we need to give the skin proper nutrients to keep functioning at a high rate.

1. AHA's, BHA's, or Enzymes   Alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acids, and enzymes all help with exfoliaton which will in turn keep your cellular turnover rate operating well.  These ingredients are often found in cleansers, pads, or weekly exfoliating masks.  They prevent congestion in the pores and keep the surface of your skin bright and smooth.  Some good product options are Mandelic Cleanser, Exfoliating Cleanser, Brightening Peel Pads, and Enzyme Melting Peel .
2. Antioxidants  Key antioxidants include Vitamin C and E, Green Tea, and Resveratrol.  Antioxidants protect your skin against free radical damage and can help boost your skin's own collagen production.  Read about the benefits of Vitamin C in particular here.  Find superior antioxidant protection in products like Antioxidant C Serum, Clarifying C Serum, and Detox Nutri-Mist.

3. Peptides  Peptides are natural amino acid chains that prevent and treat expression lines.  I refer to them as nature's botox because they will give you botox-like results when used over time.  Start now and you will have considerably less wrinkles as you age,  Almost all of Be Blessed Skincare's moisturizers, serums, eye creams, and even most toners and masks contain peptides but a few of my favorites for this specific age group are Peptide Eye Cream, Deep Wrinkle Serum, and Perfecting Toner.

4. Moisturizers  Now is the time to start using a moisturizer every day if you haven't already!  Moisturizers seal in all the goodness you've applied to your skin with toners and serums, and they prevent water loss from the epidermis, keeping your skin soft, supple, and healthy.  For normal to dry skin use Advanced Renewal Mositurizer and for oily or combination skin use Sheer Peptide Lotion. For extra dry skin use Transformation Cream and if sun damage is your main issue, use Radiant C Creme.
5. Retinol  I recommend starting Retinol at age 35.  Retinol is great for all things concerning skin rejuvenation.  It helps treat and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, it helps undo sun damage, and it keeps the skin firm and lifted.  It will even help keep the pores nice and clean.  I recommend using it 2-5 times per week at night only.  Retinol Micropeel is the holy grail of retinol at 1% with the addition of refining AHA's and BHA's. 
6. Sunscreen  I cannot stress this enough!  Sunscreen everyday, rain, shine, or snow, is the #1 antiaging product on the market.  Use it without fail.  Reapply.  Wear a hat too while you're at it.  Stay out of the tanning beds.  Thank me later. Advanced Protection spf 30 is for all skin types, even acne, and doubles as an everyday, light-weight moisturizing lotion.  Daily Protection is specifically designed for acne.  And Silky Sunscreen is for dry skin and it doubles as a silky makeup primer.  This one should not be used on acne-prone skin.

What else can I do for my skin at this age?

Facial treatments!  Get in the habit of treating your skin with facials by a licensed and knowledgable esthetician.  Some great treatment options include:

• Hydrating Facials
• Vitamin C Facials
• Superficial micro-needling
• Superficial to medium-depth peels
• Mechanical Exfoliation (microdermabrasion and dermaplaning)
• Oxygen Treatments
• Microcurrent
• LED