A Breakdown Of How Men’s Skin changes throughout the decades
20’s- In your early to mid 20’s you’ll have practically maintenance-free years. Your skin still has plenty of elasticity(elastin) which is the protein substance that helps your skin bounce back after stretching.
Your collagen also is very thick and continuously producing. Collagen is the fibrous protein under the skin that keeps the tissue plump. At this age you can most likely get away with late nights of partying and still look somewhat refreshed. I highly advocate ALWAYS wearing sunglasses when your out in daylight to avoid sun damage around the eyes and also to avoid squinting, which also forms the beginning of crows feet.
 Many people are not aware how powerful wearing sunglasses outside really is. By reducing the “squint” effect alone, you’ll keep the skin around your eyes smooth and line free. Your best defense against future wrinkles? By avoiding hot spots with plenty sun exposure is your first step.The majority of future sun spots and wrinkles begin before and during this decade, so your best bet is early, continuous protection from the sun using an oil-free sunscreen with an SPF factor of 15 of higher. Broad spectrum sunscreens protect best against UVA/UVB rays and products containing titanium and zinc oxide block both these spectrum’s.
30’s- Your 30’s will spark the beginning of a transitional stage/decade in your life. With that , oil production will drop about 15% at most and your skin will begin to thin at about the same rate. Previous sun damage will start to show by way of crow’s feet and the skin will begin to sag due to collagen degradation. With late night partying you’ll be more likely to bring out worse dark circles, bags under the eyes and facial puffiness that you could have gotten away with in your 20’s.
Best defense? Avoid the sun as much as you can, wear sunscreen always, and wear sunglasses whenever outside. Protect your skin with an oil-free moisterizer and 2-3 times a week, use a mild scrub, such as clinique’s to exfoliate the skin and to keep the dead skin cells off, resulting in faster turnaround of fresher skin cells and better absorption of moisturizers and other skin care products.
I highly advise using a quality product with retin-A , as this is probably the only proven ingredient in skincare to prevent fine lines and wrinkles from forming around the eyes as well as smoothing the skin around the eyes and entire face. It also acts as an exfolliant for fresher skin.Use an eye cream also at night.
Avoid after shaves that contain alcohol as this will just dry out the skin. I would highly recommend increasing water intake at this age also. Believe it or not, water WILL make your skin look much healthier. It will cushion your skin better and allow for more collagen production.
40’s- In your 40’s , crow’s feet will become more evident, causing creases.The expression lines on your forehead and laugh lines become more evident also. Loss of tissue under the eyes may make you look older and cause a “hollow” look. Your facial oil moisture production will also drop another 10% and your collagen will continue to degrade, causing additional wrinkles.
BEST DEFENSE?- Start by constantly making a conscious effort to take care of your mind, body and soul. Stress reduction will be important. Apply a retin-A serum everynight. Increase your water intake and drink at least 1 glass(8-10ounces) every hour. I’ve found this to be the best formula overall. Avoid the sun as much as you can! Wear sunglasses when outside. Remember, protection is key here.
So there you have it! In a separate article I will cover how men age beyond their 40’s.
As a rule of thumb for ultimate skin preservation after your teens, adopt these simple rules below for ultimate skin preservation:
1-Avoid the sun as much as you can!
2-Wear sunglasses when out in the sun.(Prevents squinting and sun damage around the eyes)
3-Drink plenty of water! 8-10 ounces every hour. Trust me , it works!
4-Wear sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher whenever outside. When outside for more then an hour, SPF 30 or higher.
5-Add a multi-vitamin to your daily regimen.
6-Exercise at least 3 times a week(cardio 20 mins each time)
7-Build muscles for strength(Pushups and situps will strengthen the neck, helping with facial firmness)
8-Use a scrub 3 times a week to exfoliate skin and remove dead skin cell buildup.
9-Getting adequate sleep will always make you look more fresh.
10-Apply a retin-A serum each night, even in your 20’s! This will prevent the wrinkles from forming and keep the skin surface smooth.
With this wealth of information, there’s no way you can go wrong in making your skin look it’s best!
