Middle years skin care

Suddenly you wake up one day and you are 40!There are little tell-tale lines around the eyes, skin that was oily is suddenly dry, or is dull; laugh lines don't disappear even after you have stopped smiling; hands seem harder, not to mention crinklier. Grey hair has been spotted.

All hell breaks loose! Age has caught up with us and we embark on a quest to find the magic potion that will stop the passage of time and keep us young forever.

Well ...I'm not offering you the fountain of youth or the magic potion but I can tell you how to care for yourself.

There are many grandmothers who visit La Belle and I'm amazed at how good .... 

they look, how graceful and well groomed they are. And do you know what they have in common.....they have ALWAYS taken care of themselves, they have not woken up at 50 and decided to make an annual trip to the salon. They have given their looks some priority and due diligence.

So if you're touching 40 there's still time, apologise to yourself for the neglect and move ahead.

With the passage of time, skin tends to become drier and the need for moisture is greater. Therefore the products that we use need a change. The introduction of serums is imperative to the daily skincare range- simple moisturisers will not be enough at this stage.

It's important to know the role of serums, so that their benefits are appreciated.

Serums boost moisture levels very effectively as well as retain the moisture longer. They also speed up the natural repair process of the skin when used with the night cream.

The appearance of lines and wrinkles will diminish as long as we can keep skin well moisturised.

The other best friend of skin is sunscreen.

Studies show that the majority of the visible signs of premature aging are a result of environmental assaults, not the passage of time. This unavoidable exposure damages the skin cells and tissues. The ultraviolet rays of the sun are the culprits from whom we need protection.

Answer: sunscreen.

This cannot be avoided. It must be used every morning and reapplied in the afternoon, even if you are not going out of the house.

Usage of sunscreen should become a habit like brushing your teeth.

Night creams are of a richer consistency than day creams and lotions. If it does not feel rich enough, a drop or two of olive oil will do the trick. Those with an oily skin can settle for a light lotion mixed with water, since they have a god-gifted store of natural oil. The good news for them is that although they may have suffered pimples and other woes earlier but they can now turn up their noses at others because they're are not getting wrinkles anytime soon.

Cleansing skin is as important as breathing because that is exactly what skin needs to do.... breathe.

Clogged pores, caused by dirt, dust and pollution need to be addressed regularly. Abuse that skin can handle at 20 cannot be put up with at 40. It needs to be treated with a lot more respect now.

Harsh scrubs need to be tossed out of the window. Usage of bleach and harsh chemicals is to be minimal, perhaps once in two months, then too they should be of milder concoction.

Facials are a boon, twice a month if possible. The method should be correct and the products should be of quality. With salons on every street corner, you need to be careful, please visit reputable salons only. Never hesitate to inquire about the qualification of the proprietors.

Diet, needless to say, plays a great role in the general well being of a human being. A healthy balanced diet with a decent amount of exercise will lead to not only good skin and hair, but also good health.

I am very sceptical about these various new fad diets with low carbs and high protein and what not. Drastic diets are out. Losing a lot of weight will make you look haggard, so watch out. If you are on a diet, lose weight gradually and in a healthy manner.

Meanwhile, I am off to spend more time with my 50/60-year-old models of dignity and grace to collect more tips for Lifestyle.