At 50, Lasermed/Dermashop manager Penny Jenkinson has the creamiest, most beautiful skin. Her secret? Maintaining a healthy skin with scientifically proven topical creams, including sun protection daily and non-invasive superficial chemical peels or medical microdermabrasion.
She explains that the following ingredients are vital when choosing topical creams:
Vitamin A (it repairs damaged skin cells, speeds up cell turnover and stimulates collagen production, powerful antioxidant to fight free radicals that cause premature ageing)
Vitamin C (stimulates fibroblasts to produce healthy collagen, helps to treat pigmentation, offers additional sun protection, powerful antioxidant to fight free radicals that cause premature ageing)
Fruit acids (Alpha Hydroxy Acids or Poly Hydroxy Acids): dissolve outer layers of dead skin, allowing for better product penetration and smoother skin texture
Pigment lightening to lighten visible signs of sun damage and pigmentation, as well as repairing and delaying further pigmentation coming to the surface. Sun spots and skin discolouration are as a result of years of sun exposure, however, the damage only becomes visible 10 t0 20 years later
Sun protection SPF 50. It must be applied twice daily throughout the year, summer and winter. Apply to you face, neck, chest and hands as well as other exposed areas. Apply it 30 minutes before going outdoors. Living in South Africa, we are exposed to the sun every single day – walking to the shops, driving to work and collecting children etc.
Penny’s favourite skin care products are:
- Neostrata Bionic Face Cream:
I have used this as my night cream for the last 15 years. It contains Poly Hydroxy Acids to gently dissolve dead skin and Lactobionic Acid to improve the hydration of the skin and seal in water to prevent moisture loss. The skin appears plump and well nourished, minimizing fine lines. If I use it during the day, I mix it with a bland moisturiser such as Epimax, so that my make up glides on.
Before Neostrata launched its Skin Active Range, the Bionic Face Cream was its ultimate anti-ageing product. Ideal for dry and dehydrated skin.
- Skin Tech Atrofillin Cream
Atrofillin the ‘skin filler in a jar’ was awarded the European Best Anti-Ageing Cream in 2013. It’s a skin volumiser as it binds with subcutaneous tissue to add volume to the face (as we age, we start to loose volume, which makes us look old and drawn). It also contains kojic acid to brighten the skin, lighten sun spots and even out skin colour. It creates a uniform skin colour. It contains Resveratrol which is one the most potent antioxidants and DMAE to tighten the skin. I use this as my day cream and apply sun protection over it.
- Dermaquest 3D Stem Cell Eye Cream
It addresses all signs of ageing around the eyes (pigmentation, dark circles, puffiness, fine lines and wrinkles, thinning of the skin). The plant stem cells help to tighten and firm the skin too. Use it morming and night.
- Obagi Vitamin C 15% serum
This powerful anti-oxidant is my insurance policy to maintain a healthy skin.
5. Heliocare 360 Mineral Cream SPF 50
The Heliocare 360 range is considered to be a medical sun block as it has properties to prevent skin cancer. The mineral cream is ideal for sensitive skin and for someone who does not like a “chemical sun block”. I like the finish it gives and acts as an excellent base/ primer for my foundation.
PROFESSIONAL TREATMENTS
Despite the market being flooded by so many choices, superficial chemcial/ fruit acid peels have been available since 1960. The founders of NeoStrata, discovered the benefits of fruit acids to treat almost every skin concern without any downtime or major discomfort. A wide variety of chemical peels allow us to safely and effictively treat all skin types and conditions, with minimal risk.
Although chemical peels remove the outer layer of dead skin, they do not thin the skin structure. Clinical studies show that chemical peels indirectly or directly, strengthen the epidermis and dermis, giving us a firmer, smoother skin texture.
We can’t stop the ageing process, but we can delay it. As we age, we may need to introduce other treatments such as fractional resurfacing lasers (Mosaic), wrinkle reducing injections etc. To achieve optimum results in our 50s, we need to combine a variety of treatment options, based on our main concerns.
An evenly coloured, radiant, glowing skin is beautiful at any age.
