Top skin care tips to look youthful at each age

As women get older, many feel pressured to look youthful and fork out thousands to improve their ageing complexion.

But according to Australian Cosmetic Nurse Practitioner, Katherine Millar-Shannon, it’s no longer about ‘fighting’ ageing once the damage is already done.

‘Australian women are increasingly interested in nurturing their skin early on, from the inside and out, so that they look and feel their best at every age,’ the Duquessa Skin Sanctuary owner explained.

‘We’re starting to embrace the French beauty ethos of ageing well by lavishing attention on your skin, rather than making radical changes to achieve an unrealistic ideal of youthful beauty.’

As Australians age up to 20 years faster than women in the USA and Europe, Katherine says it’s more important that women across the country start prioritising a preventative approach to healthy skin at each age – starting in their late teens.

‘The modern Australian woman wants to love how she looks at every life stage, but they want to do this in a natural, almost undetectable way with subtle enhancements,’ she said. 

‘Improvements in nutrition, wellbeing and skincare technology makes that not just possible, but actually quite easy.’

Here, FEMAIL looks at Katherine’s top skincare tips for each age group and the best treatments she believes are worthwhile for optimal results.

IN YOUR TWENTIES 

‘The most common issue at this age is acne, but the underlying danger is sun damage,’ Katherine said. 

‘Staying out of the sun and wearing sunscreen is vital to maintaining naturally plumper, smoother skin for longer.’

To maintain the skin at this age, Katherine recommends regular hydrating facials and peels while Omnilux (LED light treatments) stimulate the skin’s natural rejuvenation response.

To maintain the skin in your twenties, Katherine recommends regular hydrating facials and peels while Omnilux (LED light treatments) (pictured) stimulate the skin’s natural rejuvenation response

IN YOUR THIRTIES

In your thirties, Katherine said, ‘the effects of sun damage start to show in the formation of expression lines and age spots’.

‘Skin barrier function also starts to decline so hydration becomes vital,’ she said. 

‘It’s time to take a holistic approach to beauty now. Regular IV Vitamin Drips do wonders for boosting your energy levels – that rush of antioxidants puts a spring in your step, and the bounce back in your skin.’

Katherine recommends those in their thirties embrace Omnilux treatments and Vitamin C serums to protect and repair the skin from sun damage.

‘Vitalite Vitamin infusions [via IV drips] help boost cell rejuvenation and your general wellbeing, while small amounts of dermal filler can help maintain volume in the cheeks,’ she added.

‘Vitalite Vitamin infusions [via IV drips] help boost cell rejuvenation and your general wellbeing,’ Katherine (pictured) said about those in their thirties 

The Vitalite facial costs $349 and it is a combination treatment where you receive Intravenous Vitamins while having an Omnilux LED Light Therapy treatment

Model Erika Heynatz has had the Vitalite facial in the past 

IN YOUR FORTIES 

According to Katherine, this is a time when women really start to see a noticeable shift in attitude to ageing gracefully.

‘Women are no longer afraid of using technology to their advantage,’ she said. 

‘Dermal fillers are an important part of protecting the skin you have lovingly maintained up to this point, as they help add youthful volume and lift brows.

‘The effect is subtle, rather than totally changing how you look.’ 

A popular treatment for women in their forties is the confronting puppet threads treatment 

Pictured is Katherine before and after the puppet thread treatment 

To best support your skin at this age, Katherine recommends using a cleanser with AHAs to speed up sluggish cell turnover and help moisturisers absorb better.

‘At night, add a serum with retinol (or the milder form, retinyl palmitate, if you have sensitive skin) to stimulate collagen growth and repair,’ she said.

‘Add Vitamin B and C antioxidant serums for daytime to reduce inflammation caused by free radicals.’

‘Dermal fillers are an important part of protecting the skin you have lovingly maintained up to this point, as they help add youthful volume and lift brows,’ Katherine said 

IN YOUR FIFTIES AND BEYOND 

‘Menopause makes your 50s the decade of collagen loss and saggy skin thanks to a steady decline in oestrogen,’ Katherine said. 

‘Thinner, drier skin means it is also more susceptible to sensitivity, so adequate hydration to strengthen the protective barrier is essential.’

To protect the skin at this age, Katherine recommends choosing skincare products that contain retinoids, peptides or glycolic acid, which are all collagen boosters.

‘This is a good time to try dermal fillers (to lift the jaw, cheeks and brows), thermage (using radio frequency energy to stimulate collagen and firm up the skin) or puppet threads (lifting of the skin, but not the underlying structure, for a very natural, subtle rejuvenation),’ she said. 

‘Menopause makes your 50s the decade of collagen loss and saggy skin thanks to a steady decline in oestrogen,’ Katherine said (pictured is a woman before and after thermage)