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Skin changes as the years go by – and your skin care routine should change with it! Here are my quick tips to help you look your best at every age.

Let’s face the music: aging is inevitable! No matter how much we try to convince ourselves otherwise, the clock is going to keep on ticking and our skin is going to age. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing – and you can practice healthy skin care habits that will keep you looking your best no matter what your age.

We all know that our skin changes as we age, but what’s exactly happening? The skin is a remarkable organ; its ability to regenerate itself really is a wonder. New cells are constantly forming, but cells regenerate at a slower pace as we get older. Because of this, you may notice your skin texture changing over the decades. Skin becomes thinner as the years go by, and you may see more age spots. These are actually areas of hyperpigmentation caused by UV rays – another reason why it’s so critical to wear sunscreen at every age!

Our skin also loses some of its natural elasticity as the years go by, leading to sagging and wrinkles. Compounding the problem is the loss of lipids (fatty acids) over time, which are responsible for keeping skin moisturized – meaning your moisture needs will change over time.

We have to face it: our skin care needs are going to change as we age. What worked for you in your 20s is probably not going to be as effective after a decade or two! On the other hand, we’re so inundated with “anti-aging” products that it’s easy to get ahead of ourselves when it comes to developing an effective skin care routine. Whether you’re 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, or beyond, it’s important to choose a regime and products that are appropriate for your age and skin type. Here’s some of my favorite beauty advice for beautiful skin at every age:

Skincare in your 20s:

If you haven’t already started a beauty regimen, now’s the time! It’s important to get into a habit of developing a good skin care routine early on because it will help you look your best for years.

You may be seeing changes to your skin since you’re coming out of your teenage years and your hormones may be changing. Your skin will continue to adjust throughout your 20s, so take some time to figure out what your skin type is and choose your beauty regimen accordingly.

Some simple lifestyle changes can help, too. Late nights out and too much time in the sun can affect the appearance of your skin. Start wearing sunscreen daily if you don’t already do so, because this will help your skin remain elastic and supple. And while it’s tempting to stay out late socializing, try to limit your late nights so you can look your best during the day.

Skincare in your 30s:

This is when you may start noticing the signs of aging. Your skin starts to lose collagen and elastin and a few fine lines might make their debut on your face. You may need to change your beauty regimen to include more moisturizing products.

It’s common to start seeing signs of aging around your eyes, too. This is the decade when you should consider adding an extra step in your beauty regimen to focus specifically on the skin around your eyes.

Want a quick tip to avoid encroaching laughter lines? Wear big sunglasses! The bigger, the better in my book.  If you choose shades with UVA and UVB protection then you’ll be keeping more of your face covered and protected from the sun. And, the best thing about shades is that they reduce the likelihood of squinting.  Squinting is not a good look, so throw on some shades when you’re outdoors or driving and you could delay eye wrinkles. (By the way, isn’t ‘laughter lines’ a much nicer phrase than ‘crow’s feet’?)

Skincare in your 40s:

In your 40s, uneven skin tone is one of the most common complaints women have. This can be caused by too many hours in the sun with resulting age spots (so keep up your sunscreen routine!). It can also be a throwback to pregnancy which leaves some women with melisma (also known as the mask of pregnancy).

Other hormonal changes during this decade and the possible onset of menopause could leave you wondering where your youthful skin went. At this time, it’s best to visit your dermatologist for suggestions and possible treatments for your changing skin that will help you look and feel your best.

Many women in their forties feel confident that they have their skincare regime nailed down so it’s a pain to realize that you may have to adapt and evolve. Happily enough, small changes do add up so you may need only a few tweaks to regain control of your skin.

Skincare in your 50s – and beyond:

A crucial element to skincare as you age is moisturizing! By the time you hit your 50s, skin is losing its elasticity and you may start to see sagging. Though you can’t turn back the clock, you can keep your skin (and yourself) hydrated!

It’s also worth reviewing your cosmetics. If you’ve been wearing the same makeup look for a few decades, then it’s probably time to freshen up your style.  Many women complain that their eyes appear smaller, so think carefully about your eye make up.  While mascara is a brilliant tool, you may want to switch from a hard black to a softer brown and work to emphasis your eyes in a more nuanced manner. Don’t forget my love of eyelash curlers too – they can turn a beauty bad day around!

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We can’t stop aging, but we can age gracefully and beautifully. If the fountain of youth existed, it would probably have something to do with attitude. If you feel beautiful, that confidence will show in your appearance – no matter what your age!

Dry, chapped lips are something we all experience at one time or another. Our lips are sensitive and need to be protected. Elements like the sun, the wind, dry and cold weather conditions can really affect our lips. It’s time to take charge and say goodbye to chapped lips! 

The cold winter weather can wreak havoc on our skin and especially our lips. So here are my top five tips to keep your lips in their most kissable condition and ready for party season! 

How to protect yourself from chapped lips 

Chapped lip tip 1: Protection is key 
Our lips have a very thin outer layer of skin and they contain little melanin, which is necessary for protection against the sun’s rays. Always protect your lips from the sun by applying a lip product with SPF UVA/UVB protection. I keep one in my bag, one in my car, one at my desk … always within reach. Our lips are so vulnerable; we must remember to keep them protected. 

Chapped lip tip 2: Stay hydrated 
I drink a lot of green tea and water throughout the day because chapped lips are an indicator that your body is dehydrated and needs water. So fill your glass full and drink up! 

Chapped lip tip 3: Don’t lick your lips 
Our lips lack in both sweat and oil glands making them susceptible to dehydration. 

We tend to lick our lips as they begin to dry out. And while this may provide temporary relief, the reality is it can worsen the condition. As our saliva quickly evaporates, our lips are left even drier than before. It’s a vicious cycle that we have to break. Try to resist the temptation and keep reapplying your lip product instead of licking your lips throughout the day. 

Chapped lip tip 4: Take your vitamins 
Believe it or not, vitamin deficiencies can affect our entire body both inside and out. And, these deficiencies can lead to chapped lips. Be sure to eat a varied, healthy diet and consider taking a daily multivitamin that includes vitamins B, C and E to nurture your lips from the inside out. 

Chapped lip tip 5: Eat healthy 
A healthy diet that includes essential fatty acids is also important when it comes to our lips. If we are deficient in essential fatty acids the chances are that our lips will be affected. Some healthy food choices include fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, whole grains and olive oil. And I choose to take an Omega 3 supplement because Omega 3’s are amazing for our skin and lips. 

Follow these simple tips and you too can avoid dry, chapped lips and instead enjoy healthy, happy, kissable lips. 

Written by beauty expert, Jacquie Carter. Jacquie is Director of Outer Nutrition at Herbalife.

Regardless of whether your skin type is dry, oily, normal or even sensitive, moisturising should be an integral part of your skincare routine.  Moisturisers seals the moisture in and regulates the oil levels in the skin that's why even if you're prone to acne, or breakouts, you should still use a moisturiser.  The key lies in using a  well-formulated moisturiser on a regular basis and applying it properly.  

To maximize the benefits that moisturisers can offer to your skin, moisturise in the morning after you shower when your skin is clean and hydrated and at night since the skin rejuvenates itself while you sleep.  Herbalife offers the Daily Glow Moisturiser, an all-purpose hydrating lotion with illuminating properties to give your face a healthy glow. Skin looks radiant, even without makeup. The other one is the Replenishing Night Cream, this rich, luxurious cream helps deliver much needed moisture to the skin at night. Long-term hydration allows you to awaken with softer, smoother skin. Use these 2 Moisturisers day and night with appropriate amount, 2 to 4 pumps, to help ensure a healthy and hydrated skin for years to come. 

Featured Question for the Week: (From "Ask Jacquie", Herbalife SKIN Tips and Trends. Click here to access the Herbalife SKIN website)

Q: What is the best way to apply moisturiser to my skin? Is there some special trick I should know about?

A: Applying moisturiser to your face takes a bit of practice to ensure you are using the right amount of product and that you are covering all areas that need to be covered. I have found two successful ways of applying creams and lotions. Hopefully one will be perfect for you. The first is the 5 dot method. For this practice you simply pump your moisturiser onto your fingertip. Then, place 5 dots of product on your face; one dot on your forehead, nose, chin and each cheek. Once the dots are in place you simply blend outwards and upwards against gravity until all areas are covered. Based on the condition of your skin you will be able to determine if 1 pump of product is enough. The second way to apply moisturiser is to pump the product into the palm of your clean hand. I would start with just one pump at first. Rub your palms together about 2 to 3 times. This will ultimately warm the product up a bit for when you massage into your skin. You can start with your cheeks which are usually the dryest, move up to your forehead, nose and end with your chin. If you have ever had a facial this is probably how your product was applied. Give each method a try and see which one you prefer!