Navigating the world of skincare can be daunting, especially as your skin evolves with age. At 70, your skin has unique needs that will differ from someone in their 30s or 50s. This guide will help you explore the best treatments to nourish and care for your skin, focusing on hydration, sun protection, and innovative anti-aging solutions like Light Therapy.

Understanding the Needs of 70-Year-Old Skin

As you reach your 70s, your skin undergoes several changes that are part of the natural aging process.

One of the most noticeable changes is dryness. As you age, your skin produces less oil, which can lead to a drier texture. This happens because the oil glands in your skin become less active over time. When your skin is dry, it can feel rough and may even become itchy or flaky.

Another common change is the loss of elasticity. Elasticity is what makes your skin firm and able to bounce back when stretched. Over the years, your skin produces less collagen, a protein that helps keep it firm. This decrease in collagen can cause your skin to sag and develop wrinkles.

Fine lines and wrinkles are also more apparent as you age. These lines are a natural part of getting older and are caused by repeated facial expressions, like smiling or frowning, as well as the thinning of the skin. The skin's ability to repair itself slows down, making these lines more visible.

Understanding these changes is important because it helps you choose the right skincare products and treatments. With concentrated hydration efforts, products that support collagen production, and protecting your skin from the sun, you can help maintain its health and appearance.

Best Skincare Products and Tools for Older Skin

As you age, selecting the right skincare products and tools will help you address the unique needs of older skin. Being intentional about targeted treatments and innovative tools can make all the difference.

Retinol and Peptide Serums

Retinol and peptide serums are powerful allies in your skincare arsenal, especially for older skin. Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, is renowned for its ability to accelerate skin renewal, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It works by promoting cell turnover, which can lead to smoother, more even-toned skin. Peptides, on the other hand, are short chains of amino acids that support skin's natural collagen production, collagen being one of the most important proteins for skin appearance and health due to its role in providing structural support.

Hydrating, Nourishing Creams

Hydrating creams help replenish moisture and support the skin barrier function. The skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin that acts like a protective shield, keeping moisture in and harmful elements like bacteria and pollutants out. When it's healthy, your skin stays hydrated and smooth, but if damaged, it can lead to dryness and irritation.

Ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides are particularly effective in nourishing this barrier. Hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant, meaning it attracts and retains moisture, helping your skin stay plump and hydrated. Ceramides, naturally occurring lipids, strengthen the skin's barrier, preventing moisture loss and protecting against environmental stressors.

In addition to hydration, nourishing creams enriched with antioxidants like vitamin C and E help protect your skin from environmental damage caused by free radicals, which can accelerate the signs of aging. Vitamin C is known for its brightening properties and its ability to support collagen production, while vitamin E provides soothing and protective benefits.

Light Therapy

Light Therapy offers a gentle, painless, non-invasive way to combat wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of skin aging, depending on the color of light used.

Red Light Therapy is particularly favored for its ability to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, resulting in a visibly smoother, more youthful look.

The transformative effects of Light Therapy are amplified when Red Light is combined with other types of light, including Near-Infrared and Amber Light. Near-Infrared Light Therapy visibly rejuvenates the skin's appearance, creating an overall look of radiance, while Amber Light Therapy helps improve the look of uneven skin tone and reduces the appearance of puffiness.

For those looking to incorporate Light Therapy into their skincare regimen, here are our recommendations:

• The Wrinkle Retreat Face Mask & LightBoost Serum Kit, which combines Red and Near-Infrared Light to combat fine lines and wrinkles while visibly rejuvenating the skin for a youthful-looking glow.

• The Eye Recovery Pro Kit is designed specifically for the delicate eye area, helping to target signs of skin aging around the eye area (where fine lines and wrinkles can be particularly deep and stubborn) thanks to a powerful combination of Red, Amber, Near-Infrared, and Deep Red Light Therapies.

• The Neck & Chest LED Mask w/ LightBoost Cream Kit targets the often-overlooked areas it's named after, which can help create a more youthful appearance across your entire décolletage. Utilizing Near-Infrared and Red Light Therapy like the Wrinkle Retreat Mask, it works to visibly smooth, firm, and lift the skin in the neck and chest areas.

Facial Massage Tools

Facial massage tools, like jade rollers and gua sha stones, can be excellent additions to your skincare routine. These tools help improve blood circulation, which can lead to a healthier complexion. By gently massaging your face with these types of tools, you can reduce puffiness and promote lymphatic drainage, which helps eliminate toxins and excess fluids. Additionally, using these tools can help enhance the absorption of your skincare products, ensuring that active ingredients penetrate deeper into the skin for maximum effectiveness.

You can also opt for facial massage devices. Our 4-in-1 Skincare Wand includes four skincare technologies integrated into one device: gentle Facial Massage to help reduce the look of puffiness, along with Red Light Therapy to combat fine lines and wrinkles, Galvanic Current to help improve the absorption of products, and Therapeutic Warmth to visibly soothe skin and reduce the look of dark circles.

Humidifiers

Using a humidifier is a simple yet effective way to support your skin's hydration and moisture levels, especially if you spend a lot of time indoors. During colder months or in air-conditioned spaces, the air can become dry, leading to moisture loss from your skin. A humidifier adds moisture back into the air, helping to keep your skin supple and comfortable. Optimal humidity levels can also help prevent your skin from becoming dry and flaky, ensuring it remains soft and hydrated.

Probiotic Cleansers

Probiotic cleansers are a gentle yet effective option for maintaining your skin's natural balance of healthy bacteria and oils. These cleansers contain beneficial bacteria that help support the skin's microbiome, the community of microorganisms that live on your skin. Probiotic cleansers work to cleanse your skin without stripping it of its natural oils, preserving the protective barrier we talked about just a bit earlier. This can help prevent irritation and dryness, keeping your skin healthy and resilient. Probiotic cleansers are particularly beneficial for sensitive skin, as they cleanse without causing disruption to the skin's natural defenses.

Exfoliating Enzymes

Exfoliating enzymes, such as those derived from papaya or pineapple, offer a gentle way to remove dead skin cells and can promote a brighter, more even-looking skin tone. Unlike traditional exfoliants that use abrasive particles, enzyme exfoliants work by breaking down the proteins in dead skin cells, allowing them to be easily washed away. This process helps reveal fresh, glowing skin without irritating sensitive skin, which is more common with age. Regular use of exfoliating enzymes can improve skin texture and clarity, making them an excellent choice for maintaining a smooth and radiant complexion.

Sun Protectants

Daily sun protection is essential to prevent further skin damage. Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against both UVA and UVB rays, which can cause premature aging and increase the risk of skin damage. It's important to apply sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days, to shield your skin from harmful UV rays. In addition to sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, such as hats and long sleeves, can provide extra defense against the sun.

Conclusion

As your skin matures, it requires special attention because of its changing needs. Key strategies include using hydrating and nourishing creams to support the skin barrier, incorporating Light Therapy to combat fine lines and wrinkles, and selecting targeted treatments like retinol and peptide serums to improve texture and firmness. Facial massage tools and humidifiers can further support skin hydration and circulation, while probiotic cleansers and exfoliating enzymes help maintain a balanced skin environment. We hope this guide has helped!

Curious to see what Light Therapy can really do? Check out our Before and After photo results here!

Sources:

1. Aging changes in skin: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia 

2. Skin Care and Aging 

3. Aging and Wound Healing of the Skin: A Review of Clinical and Pathophysiological Hallmarks - PMC 

4. Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety - PMC 

5. How To Tell If Your Skin Barrier Is Damaged 

6. Antioxidants in dermatology - PMC 

7. Breaking Down Broad-Spectrum Protection: Why Your Sunscreen Needs to Have it