Change dry and dull skin to healthier looking skin with these moisturisers

Photo: Mong Chin/Instagram 

Everyone wants to look flawless and fabulous, but one of the most common skin concerns amongst women across all age groups is dull skin. Whilst it’s essential to moisturise adequately at all ages to prevent the appearance of wrinkles and other age-related skin problems, such as sagging skin and dark spots, it’s also important to note that what worked when you were in your 20s won’t work as well as you age.

 So even if your trusted moisturiser says it addresses dark spots and dull skin, it might not work as effectively as something that’s targeted at your age group. This is because women face different skin concerns at different age groups as skin behaves differently, so your products have to evolve as well.

In Your 20s

The lack of sleep and careless living in your 20s are the main causes for dull skin. With a busy and hectic lifestyle, it’s easy to overlook sun protection, so there’s the beginnings sun damage. The plus side is that skin still produces collagen and is plump, so there’s not much concern for ageing yet. At this stage, take a preventative approach and focus on products that contain antioxidants and hyaluronic acid to make skin supple and have a healthy glow.

Fresh Peony Brightening UV Shield Sunscreen SPF 50+, $84, is a quick and easy 3-in-1 moisturiser that brightens and hydrates while shielding skin against UV rays. An exclusive brightening complex derived from peony and licorice root extracts reduces and prevents dark spots while shea extract hydrates and protects skin against damage caused by pollution.

First Aid Beauty’s Facial Radiance Illuminating Moisturiser, $56, provides instant hydration with sodium hyaluronate (a form of hyaluronic acid), the daily moisturiser helps hydrate, plump and smooth the appearance of the skin. The lightweight gel-cream formula of gatuline radiance and chromabright actively work to improve blood circulation and even skin tone over the long term.

In your 30s

You’ll start to notice enlarged pores, fine lines and some spots, due to discoloration caused by sun damage. As skin turnover slows down, you need to start exfoliating regularly to help your skin look smooth and plump. So look for brightening products with AHAs that help speed up cellular renewal.  

Boscia’s Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel, $59, has exfoliating glycolic acid that accelerates exfoliation and reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. The cooling gel moisturiser’s brightening vitamin C delivers anti-ageing benefits and protects against free radical damage.

Caudalie’s VineActiv 3-in-1 Moisturiser, $55, on the other hand, has patented technology of grapeseed polyphenols and spruce extract to kick-start your skin cells’ natural antioxidant defenses so that it can better protect itself. The French brand’s Anti-Cell Burnout Complex™ is further enriched with collagen-boosting vitamin C, radiance-enhancing vitamin E and hyaluronic acid to give you smooth and luminous skin.

In your 40s

Women in their 40s start to notice sallowness in their skin tone as a result of glycation of collagen tissues in their skin, which causes collagen to stiffen and turn yellow. So look for moisturisers with high level of glycerin or hyaluronic acid and collagen-building ingredients that improve moisture retention to increase elasticity and impart a rosy glow at the same time.

Eve Lom’s Brightening Cream, $185, is formulated with Dermapep™ – a powerful brightening ingredient that blocks melanin production, a Chinese root extract that works to restore skin’s structure and combat free radicals and abyssinian oil obtained from seeds rich in essential fatty acids to fill fine lines and wrinkles.

Tata Harper’s Illuminating Moisturiser, $116, has a slight pink tint to give a healthy glow while diamond dust illuminates skin and diffuses the appearance of early wrinkles. Dual-weight hyaluronic acid creates a double plumping effect for intense hydration and buckbean extract firms and tightens skin.

In your 50s and beyond

In your 50s, women experience menopause which causes growth hormones to dip and lead to accelerated sagging, hollow eyes and age spots. Pay attention to powerful products that firm and brighten at the same time, and perhaps consider moisturisers that act on Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF).

Biologique Recherche’s Le Grande Creme, $1,260, available at Freia Aesthetics, contains a patented peptide that targets EGF receptors to regenerate structural tissues for firmer, denser skin. At the same time, a host of plant-based actives also help target irregular skin tone and reinforce the skin’s natural barrier.

Or target sagging jowls with Shiseido’s Vital-Perfection Sculpting Lift Cream, $310. Enriched with squalene and royal jelly ferment, this nourishing moisturiser gives 24-hour hydration, lifts facial contours, brightens complexion and reduces dark spots. By optimising the skin’s natural drainage and detoxification process, it redefines jaw contours and lift sagging cheeks.

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