Choosing The Right Skin Care For Your Age

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA.com) — Glowing, beautiful skin is key to slowing the hands of time. But with skin changing over time, dermatologists say, it's important to use the right products for your age.

CBS2 health reporter Lisa Sigell spoke to different women, with a 30-year age difference, who didn't realize that one size doesn't fit all when it comes to skin care.

Lisa Crown, 37, said: "I love a good product that will suck me in."

Her mother-in-law, 64-year-old Sandy Jackson, is also a collector of skin-care products. She pulled out a basket of items that she admitted to not having thoroughly tested.

Both Crown and Jackson mix and match but aren't quite sure what they're doing for their skin.

Jessica Wu, a Harvard-educated dermatologist in Santa Monica, said that's a pretty typical approach among women when it comes to skin care.

"You have to remember one size doesn't fit all. You have to choose the right skin care for your age group," Wu said.

Wu said that in your 20s, it's about preventing sun damage. She suggests using a sunscreen with an spf of 30 to 50 every day. And breakouts should be treated with a toner containing salicylic acid. For most people in their 20s, that's all they need.

In your 30s, Wu said it's all about fighting the signs of sun damage. This is when people may see discoloration and sun blotches. And that's the time to add a skin-brightening product to your regimen.

Look for products that contain licorice, arbutin or hyroquinone, which all have been shown to lighten discoloration and even out skin tone.

Wu said your 40s is all about fixing sun damage by switching to a hydrating toner and adding anti-aging products. That includes products such as retinoids, vitamin C or alphahydroxy acids. These will help build collagen in the skin and help soften fine lines and wrinkles.

And for those in their 50s and older, Wu suggested following the aforementioned advice, as well as using a heavier moisturizer because skin tends to become drier with age: "Look for ingredients with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which hold moisture in without making you look greasy."

No matter what you put on your face, there may be just a few things on your face that just won't go away, including spots, lines and wrinkles. There are medical solutions and in-office procedures, including injectables such as Botox and fillers.

Wu said patients may want to consider the following before turning to medical solutions: "You will become accustomed to how it looks and you have to be prepared to maintain those treatments or you'll go back to where it was before."

Crown and her mother-in-law said Wu's advice has inspired them to simplify their skin-care regime.

"What are you going to do with all the extra money," Sigell asked them.

To which Crown responded: "Go shopping for clothes."

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SKIN CARE FOR YOUR AGE:

Dermatologist Jessica Wu, who's treated some of the most famous faces around, is the best-selling author of "Feed Your Face." She's developed a line of medical-grade products for sale at her office and has just created a line exclusively for Costco. Get more info about Wu at drjessicawu.com.

She shared the following skin-care shopping list with CBS2/KCAL9 designed specifically for the needs of each age group:

20s: Prevent Sun Damage

• Use sunscreen spf 30-50 every day.
• Use toner with salicylic acid for breakouts.

(Every person is different but these are basic recommendations.)

30s: Fight Signs Of Sun Damage

• Use sunscreen spf 30-50 every day.
• Use toner with salicylic acid if you have breakouts.
• Add a skin-brightening product. Some ingredients to look for in a brightener: licorice, arbutin or hydroquinone (all shown to lighten discoloration and even out your skin tone).

(Every person is different but these are basic recommendations.)

40s: Fighting Sun Damage

• Use sunscreen spf 30-50 every day.
• Switch to a hydrating toner.
• Use a skin-brightening product. Some ingredients to look for in a brightener: licorice, arbutin or hydroquinone (all shown to lighten discoloration and even out your skin tone).
• Add anti-aging products. Anti-aging ingredients to look for: retinoids, vitamin C and alpha-hydroxy acids (these will help build collagen in skin and help soften fine lines and wrinkles).

(Every person is different but these are basic recommendations.)

50 and up:

• Use sunscreen spf 30-50 every day.
• Use a hydrating toner
• Use a skin-brightening product. Some ingredients to look for in a brightener: licorice, arbutin or hydroquinone (all shown to lighten discoloration and even out your skin tone).
• Use anti-aging products. Anti-aging ingredients to look for: retinoids, vitamin c and alpha hydroxy acids (these will help build collagen in skin and help soften fine lines and wrinkles).
• Add a heavier moisturizer because your skin is becoming drier. Ingredients to look for in a moisturizer: hyaluronic acid and glycerin (they hold the moisture in without making you greasy).

(Every person is different but these are basic recommendations.)