How to get younger looking skin when you're over 50

How to get younger looking skin when you're over 50 and dealing with the menopause
Change is afoot: the beauty industry has realised women don’t become invisible after 49, and brands are launching skin creams targeted to an older market. Even better, they’re fronted not by spritely 30-somethings, but by glamorpusses in their 50s, 60s, 70s - even 80s (Jane Fonda, spokesperson for L’Oreal , will be 81 in December).
Recognition is nice but what IS "50-plus skin", and is it the same for everyone?
‘For a long time we’ve put people into skincare brackets: oily, dry, acne-prone, etc - and that works well,’ says Chris Caire, chief scientist at Perricone MD . ‘But as we discover more about what’s going on in skin at a cellular level, we can better address things typically relevant to most 50-year-old women.
What happens to skin in your 50s?
Collagen, the scaffolding of youthful skin, declines by about 1% every year in your 40s. ‘But around the menopause , levels plummet,’ says Dr Stefanie Williams from Eudelo Clinic . ‘It’s been reported that in the first five years post menopause about 30% of our skin’s collagen is lost, leaving skin thinner and less firm.’
Dryness is a common issue too. As the skin barrier ages it gets more porous and less effective, which damages it further and leads to even more dryness. ‘If you don’t have a good, hydrated skin barrier to start with, you’re wasting your time and money applying expensive anti-ageing ingredients over it,’ says Chris.
Antioxidant levels get depleted too. There are important for protecting and repairing skin.
Sagging is seen over 50, caused by facial fat loss and bone reabsorption (basically, bones in your skull shrink as you age).

What if this doesn't sound like you?
You might not be the 'typical' 50-something. ‘On average, the skin becomes drier. However, there are always exceptions (HRT can delay some skin ageing effects) and some over 50s have combination or even oily skin,’ says Dr Stefanie.
If that’s you, don’t ignore it. ‘Don’t blindly start using richer, more hydrating moisturisers just because you hit 50,' says Dr Stephanie. 'Adjust skincare to your personal skin type and condition, not some general rules.’
How to get better skin in your 50s