The aging process actually begins on the day we’re born, but the signs don’t become visible until after age 30—sometimes a little earlier. And when it comes to self-care, that “earlier” is the key! Because a well-rounded, thoughtful, and enjoyable skincare routine acts as a preventive measure and can help preserve your natural beauty, allowing it to flourish.
Most of the changes that occur in the skin over time take place in the dermis and involve connective tissue cells—specifically fibroblasts—as well as the collagen and elastin they produce, which give the skin its elasticity. With age, connective tissue deteriorates, and the number of blood vessels decreases; these vessels become less contractile and elastic, yet more visible beneath the skin as fine veins. The skin also needs more and more time to regenerate. While in one’s thirties the cell life cycle is 28 days, around menopause it will take up to a week longer for natural exfoliation to occur. And one more thing: the fatty padding located in the connective tissue cushions, which gives the face a nice, full shape, loses its shape more and more over the years—the connective tissue stretches, and the skin loses its firmness. External factors also cause significant damage to the skin—they increase the level of free radicals, which damage the protein structures of cells and are responsible for the appearance of wrinkles
Menopause marks a turning point. Sometimes we go to bed looking “younger,” only to wake up the next morning and notice a new wrinkle that wasn’t there the night before. Hormones are partly to blame. They are largely responsible for weakening our body’s nighttime regenerative processes. A drop in estrogen and progesterone levels, while androgen production remains at the same level, causes collagen degradation in the skin to accelerate rapidly. The skin becomes visibly thinner and less elastic, and fine capillaries become more visible. Pigment spots also emerge, and the decreasing level of hydration becomes increasingly bothersome. The skin becomes more demanding than before.
But this isn’t a lost battle. Prevention is key, and the latest trends in anti-aging are working in our favor: there are plenty of tools available to help us take care of ourselves wisely and gently. When it comes to skincare, the key is definitely regular exfoliation and effective moisturizing. The so-called natural moisturizing factor is responsible for retaining moisture in the skin. It consists mainly of hyaluronic acid, urea, amino acids, and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which capture water and store it. And it is precisely this function that we want to enhance through our skincare routine.
When choosing creams, look for ingredients that hydrate the skin and help lock in moisture, such as aloe vera juice, moisturizing extracts (e.g., from calendula or rose), nourishing oils (e.g., from Damask rose), and hyaluronic acid, as found in the 24-Hour cream. If, in addition, the base of the product—as in the one mentioned—contains plant water instead of plain water, the skin will benefit a hundredfold. Its powerful nourishing properties will enhance the cream’s beneficial effects, making it act like a soothing compress that boosts elasticity and protects against the appearance of wrinkles.
The same goes for exfoliation—it’s often said, and for good reason, that this is the skincare step without which the others don’t make much sense. To be effective, it should be very gentle. When done regularly—ideally twice a week—it will deeply regenerate the skin and help it better absorb the active ingredients found in creams. It will also effectively tackle issues such as enlarged pores, blackheads, a dull complexion, or even discoloration. Even the most sensitive skin prone to broken capillaries or oiliness need not fear gentle exfoliation. The ENZYMATIC gel scrub, containing 5% lactic acid and enriched with mineral-rich organic plant waters and natural active ingredients, is perfectly tailored to the needs of demanding skin types. It refreshes the skin without the need for scrubbing, while providing soothing, firming, and antioxidant benefits.
But there’s something else worth keeping in mind. Over the years, the entire framework that the skin covers—the muscles and bones—also weakens. With the right massages and exercises, we can give our face a new, younger appearance in much the same way we sculpt our bodies. Facial yoga works wonders—this type of exercise addresses the root of the problem by strengthening weakened muscles. Those responsible for facial expressions (half of the approximately 80 located in the facial area) have only one attachment point—to the skull, connecting to the skin at the other end. Over time, they weaken along with the surrounding tissues and fascia, providing increasingly less support for the skin and pulling it downward. When exercised, they not only tighten the skin nicely but also improve lymphatic drainage, boosting its metabolism. Similarly, massages—such as Kobido, popular and favored by French women, among others—are often referred to, for good reason, as an alternative to aesthetic medicine treatments. Based on acupressure and drainage, it combines dynamic movements with deeply relaxing ones, allowing you to release tension from muscles and subcutaneous tissues, as well as stimulate blood circulation, giving the skin a lifting and strongly firming effect. Or kinesiotaping—by skillfully applying special tapes to the skin of the face, we can reduce muscle contractures and gently correct their function, improve cellular metabolism, and eliminate lymphatic stagnation, helping the skin eliminate toxins. In short—when it comes to rejuvenation—it’s all in our hands!
