Cater for every age group with our guide to beauty through the generations
13 going on 30
Age: 13 – 29
Consider: Late nights, alcohol, smoking and too much sun exposure can affect your customers’ skin during their teens and 20’s – even if they can’t see it! Acne is also a common problem to affect teenagers, but may well continue into the 20’s as research has shown the number of adults suffering continues to rise. Noella Gabriel, Elemis director of product and treatment development, says: “Adult acne is on the increase and is due to high stress levels combined with hormonal changes. The skin can also be troubled with acne rosacea, which is classified by high colour. Elemis SOS Emergency Cream was specifically designed to meet this ever-increasing skin condition.”
Skincare Needs: Skin needs to be protected as much as possible in the 20’s, says The Makeover Queen Nicky Hambleton Jones (www.themakeoverqueen.co.uk). She says: “Never leave the house without wearing a moisturiser that is at least SPF25. If you don’t smoke, don’t start, and if you do, give it up as soon as you possibly can! Smoking is incredibly ageing on the skin. And adopt a really good skincare regime – take time to cleanse, tone and moisturise each and every day. All that partying and those late nights will take their toll on your skin as you get older, and if you find yourself too tired to remove make up after a big night out, remember that your skin ages eight days for every night that you don’t.”
Hair Care Needs: Hair in the 20’s will be similar to how it was in the teens, says Charles Worthington art team member, Sophie Clare, but will be less prone to greasiness in the root area. Teens should avoid using oil-based products and take measures to avoid the production and spread of excess sebum, while the main problem likely to affect people in their 20’s is chemical damage due to overcolouring of hair, says Clare. To keep it in good condition she advises using the Charles Worthington Moisture Seal range, as well as an intensive weekly treatment: “CW Strength and Repair treatment gives a good balance of protein and moisture, which the hair really needs.”
Make Up Looks: The teens and 20’s are all about experimenting. But customers shouldn’t underestimate the importance of finding the right base colour, says Sarah-Jane Froom, bareMinerals European make up artist: “The most important part of any make up look is getting skin in tip top condition and making sure you have the perfect base and right colour foundation.” Skin can be oilier in the teens and 20’s so look for a foundation that will combat shine.
The big four-oh!
Age: 30 – 49
Points to consider: The factors that affected skin in the 20’s are likely to continue into the 30’s and the effects will start to make an appearance in the form of sun spots and fine lines. Hormones will then begin to change in the 40’s. Nicky Hambleton Jones says: “Estrogen levels drop, which means skin renewal slows down and we get dead skin cells building on the surface of the skin. Oil production slows down and skin starts to dry out, losing its youthful glow. Pigment cells tend to clump together, and that’s why we see dark age spots appearing on the face, which make lines and wrinkles more pronounced.”
Skincare Needs: Hambleton Jones describes the age of 35 as ‘D-Day,’ when ageing really starts to show. One of the earliest areas to be affected is around the eyes, so advise consumers to invest in a good eye cream. Hambleton Jones adds: “Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! The best way to boost collagen and elastin production, and slow down the destruction of your cells is to exfoliate the skin twice a week.” As we’ve heard, the body is starting to undergo hormonal changes from the 40’s onwards, which causes the production of collagen to reduce, so products that plump and boost collagen are an essential part of any skincare routine. Hambleton Jones advises using a serum before a cream formula: “Serums are usually oil based and will penetrate the skin far more deeply than any cream can, meaning you will get the nutrients your skin needs deep down into the dermis which can help stimulate collagen production.”
Hair Care Needs: The natural hair colour of people in their 30’s tends to appear darker than it used to: “So this may be the time when people begin to think about changes in colour,” says Sophie Clare. They will also start to notice the appearance of grey hairs, which are naturally thicker and coarser. Clare adds: “The scalp may also start to feel tighter and you may notice the hair becoming thinner.” She adds: “If the hair has a large grey percentage and is left uncoloured, the pollution in the environment can cause the hair to take on a yellow tinge.” She advises visitng your local salon for advice on remedies.
Make Up Needs: This season golds, browns, poppy and coral lips with glowing skin and groomed brows are on trend. This is ideal for people in their 30’s and 40’s who should avoid darker colours. Sarah Jane Froom says: “As we get slightly older it’s important to stay away from really dark colours as they can make skin appear more crepey. For example, if you have big lips avoid dark colours as they will make them look thinner. Instead go for a lip gloss in a pretty pink or peach.”
The golden years
Age: 50 – 60+
Consider: Whatever hormonal changes started to take place in the 40’s will have a greater affect during the 50’s and as ageing continues. Nicky Hambleton Jones says: “If you wonder why all of a sudden on your 50th birthday you woke up and got a fright, it wasn’t the party the night before; it’s all those years of damage to your skin that have started to take their toll.” Pharmacist at Eau Thermale Avène, Bao-Tam Phan, says: “Skin will become drier and lines deeper. It can also start to appear thinner with veins becoming more visible if you have rosacea. Skin will continue to lose elasticity and become saggier and age spots may become more obvious.” Some women may also find they suffer from adult acne as hormonal fluctuations, particularly during the menopause, affect their skin.
Skincare Needs: All beauty experts advise the use of a mighty strong moisturiser from the 50’s onwards. Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, to plump skin, are particularly desirable. Hambleton Jones adds: “In our 50’s it’s vital to use a moisturiser with Vitamin C, a powerful anti-oxidant that can help kick-start cell renewal and help to dissolve pigmentation.”
Hair Care Needs: As with skin, the problems likely to affect hair from the age of 50+ are similar to those that will have started to affect hair in the 40’s. Hormones that cause the hair to thin will increase, and more grey hairs will make it feel drier and look coarser. Sophie Clare advises using the CW Time Defy Range, which contains sunflower oils, to help soften older hair that is becoming coarse. Using a volumising range is also advisable on hair that is beginning to thin.
Make Up Looks: “Less is more,” says Sarah-Jane Froom. “Concentrate on the perfect base and good skincare.” It’s also important to wear colours that suit the individual’s colourings, as these will accentuate the eyes, hair and lips, which become more important features as we age and need to detract attention from lines and deeper wrinkles. Froom adds: “Make sure you use colour on the lips to brighten the complexion – lip colour fades as we get older and as people go grey, they need more colour in the face to lift and give a youthful finish. Also avoid anything too dark or shimmery.”