A lot of things change as we age: Our tolerance for staying up past 9PM, for one thing, and - somewhat more relevant to this blog’s usual content - our skin!

There are a few obvious things that you will be able to recognise easily (like fine lines and sun damage), but what you might not spot so easily, is that the moisture within your skin will start to drop off as you age, as well. Skin expert Yadira Cauchi is here to explain and offer up advice for what to make up for the loss.

How Your Skin Changes As You Age

“Dry skin happens when skin isn't able to hold onto sufficient moisture,” explains Yadira. “And with age, our skin loses its ability to hold onto sufficient moisture, which is why you might start to notice it's becoming drier.” As for when these changes will kick off, Yadira explains that skin ageing starts “from around 25”, although some may start to spot these changes as early as their 40s and 50s.

In addition to these changes, Yadira notes that your skin will also change in other ways, noting that “it becomes thinner, loses fat, and won't look as plump and bouncy as it once did.”

How To Make Up For Moisture-Loss

Hydration is essential for all ages, skin types, and concerns, but as we age and our skin’s natural moisture supplies start to slack off, it becomes even more crucial.

“Your skin needs both hydration and moisturisation,” notes Yadira, explaining that this can be achieved through a clever combination of “both humectants (hyaluronic acid, glycerin, etc...) and occlusives (petrolatum,waxes etc...) ingredients.”

As always, all skin is different so you may need to test and play with a few variations of those ingredients or products before you find the one that makes your skin sing. “The right combination will obviously depend on an individual's skin type and concerns they're trying to treat; although lots of moisturisers combine both humectants and occlusives in one so this can be easy to do.” On top of your own at-home routine, Yadira notes that most clinics will offer hydrating clinical facial options that could be extraordinarily beneficial.

Ingredients To Incorporate In Your Routine

Oils And Butters!
“Ingredients like oils and butters help to lock in moisture,” explains Yadira. “Lanolin (unless you're allergic to wool), jojoba oil, and shea butter are all great ingredients.”

Ceramides!
Ceramides have an extremely enthusiastic fan club in the skincare world. (Ahem, here’s a love letter we prepared earlier.) They boast incredible skin benefits, Yadira explains that “they make sure trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) doesn't happen too quickly by holding onto water in the skin” making them a master for those dealing with moisture-loss.

Humectants!
In terms of cramming extra hydration into your routine, you can’t go past humectants. Known for their ability to attract water and visibly plump the skin, Yadira notes that humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin can help make up for moisture-loss too.