The most confident models are the ones that embrace their age and understand the steps necessary to keep themselves in the best possible physical condition when it comes to skin care. This goes for both female and male models.
I'll do my best to keep this post from being too lengthy but want to target general age groups, as well as share basic tips for tackling Father Time as it relates to your money maker.
TEENS TO YOUNG ADULTS
Don't take your youthful complexions for granted, young models! While we all wish for the days when our faces were completely free of wrinkles and fine lines, don't think that just because you're young, that leaves you off the hook with skin care. On the contrary, this should be the time when you practice what I like to call "preventative skin care."
Even if your complexion is stellar, it is essential that you put a daily skin care regimen into place. Knowing your skin type (i.e. dry, normal, oily, combination, acne prone, sensitive) is what will determine the types of products you should purchase. Having the basics: cleanser, toner and moisturizer are the staples of any skin care regimen.
For problem skin or issues such as acne or eczema, talk to a dermatologist to see what options are available to you and jump on it asap to avoid future problems (or at least minimize them).
Another important note is to avoid sun damage by using skin care items formulated with SPF protection. Even makeup products like foundation and powder have SPF in them. These serve to keep your face safe from damaging UVA/UVB rays that can lead to aging prematurely in the form of wrinkles, spots/freckling (not the good kind of freckles!) and decreases your chances of getting melanoma (aka "skin cancer").
A bit of discipline and using your chosen products on a daily basis is all you need to keep your face at its best into the years ahead of you. If you've always gotten away with simply splashing your face with water in the morning, just know that kind of perk doesn't last forever so take action early.
IN YOUR 20s & 30s
During these years you might experience a change in your skin/complexion. Maybe the skin care products you've used since forever don't quite seem to be doing the trick like they used to. Maybe after being free of breakouts and skin reactions, suddenly all you're dealing with are breakouts.
It's not uncommon for our skin to change as we get older. What this likely means is an update to your skin care regimen, including the types of products you're using on your face. Switching brands, trying newer, stronger formulated items and/or talking to a dermatologist are all ways to figure out what's going on.
Our complexions don't stay the same forever and at some point, you can't expect your skin care routine to remain untouched, either. This doesn't mean going into panic mode. At most, do your research, talk to a dermatologist (or a qualified skin care pro at the local department store makeup/skin care counter) and see what options are out there. To be on the safe side, seek out sample sizes to try at home as a cost-effective way to see what works and what doesn't.
IN YOUR 40s & BEYOND
Yes, there are models in their 40s, 50s and 60s--and they tend to look damn good! This is in large part due to whatever skin care routine they've maintained over time. Much of what I wrote in the section above can also apply to these older age groups.
One additional note I do want to make is taking into consideration skin care products specially formulated for "mature skin."nThis refers to products that include ingredients designed to tackle aging issues such as hyperpigmentation, wrinkles and fine lines, brown spots, a dull complexion, etc.
It makes sense that as we get older, the skin care items we use on our face and body should also be upgraded. There are more "mature" brands and products out there than you can shake a stick at. While it might take some trial and error to see what works for you, putting in the time to rebuild your skin care routine with the proper products will be well worth it.
BASIC SKIN CARE TIPS
Stay Within the Skin Care Brand Family. There's nothing wrong with having a few items that are different brands but the reason there are entire lines of cleanser, toner, moisturizer, eye cream, etc. is because they are formulated to work together. Once you find a line you like, stick with it and then you can mix and match as you see fit later on down the line. Build a foundation and let it do its thing.
Choose Skin Care Products for Your Current Age--Not the Age You Want to Be. There's no fighting getting older so focus on buying products formulated for your age, current skin care condition and that address any issues you're experiencing. And give it time to work...only through diligent, daily use over time will you be able to see if it's working. Always follow instructions for the items you're using in order to see optimal results.
Don't Forget Proper Body Care! Using effective products such as body wash, body scrub and lotion are all key to maintaining healthy skin from neck to toe. Choose items that target what you want to focus on (i.e. firming and toning, healing dry skin, brightening dull skin, eliminating cellulite, etc).
For male models, there are entire lines now made just for men. The ingredients are specially formulated for male skin so take a look at what's out there right now and throw these into your daily routine. It won't take long to notice a huge difference in how your skin looks and feels. The same goes for skin care products made for men.
Pay Attention to Your Neck & Hands. I can't tell you how many times I've been stunned by how fantastic a model's complexion was...until I looked down and saw their REAL age because of how their neck and hands looked.
Want to keep your hands looking their best? It's as easy as keeping a small tube of quality hand cream around at all times (not that cheap, watery stuff!). Here's a tip for application: apply the hand cream to the back of your hand and then moisturize instead of applying it to your palms. The back of our hands receive the most exposure to the sun and other elements that can age the skin a lot quicker--oftentimes, this is because the skin in this area is thinner, making it more prone to damage.
When it comes to your neck, properly moisturizing with a solid body lotion (preferably one with SPF protection as well as skin firming ingredients) is the most basic way to keep this part of your body in tip top shape. Of course we're all prone to aging in this area over time and in those instances if things get to a point where topical solutions aren't effective, it could be worth looking into FDA-approved, non-invasive treatments meant to tighten and firm loose, sagging skin and the appearance of jowls. Always do proper research and consultation when it comes to these routes, even if it is for a non-surgical procedure.
Exfoliate! The most natural way to let your skin glow is to remove the layers of dead skin that tends to accumulate on our complexions as well as our bodies. This tends to happen naturally but it doesn't hurt to throw in an exfoliating face scrub and/or body scrub to move things along more effectively. Scrubs don't mean rubbing your skin raw. The use of quality exfoliating products and applicable tools like a loofah or exfoliating shower gloves is all that's needed to promote new skin cells to shine bright and eliminate dull complexions and skin overall.
Invest in Eye Cream. The eyes are the windows to the soul so that means you should be using some kind of eye cream to make sure those windows are crystal clear and sparkling. Fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness and dark under eye circles don't discriminate so go the preventative route and pick an eye cream suited to your skin type and formulated for the problems you tend to experience.
I use Clinique All About Eyes Rich because I love how thick it is and a little goes a long way so one jar lasts me quite a while. These days I invest in the biggest size and that takes me over a year to go through so it's a win-win.
Use Skin Care to Address Real Life Issues. In addition to a daily skin care routine to maintain healthy skin and prevent future issues, it's also important to add in items to combat every day situations that tend to take their toll on your skin.
For example, I'm a workaholic and confess that I don't always get as much quality sleep as I should. As a result, I'm prone to dark under eye circles. When I know I'm going to have a rough night, I make it a point the next morning to use cooling eye gel masks after I cleanse and moisturize (I love the Que Bella Professional Moisturizing Gel Eye Mask). Instead of wearing them for 10-15 minutes, I'll actually wear them for an hour to get the most use before throwing them away.
Make Facial Masks Your Best Friend. There are many brands of facial masks out there and they're all specially formulated based on skin type, skin issue or favorite active ingredient. Like most skin care searches, you might have to do some sampling to see what ends up working best for your skin but I personally love using mud masks on my combination skin (oily T-zone and dry cheeks).
Any time my skin feels dull or if it's taken a beating from photoshoots or gnarly weather, I indulge in a charcoal mud mask from Que Bella (also from Target) to draw out impurities from my skin, unclog pores and make my face baby soft afterwards. It's a fast and convenient way to detoxify that doesn't require a visit to the spa or lengthy treatments (in 10 minutes my face gets fully recharged).
Practice Skin Care From the Inside Out. Yes, what you put into your body also has a direct effect on how you age. The #1 key to great skin is drinking plenty of water and limiting your intake of highly caffeinated beverages and greasy, fried foods. It's okay to eat and drink these in moderation but the more you indulge, the tougher your skin care routine will have to work.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Don't be afraid of getting older! To keep your agent and clients happy, all you have to do is make time for good skin care, which shouldn't feel like a chore or take too much time out of your schedule.
Don't spend a fortune, either. While there are key products well worth the price tag, especially if they only require a small amount per use, you can get away with other products typically found in drugstores, not just the skin care counter at your local department store.
Embrace the years ahead, equip yourself with the right products and the last thing you'll worry about is what you see in the mirror.
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