She gently placed the delicate lashes on the eyelid and leaned back to survey her work.
"Sometimes as you age you lose hair," said Emily Thompson, licensed esthetician at Skin and Beauty, a cosmetic and skin boutique in downtown Brunswick.
And she's not just talking about the hair on your head.
Many women can lose eyebrows and eyelashes, and at this session Thompson was busy placing eyelash extensions on a woman.
Along with changes in hair, aging also brings about changes in skin.
"After age 45, you have intrinsic aging from the inside," Thompson said, pausing from her eyelash work. "It is caused by internal factors like hormonal shifts and metabolic slowdown."
This all contributes to the skin sagging, thinning and cracking.
"Your skin reflects your health," said Jeannette Saunders-Bartle, licensed esthetician and owner of Beautiful and Beyond, a permanent makeup business.
"It's your body's canvas and one of its most valuable assets. It is a protective layer that covers the entire body. Our skin changes naturally with age, but there are some important, simple steps you can take to ensure that your skin ages gracefully."
For Thompson, some of the most important things are sunblocks, antioxidants and Retinol, a form of Vitamin A.
Antioxidants in this case are not what you consume, but the creams and lotions you rub on your face. They protect the skin inside and out. "Sunblock is awesome," Thompson said, adding that the best contains zinc oxide. Even if you have abused your skin over the years, it is not too late. There are steps you can take to make sure you have that youthful appearance for a long time, whether it's the skin on your face, arms, legs or hands. "The most basic thing you can do for your skin is protect it from the sun," said Saunders-Bartle. "If you are a sun worshipper at an early age, you can expect to see a lot of wrinkling, weathering and discoloration of the skin as you get older." Most sun damage does not show up until a person is in the mid 40s and 50s. Tanning evens out the skin tone and hides imperfections. However, Saunders-Bartle said, the cure is worse than the cause. "I recommend spray tanning or using one of the many products over the counter to gradually tan and maintain the level of color you are seeking," she advised. "I also recommend a high level moisturizer and checking your skin often for new and unusual growths that may appear. The sun can be healthy in small doses, but overexposure to heat, cold and sun rob the skin of moisture."
A way to compensate for damaged skin is by following a routine of exfoliating the skin and maintaining its moisture. "Using a mildly rough body glove made for exfoliation is a great way to clean the skin," Saunders-Bartle said. "The skin on the face needs to be treated gently, so as not to damage the soft tissues around the eyes, nose and lips." A facial once a month is a good idea. "Besides being a soothing experience that is good for the soul, it also can shrink pores and thoroughly exfoliate the skin," Saunders-Bartle said. "If you can't afford the spa treatment, there are kits available over the counter that will do a pretty good job." When it comes to cosmetics, there are some things women older than 45 should consider. "Makeup covers the pores of the skin," Saunders-Bartle said. "Your skin needs to breathe, and a daily regime of heavy foundation is going to cause the skin to dry out, the pores become clogged and enlarge, and for women who are acne prone, it is a nightmare. "There is no makeup that covers the pores that is good for the skin. However, some makeup does try hard to include a little moisture and even exfoliation." Retinol has helped older women overcome some signs of aging. It increases cell production in the top layer of skin, so it helps to pep up the skin. Cells look smoother and skin looks younger. It also helps to reduce pigmentation that comes with sun damage.
"Retinol removes dead skin cells at a faster pace," Thompson said, adding that as the vitamin A is absorbed through the skin it increases the skin turnover and gives a more youthful appearance. However, Saunders-Bartle cautioned, the concentration of retinol in over-the-counter products is small, so don't expect miracles. The most visible results come from prescription-strength retinoic acid. Using moisturizer is important and using one with sunscreen is even better. It has to be used daily over the entire body. The elements, such as sun, wind and cold, can damage the skin, so moisturizing the parts, like the face, arms and legs, that are exposed to the elements especially need lotion. "The results of a good daily skin regimen are immediate and will allow you to age gracefully," Saunders-Bartle said. "Using a daily regime of a moisturizer with Retinol will help even the skin tone and repair hyper pigmentation due to sun damage".
