At 30, you start to realize you are no longer 20. It’s not just that weekend parties leave us tired until Wednesday; the face starts to show wrinkles and its youthful freshness starts to fade. Even with a healthy and stress-free lifestyle, by the mid-30s at the latest, no one can avoid the signs of skin aging. 

Metabolic processes change, expression lines become deeper wrinkles, and the skin starts to lose its elasticity. In young skin, the connective tissue fibres collagen and elastin work together in perfect unison: collagen stabilizes the tissue and gives it tensile strength, while the rubber-like elastin ensures the skin remains elastic. With increasing age, the number of collagen and elastin fibres decreases and the skin becomes thinner while losing its tone and flexibility. 

But skin aging comes as no surprise, and it certainly doesn't happen overnight. And that is where we have an advantage: those who correctly identify their skin care needs, and take that care accordingly, will still look fresh, vital and relaxed even in the middle of their life.

Minimizing lines and wrinkles 

Between 30 and 50, we are in the middle of life and know to enjoy it to the fullest. When it comes to antiaging care, however, things get a little more serious because experience gradually writes itself onto our face: lines and wrinkles appear around the eyes and mouth, and lifelines also become prominent on the forehead. With age, the diminishing quality of the elastin fibres makes the skin slacker, losing its toned look.

The demand is for effective antiaging products that minimize wrinkles and lines and tighten facial contours, because tighter and firmer facial contours make the face look younger. 

Hyaluronic acid 

Hyaluronic acid is a legendary active ingredient and will certainly play a permanent role in cosmetics. This endogenous, sugar-like biopolymer has the task of protecting the skin and binding water.

Studies have shown that hyaluronic acid activates fibroblasts in the deep layers of the skin. These cells then produce new collagen, making the skin full and smooth. With increasing age, however, the body’s endogenous production of hyaluronic acid diminishes, the skin becomes drier and less elastic, and wrinkles develop. 

There are many active ingredients that stimulate the skin’s natural hyaluronic acid and elastin synthesis, and thus help to restore the elasticity and youthfulness of skin. 
Furthermore, as an active ingredient in cosmetics products, hyaluronic acid can be included in various molecular sizes to effectively counteract the signs of fatigue. 

Low molecular weight hyaluronic acid penetrates deep into the skin, where it promotes the skin’s natural protective mechanism and supports the regeneration of damaged or irritated skin. Thanks to its high water binding capacity, low molecular weight hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin from within. 

High molecular weight hyaluronic acids, on the other hand, form a protective film on the skin by coupling with the stratum corneum (horny layer), making the skin smooth and soft. Thus, it provides moisture and protection for the skin. 

Soft-focus effect in cosmetics

In addition to using various active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and botanical extracts, texturizers and soft-focus additives offer further options for concealing wrinkles and lines immediately upon application, and for achieving a uniform, youthful skin appearance. 

Many are certainly familiar with the term “soft focus” as used in photography. Although we generally do everything we can to achieve as sharp, high-contrast photos as possible, optical effects are also used to make faces appear softer and younger. 

In cosmetics, a soft focus effect is achieved by using special fillers. The contrast between light and dark, which emphasizes fine wrinkles and irregularities, can be considerably reduced by the diffuse light-scattering achieved by texturizers. This makes the skin appear more uniform and youthful.

Body care and peeling 

Body care is another application where products attuned to maturing skin should be used. In addition to the caring aspect, applying a body product that feels delicious to the skin gives a sense of indulgence. The sensory properties of body care products are therefore increasingly important criteria. 

Body care

Suitable stabilizers or consistency regulators can be used to create body care formulations that feel fresh and light, and are nourishing at the same time. Emulsifying polymers allow the development of formulations with soft textures that spread easily, impart a fresh and pleasant feel to the skin, and are well tolerated. 

Peeling

Peeling has a long history. The ancient Egyptians would use peeling to help restore freshness and a beautiful complexion to their skin. Even today, peeling is an integral part of cosmetics. It boosts the regeneration of skin by removing scales of dead skin cells.

Micronized plant components, clays, or scrub particles from fruits, seeds or stones come in different particle sizes, each ideal for developing a face, body, or even callus scrub. Additionally, micronized powders are particularly suitable as fragrance carriers, colorants, or texturizers. 

Overall, skin care during the ages 30 to 50 should be somewhat richer, especially when it comes to moisturization. Regular application of masks and a wrinkle-reducing and moisturizing eye cream are recommended around this time.