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Silky Smooth Skin in Your 30s, 40s and 50s

Most women will admit growing old gracefully takes a bit of work.

Beauty secrets that might have done the trick when you're younger suddenly don't seem to cut it anymore.

But there are plenty of products designed specifically for your skin at every age.

On "The Early Show Saturday Edition," Health magazine Senior Editor Frances Largeman-Roth sorted through the best of them to help women in their 30s, 40s and 50s create a skin care regime that works beautifully, and won't cost them a fortune.

IN YOUR 30's

Because your skin is in good shape in your 30s, you don't have to worry about deep wrinkles. Instead, you may notice fine lines, age spots, Rosacea, and under-eye circles…. when you are in your thirties you are busy, working hard and perhaps up late at night with babies. Dark circles under the eyes are a problem and begin to develop.

The main thing for Women in their 30s is to use sunscreen during the day. This will minimize the sun damage and therefore the aging of her face. Definitely sunscreen during the day.

Our testers chose three products for a daily routine that average about $22 each (about $87 for all three). They have key ingredients recommended by Dermatologists such as Feverfew and Caffeine to address the needs of women in their 30's.

Morning routine:

Protect your skin with a lightweight lotion that has sunscreen.

Use products with Feverfew to help with unwanted rosiness, while those with caffeine help reduce under-eye circles.

Feverfew is a flowering herb and several studies have shown it reduces redness and calms skin by inhibiting pro-inflammatory enzyme activity.

The Caffeine in the eye cream helps shrink capillaries making discoloration less noticeable

We Chose:

Lotion with SPF and Feverfew:Aveeno Ultra-Calming Moisturizer SPF 30 - $15

Eye Cream with Caffeine: Olay Professional Pro-X Eye Restoration Complex - $42

Before Bed Routine:

Night creams treat fine lines and premature age spots. Look for one with Arginine, an amino acid that helps fade spots, and Retinol which builds collagen and reduces fine lines

When you're pregnant, you should steer clear of products with Retinol

We Chose:

Night Cream with Arginine and Retinol: Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Night - $20

IN YOUR 40s

The 40's for women are a very happy time but a lot of happiness turns up as laugh lines.

Everything she noticed in her 30s is getting progressively worse. Mouth/forehead wrinkles and crow's feet are starting to show, as well as darker spots, deeper wrinkles and dry skin.

Our testers selected three products for a daily routine that average about $21 each (about $86 for all three). Decreasing Collagen levels leave women in their 40's prone to wrinkling. The key here is still sun protection this time using antioxidants and more importantly for moisturizing you want to use products with Retinol.

Morning Routine:

Use a lotion with an SPF and antioxidants, which boosts the protective power of your skin to prevent more age spots

We Chose:

Day Moisturizer with Sunscreen and Antioxidants: Biore Dual Fusion Moisturizer + SPF 30 $15

Before Bed Routine:

Use a night cream with Retinol to firm your skin and make your complexion glow. Retinol will also help with wrinkles around the eyes

We Chose:

Eye Cream with Retinol: L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle & Firming Eye Cream - $17

Night Cream with Retinol: La Roche-Posay Biomedic Retinol 30 -$54

IN YOUR 50s

Your 50s are when you see deeper wrinkles and a hollowness around your eyes that causes shadows. Menopause also dries your skin and disrupts the Ceramide barrier, leading to skin sensitivity

Skin really dries out at this age, especially due to menopause. Wrinkles are even deeper, and age spots are much more prominent.

Women pay a lot for anti aging products. However, many over-the-counter anti-aging products are becoming more affordable. Prescription Retinol is very expensive and anti aging creams can run about $200s and expensive moisturizes around $150.These prodcuts we have chosen are very good deals.

Our testers selected three products for a daily routine that average about $44 each ( about $134 for all three). They have key ingredients such as Ceramides and Shea Butter.

Morning Routine:

Use a cream with antioxidants, SPF and Ceramides. This will boost hydration and reinforce your skin's protective barrier.

Under eye discoloration can be helped with an eye cream that contains Vitamin K. Vitamin K helps the blood clot, preventing seepage from the capillaries under your eyes.

We Chose:

Day Cream with Sunscreen and Ceramides: Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Ultra Lift and Firm Cream SPF 30 -$68

Eye Cream with Vitamin K: Clarins Eye Revive Beauty Flash $46

Before Bed Routine:

Rehydrate dry skin; use a cream that has rich moisturizing ingredients, like Shea butter. Shea butter is a rich moisturizer extracted from the nuts of the Shea Tree, which is indigenous to Africa.

Also make sure the product has Retinol.

We Chose:

Night Cream with Shea Butter and Retinol: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream $20

Why two routines per day?

Because there are some products, for example, that work better in the morning (e.g. they contain sunscreen) and others that do best at night (products that can cause sun sensitivity). Many night products do better sans a layer of makeup over them.

What if someone doesn't moisturize, can they still look great?

Yes, of course. But if you have dry or aging skin, moisturizers are going to condition and plump up skin, making you look healthier and younger. Moisturizing also takes out the itch, soothing skin irritated by cooler temperatures.

How do you keep it off your pillow?

All you have to do is wait a few minutes for the topical to penetrate. You shouldn't have any pillow issues.

What makes these products different from what I am using/ older products?

None of these products has been around more than 9 months. We looked for dermatologist recommended ingredients and based our choices by our testers review of efficacy and it how it felt on their skin and price.

What makes these products expensive?

These products aren't expensive, really. Many of the ones we mention are under $20, with only one being more than $60. Many over-the-counter anti-aging products are now very affordable. Prescription Retinol is very expensive and anti aging creams can run in the 200s and expensive moisturizes around $150.These are very good deals.

How much does this cost per day / how long will these purchases last?

For 35 year olds, all three are about $87, for 45's about $86 and for ladies in their fifties about $134.00 Depending on your habits and skin type it will last more or less than three months…

Is it relatively expensive / inexpensive to what women spend /use per day?

In general, these are very good/reasonable prices

It seems somewhat expensive -- especially in a recession - are there any alternatives?

Do you mean natural alternatives? Sure, you can use some products in your kitchen as various moisturizers, but that's a whole other story. The best way to keep your skin healthy and cheaply is stay out of the sun!

If these products are considered expensive, why is worth it and what makes them pricey.

The majority of products we show are inexpensive in terms of anti-aging. Anti-aging products contain specialized ingredients (such as Retinol and Ceramide). These ingredients are inherently a bit more money especially if you were to get prescribed by your dermatologist.

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