Skincare for Fine Lines and Ageing

Skincare aimed at ageing tends to arrive shouting, full of promises and strong actives that leave skin worse for a fortnight before anything improves. That approach does not suit skin that is also sensitive, and plenty of skin is both.

This is the gentler route. Real actives at strengths you can keep using, which matters because an active only works if it stays in your routine. Vitamin A for texture and fine lines, peptides for firmness, hyaluronic acid for the plumpness that hydration alone gives back, and oils for the nights when skin wants sealing rather than treating.

Start with one thing, not five. Most people see the biggest difference from consistent hydration and a nightly vitamin A, and everything else is refinement.

Vegan, cruelty free, no synthetic fragrance, made in small batches on the Sunshine Coast.

For the makeup that goes over the top, see Makeup for Mature Skin. If dehydration is the main event, Skincare for Dry and Dehydrated Skin is the closer match.

Frequently asked

Where should I start with anti ageing skincare? Hydration and a nightly vitamin A serum, in that order. Add one product at a time and give each a full skin cycle of four to six weeks before deciding whether it earns its place.

Can I use vitamin A if my skin is sensitive? Often yes, if you build up slowly. Start two nights a week over moisturiser rather than under it, and increase only when your skin is comfortable. Vitamin A is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Do peptides actually do anything? They support firmness and barrier repair, and they are one of the better tolerated actives for reactive skin. They are gradual rather than dramatic, which is rather the point.

In what order do these go on? Cleanser, toner if you use one, serums from thinnest to thickest, moisturiser, then oil last. Vitamin C in the morning under sunscreen, vitamin A at night.

How long until I see a difference? Hydration shows within days. Barrier repair takes two to three weeks. Texture and fine lines take three months of consistent use, and anyone promising faster is selling something.