Timeless Beauty

Cleansing

Whether you're carefree and 20, confident in your 30s, or a clear-eyed 40-and-counting, you've got beauty issues all your own. We asked the experts to address your skincare needs and recommend treatments and products to create a beautiful bridal glow.

Cleansing

You've performed this ritual since childhood, but you're probably oblivious to your ablutions. Here's what Jeanine B. Downie, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in Montclair, NJ, says about sudsing up for a fresh face.

20s
Your skin is likely to be on the oily side, so wash your face three times a day. Use oil-free cleansers and products with salicylic acid if you have mild acne, advises Dr. Downie. "I recommend lukewarm water for everybody," she says. "Hot water irritates acne-prone skin."

30s
Combination skin is more prevalent now, so Dr. Downie recommends reducing your cleansing schedule to twice daily and switching from drying salicylic cleansers to glycolic-acid or soy-based washes that help balance the skin.

40s
Your skin is getting drier and blotchier. Stick with the cleansers you've been using, says Dr. Downie, but add chemical peels regularly and avoid gritty scrubs that can irritate.

Moisturizing

20s
With skin that's apt to shine, the only moisturizer you need is your sunscreen; just make sure it's oil-free with an SPF of 30.

30s
Dry patches are appearing, so you'll need to apply a proper moisturizer after cleansing, explains Dr. Downie. Still, the product should be oil-free; those with glycolic acid will increase skin's smoothness. Add vitamins A and E to the mix for antiaging properties and softness.

40s
Unless you have acne, use moisturizer twice a day: oil-free in the morning, and a heavier, oil-based product at night—one with copper will improve skin's texture. If you're premenopausal, use a product with soy to soothe inflamed skin.

Back Treatments

Isn't it time you started paying attention to your rear view? Tennessee Callie, a registered nurse at Skinklinic in New York City, offers tips on keeping your back beautiful.

20s
If you're like many twentysomethings, you've got breakouts on your upper back. Hit the spa for a beta-hydroxy acid treatment that soaks up all of the acne-causing oil.

30s br>Skin damage in the form of freckles is surfacing. Glycolic-acid treatments will help them gradually fade away and even out skin tone.

40s
Dry, flaky skin and dark sun spots are more prevalent now. Glycolic spa peels help, as do retinol creams and moisturizers enriched with vitamins A, C, and E, applied (with a helping hand) at home.

Hand Care

With that riveting ring on your finger, your hands are under a metaphorical magnifying glass. Why not give your well-wishers something smooth and silky to stare at? Dermatologist Jeanine B. Downie, M.D., helps get your hands ready for their close-up.

20s
You're a polished poser. To stay that way, Dr. Downie recommends starting each morning with a sunscreen, preferably containing SPF 30, followed by hand cream.

30s
A few brown spots and broken capillaries are evident, but dry skin is a bigger issue. It's time for hand cream used twice daily—and Dr. Downie's favorite pampering tip: an occasional overnight treatment with petroleum jelly. Rub it in well and wear cotton gloves.

40s
The spots are increasing and dryness has set in. Ask your dermatologist for a prescription cream that will lighten the dark areas (Dr. Downie likes Solage, coupled with laser treatments) and use hand creams with retinoids or glycolic acid to even out skin tone.

Facials

Imagine a party where your face is the guest of honor, well-fed and showered with attention. Stacy Cox, an aesthetician and owner of Pampered People, a Los Angeles day spa, suggests just such a skin celebration for every decade.

20s
You may have residual acne, but chances are your complexion is peaches-and-cream. Schedule European facials every three or four weeks, Cox advises, to maintain that glow, adding extractions when necessary.

30s
Although fine lines are starting to appear, roughness and dry patches are your main concerns. "The goal is to hydrate," says Cox, who recommends a moisture-intensifying, exfoliating facial, using a gentle fruit-based exfoliant called a gommage.

40s
Those creases are becoming more evident, and the area you forget to slather with sunscreen—your décolletage—is showing signs of aging. "A firming treatment every three or four weeks will tone and plump the skin there," promises Cox.