Photos by Steve Giralt

Go with the Glow By Gabrielle deGroot Redford, March & April 2007 Bring out your skin’s natural beauty—and erase ten years or more

What happens when you bring together nine women and a world-renowned dermatologist? If the women were selected during our Faces of 50+ Real People Model Search and the dermatologist is Leslie Baumann, M.D., author of The Skin Type Solution, you get an intensive, two-day course in caring for your skin. (To learn if our model search will stop near you, visit www.aarpmagazine.org/roadshow.)

For more of Dr. Baumann's tips on dealing with dryness, sensitive skin, and wrinkles, and where to find the products she recommends, click here.

The really exciting part? These women learned—and now you can, too—exactly how aging affects the skin and what steps you can take to revitalize it at any age. In some ways aging is actually good for your skin. If you’ve always had oily skin, for instance, as our model Connie Renaud did when she was younger, your skin is going to get drier after menopause. Or if your skin has always been sensitive, with a tendency toward redness or flushing, as our model Vicki Cavanaugh’s is, it’s likely to become more resistant with age, as your overall immune system calms down.

Other changes aren’t as pleasant—rosacea can flare up, and freckles, fine lines, and wrinkles can become more prominent. But advances in skin-care technology mean many of these problems can be addressed, so long as you use the right products—and see a dermatologist regularly. “The great news is, it’s never too late to start taking care of your skin,” says Baumann.

50s Many never worried about their skin when they were younger. Now they're starting to.

Hoda Amine, 52 Married, 4 children, 2 grandchildren Mental health therapist in Dearborn Heights, Michigan Loves to travel; has seen most of the world Was honored last year for her work with domestic violence victims in the Arab American community

Hoda can thank her Middle Eastern roots and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables for skin that has caused few problems over the years. Although she tanned regularly until her mid-40s, she now avoids tanning beds and is a true convert to regular sunscreen use. But she does have one sun spot on her face that she’d love to get rid of.

Dr. Baumann recommends...
Care Hoda could benefit from a glycolic acid cleanser, which will really make her skin glow. And even though she eats lots of fruits and vegetables, she should also add an antioxidant serum. A lightening cream will help get rid of her sun spot. Of course, she should continue to use sunscreen every day.
Products Aqua Glycolic Facial Cleanser, La Roche-Posay Active C, Skin Effects by Dr. Jeffrey Dover Advanced Brightening Complex, Philosophy A Pigment of Your Imagination SPF 18.

Katherine Harano, 57 Married, 2 children Optometrist in Castro Valley, California Loves to travel In spare time, visits with family, gardens a little

As an optometrist Katherine has always been diligent about protecting her eyes from the glare of the sun. Luckily, in the process, she has also protected her skin. “I don’t get outside as much as I’d like, so that helps, since I live in sunny California,” she says. Like many Asian Americans, though, Katherine is sensitive to the ingredients found in some skin-care products, so she has to be extra careful about what she puts on her skin.

Dr. Baumann recommends...
Care Because her skin is so sensitive (lotions and sunscreens often make her break out or itch), Katherine shouldn’t use that sample that comes in the mail. Instead, she should figure out what works for her and stick with it. Products containing feverfew would be good choices; feverfew is an herb that used to be given to people with fever, but when applied topically, it reduces inflammation and prevents wrinkles. Katherine could add more fruits and vegetables to her diet, too, or take an antioxidant supplement.
Products Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15, Shiseido The Skincare Soothing Spray.

Jean Axtell, 57 Married, 2 children, 3 stepchildren, 2 grandchildren Medical-office manager in San Antonio, Texas Loves dancing to bebop, dining out, and traveling Runs up and down high-school bleachers for 1 hour 3 times a week

Jean never had to worry much about her skin. That’s good and bad—good because she’s never had any major skin problems, and bad because she hasn’t taken any preventive measures to ensure her skin stays youthful-looking. She doesn’t wear sunscreen and she often goes to tanning salons (though she always covers her face).

Dr. Baumann recommends...
Care Jean needs to start wearing sunscreen every day and stay away from those tanning beds, which can cause premature aging, sun spots, and even skin cancer. Because her skin is dry, she should cleanse in the morning and evening with a nonfoaming cleanser that contains glycolic acid. She also needs to take an antioxidant supplement every day, as well as use an antioxidant serum.
Products M.D. Forté Facial Cleanser III, SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic antioxidant serum, Imedeen Time Perfection antioxidant supplements, Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Sensitive Skin Creme With SPF 15, Lancôme Absolue Premium Bx Replenishing Cream SPF 15 Sunscreen.

60s Daily sunscreen use is essential for preventing and reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

Beverly Piacquadio, 62 Married, 2 children, 1 grandchild Bank operations manager in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Loves to watch TV, gamble, and read Lifts weights each evening

Beverly credits her parents with the genes that have allowed her to remain youthful-looking even into her 60s. “My mom died when she was in her 80s, but she always had really nice skin,” she says. A self-described Home Shopping Network junkie who sometimes orders the latest skin-care products from Signature Club A by Adrienne, Beverly admits she does have one skin-care faux pas: “I smoked for many years.”

Dr. Baumann recommends...
Care Beverly is lucky; her parents and grandparents looked much younger than they were, so she has some genetic protection. Doctors aren’t sure what genes are at work, but if your parents looked young, chances are you will, too. Beverly’s skin is on the dry side, so she should use an oil-based foundation.
Products DiorSkin Sculpt Foundation with SPF 15, Dove Energy Glow Brightening Night Cream, RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream.

Vicki Cavanaugh, 64 Married, 2 children, 4 grandchildren Retired 6th-grade teacher in Aspinwall, Pennsylvania Loves to travel; is studying Spanish after being inspired by a trip to Spain Runs 3 miles 3 or 4 days a week

With her red hair and light complexion, Vicki has had to be careful about her skin, which has a tendency to get flushed, caused by a condition known as rosacea. When she was younger, she did a lot of tanning, but she now wears sunscreen regularly and eats lots of fruits and vegetables. She also sees a dermatologist, who has prescribed retinoids to help with premature aging.

Dr. Baumann recommends...
Care Rosacea is a disease of inflammation of the skin, so it’s important for Vicki to use anti-inflammatories. As for her diet, the omega-3 fatty acids and fish oils in salmon and cod-liver oil can help. For topical products she should choose those containing chamomile, aloe vera, mushroom extract, licorice extract, or feverfew. Her skin is tough to treat—she needs retinoids to reduce and prevent wrinkles, but they can cause redness—so she needs to balance the anti-inflammatories with the retinoid products.
Products Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Plantidote Mega Mushroom Face Serum, SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 Refining Night Cream, La Roche-Posay Rosaliac Moisturizer, La Roche-Posay Anthelios SX SPF 15.

Katherine Lee, 66 Widowed, 1 daughter Substitute teacher in Chicago, Illinois Loves to travel and read Walks at least 2 miles most days

When Katherine was a child, her mother gave her a teaspoon of cod-liver oil every day. “My mother told me it was good for colds,” she says, “and I don’t remember ever having a bad cold.” Whether or not it worked for that reason, it most likely did protect Katherine’s skin, though she now takes cod-liver-oil supplements instead of the dreaded liquid stuff. Katherine also stayed out of the sun, but she did smoke cigarettes.

Dr. Baumann recommends...
Care Katherine did a nice job of staying out of the sun, but she still needs a daily sunscreen. Because her skin’s a little oily, she’ll want one that absorbs the oil but still gives good sun protection. The good news for people with oily skin is that as they get older, their skin gets a little drier.
Products Freeze 24/7 Ice Shield Facial Cleanser with SPF 15, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 30, Stiefel Lacticare Lotion (in evenings only), Caudalie Nourishing Body Lotion.

70s Good genes help, but great skin at this age means you've taken care of it over the years.

Joan Lally, 72 Married, 1 daughter Former nurse and nursing home administrator in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Loves to cook, entertain, and dance Does water aerobics 4 times a week

As a child, Joan spent summers at the seashore. “We didn’t have sunscreens in those days, at least as far as I know,” she recalls, “but my mother made us wear hats and always set up a big umbrella.” Seventy years later, those preventive measures—and a lifelong diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fish—have paid off: Joan looks years younger than she is. Joan’s only skin-care problem? An allergy to nickel.

Dr. Baumann recommends...
Care Because Joan is allergic to nickel, she shouldn’t wear any of the trendy mineral-based makeups, because they could make her sensitive to other metals, including gold (which would make wearing any kind of jewelry almost impossible). Otherwise, she doesn’t have any real skin problems. She should use an oil-containing foundation, and a sunscreen every day.
Products Kiehl’s Ultra Moisturizing Cleansing Cream, Lancôme Absolue Makeup with SPF 20, Olay Definity Intense Hydrating Cream.

Connie Renaud, 75 Married, 5 children, 12 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren Retired in 2003 after 27 years as a middle-school teacher in Miami, Florida Loves to travel, garden, and walk Last year went to France to paint along the Seine

Connie grew up in Florida—where the sun’s rays are intense and destructive. She never wore sunscreen, and she smoked cigarettes for 18 years. But she did eat tons of fish. Her skin was also quite oily—she even had acne as a teenager—but it dried up considerably once she went through menopause. For the past few years she’s been using Aveeno cleanser with oatmeal, as well as Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion—and sunscreen, when she remembers.

Dr. Baumann recommends...
Care Connie lives in an environment that’s humid, which is good for her now-dry skin. If she flies somewhere that’s not humid, her skin will feel a lot drier (it takes three days for your skin to adjust to drier climates). For everyday use, Connie needs a moisturizer containing sunscreen. She could also use a facial cream that prevents sagging, which is a concern at her age.
Products Atopalm MLE Face Cream, Relastin Eye Silk Eye Cream, Relastin Skin Revitalizer, L’Occitane Immortelle Protective Lotion SPF 15, L’Occitane Immortelle Cream Mask.

Vike Rideout, 70 Married 49 years, 4 children, 2 grandchildren Retired US Airways reservations agent in Sewickley, Pennsylvania Loves to play tennis Serves on board of Union Aid Society, which helps people in need

Ever since she can remember, people have complimented Vike on her skin. “I’ve been lucky,” she admits. “I’m fortunate enough to have good genes.” But good genes are only half the story. Vike also takes good care of her skin, washing daily with Neutrogena soap and applying moisturizer with SPF 30.

Dr. Baumann recommends...
Care If everyone had skin like Vike’s, dermatologists would be out of business. Because of her coloring, she has natural protection. Her biggest challenge is finding a tinted sunscreen that matches her skin color.
Products Ambi Even & Clear Exfoliating Wash, Cetaphil Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15, Philosophy The Supernatural SPF 15 powder sunscreen, Care by Stella McCartney 5 Benefits Moisturising Cream.

Hair and makeup by Sarah Montiel; styling by Jessica Neff

More of Dr. Baumann's tips and where to find the products she recommends