Yep, we all know that one person who looks as if they’ve stopped time. They might be in their 30s to 40s but easily look like they’re a 20-something. Maybe they even ID’d. Call it what you want, but I’d venture to guess that there’s someone in your life who’s managed to negate the natural effects of aging in one way or another, and we’d be lying if we said it didn’t absolutely intrigue us. No matter what age you are—or whether you’re even concerned with “ageing”—it’s near impossible not to be curious about how these people have managed to Benajmin Button right in front of our eyes.
One such example is Caroline Labouchere, a grey ambassador and model whose glowy, flawless complexion has stopped me in my scrolling tracks on more than one occasion. Labouchere, who began a modeling career just two years ago at 54, now regularly shares her outfits, haircare tips, and, of course, skincare treatments with her 235,000 Instagram followers. I don’t think I’m alone in saying that she defies age—just one look at her feed confirms this, so naturally, I did what any skincare-obsessed writer would: I went straight to the source to find out Labouchere’s best skin tips.
Ahead, read up on her top tips and nuggets of wisdom that she credits for maintaining good skin in your 50s—or at any age for that matter.
I know you’ve heard it over and over again, but Labouchere confirms the golden rule of skincare: sun protection. Whether you’re opting for a massive sun hat or are slathering on the SPF (or both), we can’t overstate how important it is. “I have been a sun worshipper all of my life,” Labouchere admitted. “I finally stopped turning my face to the sun last year. Now, I wear a hat whenever I leave the house and wear an SPF 50.”
“Don’t pick your spots ever,” she said. As obvious as it may sound, as a former skin picker myself, this one is easier said than done. Labouchere insists that it’s one of the skincare rules she lives by, and I know I personally could have avoided so many dark spots had I heeded her advice sooner. “If you have a whitehead, use two cotton buds to get rid of it,” she advised. To quell acne in the first place, below are several products you can incorporate into your daily and weekly routines.
I once heard that the main focus of any skincare regimen hinges on keeping your face hydrated, and Labouchere seems to agree with this. She told me that she uses a thick moisturiser at night (the Avène Cold Cream, £11, is a favorite of hers) and will sometimes apply the same one for daytime if her skin can handle it. “Trapping moisture in your skin will make for happy skin,” she noted.
The conversation around skincare over 50 wouldn’t be complete without a mention of retinol. After all, dermatologists and skin experts so frequently call out this multipurpose ingredient for its anti-aging benefits that getting your hands on one feels like the only logical thing to do. Of course, Labouchere’s tip is only one of many out there, but according to her, a prescribed retinoid (the umbrella term for retinol and Retin-A) will always work better than store-bought retinol.
As a clinical dermatologist would be able to point you in the direction of something better suited to your skincare needs than a trip to your local Sephora, we’re inclined to agree with her. On the other hand, if you’re looking to get on the retinol train, the below editor-approved products might be a good jumping-off point.
Exfoliating is an essential step in any skincare routine, as it sloughs away dead skin and promotes skin cell turnover, something that tends to naturally slow down as we age. If you don’t exfoliate enough, the rest of your serums, oils, and moisturisers might not live up to their full potential because you could have dead skin cell buildup. But on the other hand, exfoliating too much could strip the skin of its natural oil barrier and cause irritation. Labouchere suggests using one once every other week and is a fan of the Wishful Yo Glow Facial Enzyme Scrub ($21).
No matter how many fancy skincare products and expensive treatments you try, they might not fully do their jobs if you don’t let your skin breathe every now and again. Labouchere told me, “I don’t wear makeup every day. I believe it is a good habit to get into. Once you are in a daily makeup rut, it is hard to get out.” Instead, she wears a CC or BB cream only once or twice a week.
Up next: The cheap moisturisers we swear by.
This story originally appeared on Who What Wear US and has since been updated.
