With each passing decade, we all face fresh challenges in our quest for a radiant complexion. In our 40s, it is the new crow's feet, in the post menopausal years dryness arrives, and sagging sets in by our 60s. The right kind of products and procedures will prepare you to meet these challenges successfully.

Your 40s: Treat, Tone and Texture At this life stage, skin starts to lack luster, brown splotches may appear as result of increased melanin production and redness (a mark of tiny broken capillaries become more prominent. The collagen and elastin that keeps skin firm starts to break down. Pores also sometimes become enlarged with the loss of collagen.

Best Home Treatments:

• Vitamin A derivatives boost collagen production that soften fine lines and minimizes pores
• Retinoids rev up sluggish cell turnover so skin can become smoother and more radiant, dark spots fade
• Prescription such a Renova provide noticeable changes after about 8 weeks
• Retinol, the strongest over-the-counter option takes 12 weeks. Choose a product formulated with up to 1% retinol, dependent upon your skin's tolerance
• Start by using a retinoid every third night for at least 2 weeks, then apply every other night for the next 2 weeks, eventually moving up to nightly applications.
• Summer is an ideal time to get started on a retinoid because the increased humidity tempers dryness that might occur as your skin acclimates.
• Exfoliate regularly once you have built up to a nightly retinoid application by substituting in an alpha-hydroxy acid twice a week. If skin is dry, choose an AHA formulated with moisturizing lactic acid
• Consider hydroquinone, an agent that inhibits the production of melanin of help fade blotchiness. Rx versions boast 4% of HQ, daily spot treatment can diminish dark patches in 6 to 8 weeks. However, one single afternoon spent unprotected in the sun can undo all the hard work. Use HQ only for 3 months, after that, maintain results with a skin lightener that contains kojic acid or licorice extract.

Your 50s: Hydrate and Plump: The average of menopause is 51. With the drop in hormones, the skin becomes parched and brown spots increase. You might notice deeper folds, including the smile lines that run from the corners of the nose to the corners of the mouth, develop as skin loses underlying fat. The loss also "hollows out" the under-eye area.

Best Home Treatments:

• Switch to a gentler cleanser.
• Replace oil-stripping gel cleansers or bar soaps with a creamy face wash
• Switch to double-duty moisturizers. Look for formulas that contain a humectant to draw water in and an occlusive to create a barrier that prevents water from evaporating
• If you have not already, switch to Renova or Atralin for moisturizing
• Look for under eye cream containing silicone, an emollient that temporarily rids you of fine lines

Your 60s and beyond: Nourish and lift. The upper layers of skin struggle to retain moisture, oil production slows and dark spots are more pronounced. Bone loss creates jowls and the area below your cheekbones and your temples may look sunken. Fair-skinned women may notice concentrated areas of roughness, called actinic keratoses (Aks) that are scaly patches that can be precursors to skin cancer.

Best Home Treatments:

• Minimize facial cleansing, even creamy cleansers can irritate very dry skin
• You may want to use just a milky makeup removed that tissues off without the need to rinse
• Look for thick moisturizing formulas with a high concentration of oils, such as petrolatum. Many doctors recommend using straight Vaseline at night as it seals in moisture and is gentle enough to use on eyelids
• Instead of applying your Retinoid on bare skin, layer a light moisturizer underneath or mix it with your moisturizer.