You know how a doctor might look at an X-ray and say something like: “Yes, there’s some wear and tear—but that’s pretty normal for a 70-year-old shoulder.”

Fair enough. But that doesn't mean you stop using your shoulder, stop strengthening it, or stop doing things that might help it feel and function better.

Maybe we should think about our skin the same way. Yes, skin ages. You may have lines you didn't have 10 years ago. Your skin may be drier or thinner. Its texture may change. It may need different things than it did when you were 30, 40, or 50.

Some of that is simply normal for your age. But “normal for your age” doesn't mean there's nothing worth doing. You can still nourish your skin. Protect it. Support its barrier. Keep it hydrated. And choose ingredients that support healthy-looking skin as it changes.

Good skin care isn't about trying to make 70-year-old skin look 30. It's about taking very good care of 70-year-old skin. Or 50-year-old skin. Or 80-year-old skin.

Because perhaps the question isn't: “How do I stop my skin from aging?” Maybe it's: “What does my skin need from me now?” That's a question worth asking at every age.

Dr. Lucas, creator of My Zen Skin Care, co-wrote Victorious Aging with Wendy Spurlin around a similar idea: aging is inevitable, but that doesn't mean we stop doing the things that help us feel—and look—our best.