Do you want to stay young forever?
We don't know how to stop the clock, but we can help you trick cameras and mirrors into thinking you're younger. Here are some essential tips to get the skincare routine you need.
Cleanse with a gentle cleanser
Cleansing is important to remove any skincare or makeup products you've applied during the day, as well as natural skin oils, pollutants, and bacteria that have accumulated. This also means that your skincare products will be able to penetrate your skin and work more effectively!
You'll want to use a gentle cleanser to preserve your skin barrier and keep it resistant to dehydration and damage. High-pH cleansers like natural soaps are very harsh and can make your skin vulnerable to irritation and infection. Low-pH cleansers work to maintain optimal skin balance.
Another ingredient to avoid is sodium lauryl sulfate, as it is very harsh. You also don't need to buy luxury cleansers. Cleansers don't stay on your skin for long. These active ingredients are much more useful in later steps, such as when you apply a serum.
Do you need a toner?
Toners were developed in the past to restore the skin's low pH after washing with a high-pH cleanser. If you use a low-pH cleanser, there is no need to use a toner. It is better to avoid damage in the first place than to repair it later!
Use a physical or chemical exfoliant
With age, the skin slows down its renewal process. Dead cells are not replaced by fresh cells as quickly, which means your skin starts to look dull and uneven, and may even crack. Exfoliants are a great way to help remove dead cells from your skin.
There are two main categories of exfoliants: physical and chemical. It is best to avoid harsh physical exfoliants, such as sugar scrubs and bead-based cleansers, because they make your skin more susceptible to sagging. Instead, choose a washcloth or a soft sponge, like a konjac sponge with activated charcoal that can meet your skin's needs.
Chemical exfoliants gradually dissolve the bonds between skin cells and allow them to shed. They are also suitable for skin of any age! The best exfoliants for mature skin are alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid and lactic acid. You can also find these acids in toners, serums, and at-home peels.
Apply anti-aging serums
In general, serums contain a higher concentration of active ingredients than a moisturizer. The best anti-aging ingredients to look for are vitamin A derivatives known as retinoids (retinol, tretinoin, and tazarotene) and vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). In addition to increasing the skin's collagen, they act as antioxidants to absorb the oxidative biological and environmental stress that accumulates to cause aging.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
With age, there is also less sebum. While this means less risk of acne, it also means that your skin dries out more easily. One of the main reasons for fine lines is insufficient skin hydration, but fortunately, this is easy to fix with a good moisturizer!
Look for a moisturizer that contains water-binding humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. An occlusive product like petrolatum (known commercially as Vaseline) and a mineral oil at night can prevent water from evaporating from your skin. But make sure your skin is clean to avoid trapping bacteria!
Always use sunscreen
Sun protection is a sure way to keep skin looking as young as possible. The sun is responsible for so many visible signs of skin aging that sun damage has its own category in dermatology: photoaging.
The sun's UV rays can cause skin aging:
- by breaking down collagen and causing elastin abnormalities, which leads to thinning skin and wrinkles
- by causing the development of uneven pigmented spots
So use sunscreen, and not just for the beach - use it every day. According to a recent study, daily application of a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen can fade age spots, improve skin texture, and smooth out wrinkles by 20% in just three months. Researchers believe this is because sunscreen allows the skin to not be continuously attacked by UV rays, so its powerful regenerative capabilities have a chance to work.
You can also protect your skin from the sun in other ways. Wearing sun-protective clothing like long-sleeved shirts, hats, and sunglasses, and avoiding the sun in the middle of the day, will reduce your exposure to aging and carcinogenic UV rays.
And it goes without saying that you should not intentionally get sunburned. Instead, use a faux tanning spray or lotion if you are looking for a truly healthy glow.
One of the main reasons why wrinkles appear is due to damage caused to your skin. Since older skin is more fragile, trauma can have greater effects. While there is not much evidence on the impact of how you apply your skincare products, studies have shown that pressing your face against a pillow while you sleep can cause permanent "sleep wrinkles."
It therefore makes sense to be cautious and avoid rubbing and pulling when you wash your face and apply your skincare products.
Also take care of the rest of your body
Besides the face, the main areas that give away your age are the neck, chest, and hands. Make sure you don't neglect these areas! Cover them with sunscreen, and no one will ever know your real age.
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