The days of perusing the drug store aisles for Biore nose strips and Noxema pads are long behind your rearview mirrors are you near your mid-twenties and early thirties. These days, your skin requires so much more TLC to keep it looking young and wrinkle free. Sure aging will happen and not all of us have Jennifer Lopez or Beyonce money to look forever young but with patience, time invested and a tried and tested skin care regimen, we can prolong the effects of aging.
Drink More Water
It’s a no brainer that drinking water does wonders for the body. Drinking water is vital for your body to function properly. Water carries essential nutrients to skin cells, which help to repair tissue and increase elasticity. Not only does keep your skin supple, water also aids in the delay of fine lines and wrinkles. So go ahead and drink up! It’s good for you. If you’re wondering how much water you should drink a day, follow this simple rule: divide your body weight by 2 to get the correct amount of ounces of water you should be guzzling. Soda and coffee don’t count
Cleanse Your Face Twice A Day
Start and end the day with a clean canvas. That’s right, your face is your canvas and it should be free of dirt and makeup in the morning and evening. Your morning routine cleansing routine should be as simple as gently cleaning your face with a mild cleanser for your skin type, followed by your regular facial routine. Your nighttime regimen should be more labor intensive if you wear makeup. Never go to bed without washing off your makeup and showing your face a little TLC. Start with a facial wipe or an oil cleanser, which removes dirt and oils gently without harsh chemicals used in normal cleansers. Follow up with a gentle cleanser or an enzyme cleanser like Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleanser to slough off dead skin and the rest of the makeup. Falling asleep without taking the day off your face is a major no-no. If you do so, you risk clogged pores and bad breakouts. No one wants that.
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Add a Serum to Your Beauty Routine
Your face is going to require more products to combat signs of aging, dryness and even adult acne, as you get older. One of the most overlooked products in the fight against sagging is the facial serum. These products are a bit more costly than facial moisturizers but they work wonders by being able penetrate the skin’s top layer to deliver antioxidants that work deeper to correct skin imperfections. Look for serums with L-ascorbic acid and retinol as their main ingredients if you have acne-prone skin. For normal skin types, opt for ingredients listed as alpha lipoic and glycolic acids. Use your facial serums at night. I’m a sucker for Jurlique and Lancome serums.
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Sunscreen should be your best friend
Sunscreen is not just for summers lounging at the pool. It’s your first line of defense against free radicals and damaging UVA/UVB rays emitted by the sun. Wearing a good SPF of at least 30 during the day blocks the sun’s harmful rays from wreaking havoc on your skin, aka sun spots, wrinkles and dark marks. If you don’t believe us, check out this video of how sunscreen really protects your biggest organ. SuperGoop, COOLA, Clinique and Lancome have some of my favorite formulas.
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Invest in a good Under Eye Cream
Don’t skimp on the eye cream. Once you hit your mid-twenties, those laugh lines and crows feet will surely have started creeping in. Let’s not forget dark circles and puffiness from December benders and weekend ragers. Use a product specifically made for your sensitive eye area. Your eyes are two of the most visible parts on your face so make sure you are taking care of the area. Moisturizing with eye cream helps to keep the sensitive eye area hydrated. Creams with antioxidants can also help prevent collagen damage. I am currently using Votre Vu Tout Le Monde Antioxidant Eye Gelee. But I do love NARS Total Replenishing Eye Cream, Dr. Brandt Skincare Xtrend Your Youth Eye Cream, Clinique SuperDefense SPF 20 Age Defense Eye Cream and Kate Sommerville CytoCell Dark Circle Corrective Eye Creams.
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Exfoliate Two to Three times a week
What does exfoliation have that your normal cleanser doesn’t? The power to mechanically or chemically slough off dead skin and makeup from your skin. Adding an exfoliation two to three times a week is important because you get rid of dry skin cells and get a smoother appearance. You can use an chemical or mechanical exfoliators for this. Mechanical exfoliation products have a gritty consistency and contain substrates like rice bran, date seed powder, oatmeal, crushed fruit pits, shells, rice bran etc. They can be a bit abrasive and cause micro-dermal cuts on the skin if you use too hard of a hand in applying it to your face. Chemical exfoliation Chemical exfoliation employs a variety of chemicals, including hyrdoxy acids, salicylic acid, retinol to achieve skin renewal.
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Don’t Neglect Your Neck
Your neck is a sure giveaway of aging because the skin tissue around the area is very delicate. As you age, it’s important to focus some attention on the neck and decolletage area by applying creams specifically designed for the neck area.
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Retinol should be in your skin care routine
Retinol (Vitamin A) has been included in exfoliation formulas because the skin can convert Retinol to Retinoic Acid, a potent skin exfoliation and anti-aging agent. Retinol has been shown to improve the visible signs of photoaging as well as normal chronological aging when used on a daily basis. Just remember that there is a difference in prescription and over the counter retinol formulas. Prescription formulas contain retinoic acid, the magic ingredient that fights visible aging; nonprescription alternatives need to be converted into retinoic acid by the skin at the cellular level. So if you want a more potent anti-aging retinol product, call up your dermatologist.
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