Beauty Routines for Anti-Aging

If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that no one can outrun Father Time. Aging is inevitable, and we all know it. That said, there are a lot of preventative steps to protect yourself from the physical signs of aging, and these good habits can start early. Here’s a few skin-care routines that can keep you looking young and fresh.

Keep It Shady

There is no greater skin damaging factor than the sun. In fact, it’s so pervasive that it has its own scary name: photoaging. And a lot of damage to your skin can start when you’re young and carefree and not giving much thought to the future. So, you can start healthy practices early and keep it up through the years…or face the consequences.

• Cover-up: using wide brim hats, sunglasses, and SPF-rated clothing is a good idea when you’re out in the sun. Yes, you want to avoid sun damage and wrinkles to your face, but studies show that many skin cancers start early from prolonged exposure at an early age. This is not just a beauty routine, it could save your life.
• The same goes for tanning beds. They are just as dangerous, so look into bronzers instead to keep your tan glow going.
• Your skin has its own regenerative powers, but not when the UV rays of the sun are hitting your skin daily. Invest in a good everyday organic sunscreen (at least 30 SPF) like one from Coola and wear it regularly. Not only will you avoid sun spots and dried-out wrinkled skin, you’ll give your face a chance to do its own healing. If you wear it daily, even in winter, you’ve got a great chance to keep your skin healthy.

Different Levels of Clean

It may sound pretty basic, but washing your face regularly is one of the best anti-aging routines you can do. There are a few tips to make sure you’re not doing more harm than good, though.

• Use a gentle cleanser. Regular soap is high on the pH scale, and that can wear away at your skin’s natural defense barrier, leaving it wide open to irritation and the elements. Try a low pH moisturizing cleanser like the Sulwhasoo Snowise Brightening Cleansing Foam from the Korean skincare company.
• If the pricey cleansers with exotic herbal ingredients are a bit out of your range, don’t worry you can try a drugstore cleaner like CeraVe’s Hydrating Facial Cleanser.
• Consider using a tool that maximizes the cleansing process with ultrasonic waves or gentle brushes to remove impurities like our Lyft device.

It’s All in the Serum

There are plenty of natural ingredients out there that can help out in the fight against aging skin. Trouble is, sometimes they are scattered in varying quantities throughout many different products. Serums deliver a powerful combination of active ingredients to ensure your skin gets all the protection it needs. Let’s take a look at popular ingredients in different serums:

• Antioxidants: These powerhouse substances fight oxidants that cause cell damage throughout your body, and your skin is no exception. Environmental factors like pollution and sun can deplete collagen levels, and this can show up on your face. Vitamin C and E are crucial ingredients to protect against collagen depletion.
• Retinol: Some dermatologists cite retinol, derived from Vitamin E, as the most important anti-aging ingredient out there. It boosts collagen levels, smooths out lines and wrinkles, and can even help with acne. Starting a retinol regimen earlier in life can keep your face looking ageless, but, due to its strength, it should be slowly integrated into your skincare routine, as it can cause irritation if used too often.
• Botanicals: All-natural ingredients like ginseng, black or green tea, avocado and grape seed provide a multitude of benefits that complement the antioxidants in your serum.

Always Moisturize

This is a basic of any beauty routine, and you’ve likely been doing it for years. Yet it’s not as simple as simply putting oil or lotion on your face before bed; different skin types, hydration levels and different combinations of moisturizers all make this process one you should pay attention to.

• Skin type: This is definitely not a one-size-fits-all situation. Dryer skin needs extra hydration, so look for a moisturizer that has hyaluronic acid like Garnier’s Moisture Bomb which can hold a tremendous amount of water in the skin. Acne-prone skin should include medication like benzoyl peroxide and avoid alcohol and heavy oils that could lead to another breakout. Proactiv’s Green Tea Moisturizer is a good pick for acne prone skin.
• Time of day: Again, you should use different products for different situations. A morning or daytime moisturizer should be light and contain some degree of SPF sunscreen for your time outside. Skin tends to get dehydrated through a long night’s sleep, which is why richer, thicker night creams with peptides and retinol are meant to nourish your skin throughout the night.
• Oil alone: Dry and flaky skin seems to react great to oil moisturizers, so it seems like a perfect fix. Not so fast. Oil offers surface emollients, but does nothing to hydrate. Most moisturizers draw and keep moisture in the skin, so apply that first, and then use the oil.

Right Tool For The Job

All of the steps we have mentioned above are important, as well as basic health actions like eating well and drinking enough water, getting exercise, and a good night’s sleep. But, there are a few cutting-edge technologies out there that can give you an edge in the fight against time.

• Photo Rejuvenation: Different colors of LED light can work wonders on your skin. They can increase blood flow, kill acne-causing bacteria, and even encourage the production of fresh new skin cells. You can ask your dermatologist about it, and we have an amazing portable, hand-held unit available here.
• Skin Scanner: Of course, there’s an app for that. Neutrogena has an incredible scanner that clips onto your iPhone, lights and magnifies your pores, takes a picture and analyzes it for moisture content and overall health. It can then recommend the proper products for you.
• Micro-Needler: Believe it or not, tiny needles poking into your skin is a good thing. Causing these virtually painless wounds pushes collagen and elastin into those spaces, revitalizing your skin tone. Once a spa-only service, microneedling therapy is now available at home with the revolutionary Deep & Uniq

Wrapping it Up

We know we threw a lot of tips and products at you but the main thing you can do to help your skin is to shield it from the sun, find the right sunscreen and be strict about your cleansing and moisturizing routine. Additional products like serums and oils can help depending on your skin type. Don’t feel bad about pampering your face a little bit—it’s so worth it!

Do you have any anti-aging beauty tips? We’d love to hear from you on Twitter @NuryshR