Maybe you have started to notice that when you look in the mirror your fine lines and wrinkles are beginning to show! Your skin looks duller and might be starting to sag a bit. So, naturally, you start looking for products that can help turn back the hands of time.
But, the thing to remember is that the goal of a good skincare routine isn’t to ‘stop’ aging. It’s to protect your skin from preventable damage while supporting its natural ability to stay healthy, hydrated, smooth, and radiant as you age.
What Actually Happens to Your Skin as You Age?
Time takes its toll on skin as it ages, but aging isn’t caused by just one thing. It’s a combination of internal and external factors.
As we age, collagen and elastin – two proteins that keep skin firm and stretchy – start to break down, leading to wrinkles and sagging. Oil production can decrease, leaving skin feeling drier or rougher, while the skin itself becomes thinner and more delicate.
External causes also contribute to skin aging. Environmental stressors, including UV exposure and pollution, can contribute to oxidative stress and damage that shows up on the skin as premature signs of aging, uneven pigmentation, and changes in texture.
This combination of changes means your skincare routine should address more than just wrinkles!
Anti-Aging Is Really About Five Things
When it comes to anti-aging skincare, it’s easy to focus on the most visible signs of aging – like fine lines and wrinkles. But youthful-looking skin involves much more than addressing what’s already there. A well-rounded skincare routine is built on not only taking care of your skin now, but also protecting your skin from future damage.
When you break it down, effective anti-aging skincare is really about five things: protecting, hydrating, defending, renewing, and correcting.
1. Protect
Sun protection is the foundation of any anti-aging routine. UV exposure breaks down collagen fibers, leading to wrinkles, discoloration, and uneven pigmentation. It’s also the leading cause of most skin cancers.
This makes sunscreen the ultimate “don’t skip” step of your routine! Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen like our Anti-Photoaging Green Tea Sunscreen will help protect your skin from damaging UV rays. This tinted, moisturizing SPF 50 is fortified with a unique antioxidant formulation which offers the highest level of Green Tea Polyphenols to counteract the effects of the sun’s damaging UV rays, deactivating them before they cause harm.
2. Hydrate
As skin changes with age, maintaining moisture becomes increasingly important, even if you don’t have dry skin. Well-hydrated skin looks smoother, softer, and more radiant. While hydration won’t erase wrinkles, it will help minimize the appearance of dryness and fine lines while supporting a healthier skin barrier.
Look for a moisturizer that not only provides hydration but also contains ingredients that support your specific skincare goals. Our pick is our Age Defying Moisturizer, an ultra-rich formula that hydrates while providing CoQ10, a potent antioxidant, and DMAE, a compound related to the B-vitamin choline and best used for its firming and anti-aging effects.
3. Defend
Sunlight isn’t the only thing outside impacting your skin. Every day, your skin is exposed to environmental stressors that can contribute to oxidative stress and premature signs of aging.
This is where antioxidants step in!
Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, which can help protect your skin from environmental damage as well as supporting a healthier-looking complexion! Adding an antioxidant-rich product to your routine can be a great way to give your skin an extra layer of defense.
Our suggestion is our Advanced Renewal Infusion, which delivers the highest form of active, bio-available Vitamin C. Combined with the superior moisturizing power of botanically derived Hyaluronic Acid and natural Gotu Oil, you will enjoy the tightening and moisturizing power along with its collagen production boosting properties.
4. Renew
Healthy-looking skin depends on regular renewal. But as we age, skin cell turnover slows down, leaving your skin looking dull, rough or uneven.
Exfoliating your skin removes the buildup of dead skin cells, revealing a smoother and brighter-looking complexion underneath. Our pick is our organic Fruit Enzyme Exfoliating Cleanser! The natural exfoliant of cranberry fibers and jojoba beads is gentle enough for sensitive skin, and will brighten your complexion and leave your skin feeling soft and renewed!
One thing to keep in mind: more exfoliation isn’t always better! Over-exfoliating can irritate the skin and damage your skin barrier. Depending on your skin type and the products you’re using, you may only need to exfoliate once or twice a week – or possibly less.
5. Correct
Once you have your first four steps of anti-aging skincare, the final step is to address existing concerns, such as fine lines, dullness, uneven skin tone, and other visible signs of aging.
The key to correction is using skincare ingredients that target your specific concerns. One of our most popular is our Radiance! This concentrated, medical blend of the most potent skin lighteners effectively dissolves and helps block the formation of pigmentation. Designed to gently resurface the skin, Radiance will help to correct early environmental skin damage and pigmentation, create clear pores, even skin tone, and smooth texture.
The Bottom Line
Aging skin is inevitable, but there are ways to help you age gracefully. “Anti-aging” skincare doesn’t have to mean chasing perfection or trying to look a different age. The goal is healthy, resilient skin that looks like the best version of you.
Not sure what your skin needs at your stage of life? Contact us at 972-608-0808 TODAY for your Personalized Skincare Consultation at Skin MD and Beyond in Plano, TX. We can help you identify your skin’s unique needs and find the right combination of treatments and products to help you reach your goals!