In the world of beauty products, there’s perhaps no category more saturated than the anti-aging market. Serums and eye creams and lotions galore promise to do everything from smooth fine lines to fade dark spots to restore our youthful glow of years past. And sometimes those promises are more, shall we say, unrealistic hopes rather than truly possible achievements. So who better to help weed through all the youth-boosting lotions and potions out there than dermatologists?
Use Gentle Cleansers Or Cleansers
Cleansing is important for removing any skin care product or makeup that you’ve applied during the day, as well as natural skin oils, pollutants, and bacteria that’s accumulated. It also means your skin care products will be able to enter 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. Cleansers with a high pH like natural soaps are very harsh and can leave your skin vulnerable to irritation and infection. Cleansers with a low pH, such as this one by Cosrx ($10.75 on Amazon), work to maintain optimal skin balance.
Another ingredient to avoid is sodium lauryl sulfate, as it’s very harsh. You also don’t need to buy cleansers with fancy, active ingredients. Cleanser’s aren’t on your skin for very long. Those active ingredients are far more useful in later steps, like when you apply serum.
Exfoliating Products
With time, the skin aging is because of the lack of formation of new cells. The dead skin cells stay in place, making your skin dull and unattractive. The main categories in this regard are physical and chemical exfoliants. The physical ones usually contain harsh products which are not recommended.
It would help if you went with chemicals having alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) like lactic acid and glycolic acid. They will help in bonds between the skin and will allow the skin to glow more. Also, they can be used for the skin of any age.
Gently Pat, Avoid Rubbing Hard Skin
In general, serums contain a higher concentration of active ingredients than a moisturizer. The best anti-aging ingredients to look out for are vitamin A derivatives known as retinoidsTrusted Source (retinol, tretinoin, and tazarotene) and vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). As well as increasing collagen in your skin, they also act as antioxidants to soak up the biological and environmental oxidative stress that builds up to cause aging.
If you’re new to serums, you can try this affordable, vegan, and cruelty-free vitamin C serum ($5.80 from The Ordinary) — although the formulation doesn’t allow for a serum-like texture. Want to try making it yourself? Check out my own super easy DIY vitamin C serum.
Moisturizing Products
With age also comes less sebum. While this means less chance of acne, it also means your skin will dry out more easily. One of the big reasons for fine lines is inadequate skin hydration, but luckily it’s easy to fix with a good moisturizer!
Look for a moisturizer that contains water-binding humectants like glycerine and hyaluronic acid. An occlusive like petrolatum (commercially known as Vaseline, although Aquaphor also works) and mineral oil at night can prevent water evaporating from your skin. But be sure your skin is clean to avoid trapping bacteria!
Use The Sunscreen
The UV rays from the sun can also lead to skin aging because of the following reasons:
It leads to the development of pigmented patches.
It can lead to abnormalities in the elastin layer, hence causing the thinning of skin and wrinkles.
Using sunscreen can be an excellent way to make your skin look young and healthy. Try to use broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen for removing wrinkles, preventing spots and harm to the skin. You can also use other sun-protective accessories like clothes and hats for additional safety.
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