Despite what we’ve been taught by Back to the Future, scientists haven’t discovered how to time travel, so instead we sit here and keep watching time pass us by. Day by day we age a little bit more and it’s essentially unnoticeable until one day we look in the mirror and wonder, where did all the time go?
Luckily scientists have come up with the next best thing – anti-aging skin care - but the real question, is how do you know when to start using them? It’s not like there’s a rule book for these kinds of things. We all have completely different perceptions of ourselves than others do, making us more hyper-sensitive to all our lines, wrinkles, and impurities. We notice the sunspots on the apex of our cheeks and how the texture of our skin just doesn’t feel the same anymore.
That’s when we come to a realization and say to ourselves, “Wow, I should probably start implementing anti-aging skincare into my routine.” But is it too little too late? The answer is no, there is no such thing as too late when it comes to prolonging the appearance of skin aging.
Most professionals recommend using anti-aging products as early as your mid 20s-30s, stating that it’s better to take the offensive approach and start preventative measures against signs of aging rather than a defensive approach when the signs are already noticeable.
As scary as it might sound, our skin starts its slow and steady decline as early as 25 years old. This is when we should start taking a look at adding new steps to our skin care routine to start taking that preventative approach. It can be as simple as making sure you are applying a water resistant, broad spectrum, SPF 30 or higher sunscreen and moisturizer every day, which luckily, is something many of us already do. Some great SPF options such as the ATZEN Natural Face Protection SPF 30, ATZEN Sun Shield, and Vivier Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 which check all of the boxes of a proper sunscreen. These products can be accompanied by Neostrata Bionic Face Cream, Keyano Peptide Cream, or Glycolix Elite Facial Cream 15%, along with many other amazing facial moisturizers resulting in optimal hydration and protection all day long. There are also other multi-beneficial options that will allow you to moisturize and protect your skin in one easy step. For example, the La Roche-Posay Hydraphase UV Intense Broad-Spectrum SPF 20, eraclea perfectionist 4-in-1 cream with SPF 30, and ATZEN Bio-Active Complex SPF 15.
It’s a change that is so small yet so effective, and once it becomes a habit in our daily routine, you hardly have to pay any mind to it. This is a benefit in and of itself because when a routine becomes mindless it also becomes realistic. It helps us set skin care standards that are within our reach so we aren’t overly worried about our appearance. Putting in the work to take care of yourself and your skin is healthy but hyper fixating on your appearance can take you down a path of unhealthy habits. We’re here to help you treat your insecurities, not create new ones. You’ll never find a magical fix, but we can help supplement your needs in a way that will help you build a beautiful relationship with confidence.
Now ‘anti-aging’ can be a tricky term to comprehend. We automatically think that any product that has anti-aging written across the label is going to correct all of our issues. The secret is, if you already have a skin care routine , you are already having an anti-aging skin care routine. No matter the products, routine, or reason, taking care of your skin is already going to prolong signs of aging and by adding moisture, hydration, and key ingredients such as retinol, vitamin C, peptides, hyaluronic acid, etc. you are already taking that first step. The advertised anti-aging treatments that we see all over our social media pages are made to target really specific issues and aren’t always necessary in most cases. They are created to target the skin issues that we inevitably acquire over time. The only catch is we have different skin concerns at different stages of life meaning what you use at 25 might not work when you’re 55.
They always say when you find a skin routine that works, stick with it, right? What they don’t tell you about that skincare routine is that it’s not the names of the products that work well together but it’s the combination of ingredients that work synergistically with your skin type that make it the right skin care routine. True anti-aging skincare has a multitude of powerhouse ingredients and it might seem impossible choosing the ones that your skin currently requires. So, let’s break down some of those ingredients shall we!
Retinoids are the talk of the town, and let’s face it, the holy grail of anti-aging skincare, but what are they really? Retinoids are molecules derived from vitamin A that penetrate your collagen to help with collagen remodeling, while also working on the surface of your skin to help advance skin cell turnover helping balance uneven skin tone and discoloration. The term retinoid is essentially an umbrella term for all the different types of retinoid products you can obtain, anywhere from over the counter to prescription retinol. Most are scared of retinol for its reputation of harsh and aggressive effects on the skin but that’s because they are measuring their purchase decision against which product has the highest percent retinol when they should be making that decision based on what ingredients the retinol is mixed with. It’s imperative that the product you choose incorporates soothing ingredients and antioxidants that work to actively strengthen the moisture barrier allowing the retinol to do its job. It’s also important to start slowly implementing retinol into your skin care routine as early as your mid 20s-30s but no matter your age it’s not too late to start as long as you are consistent with your regimen. Some effective retinol products that can help jump start your anti-aging skin care journey are the Replenix by Topix Replenix Retinol Smoothing Serum 2x, Glowbiotics Advanced Retinol Renewal Treatment, and Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum.
Now here’s an ingredient we all know and love, it’s brightening, it’s balancing, it’s anti-aging…it’s vitamin C. Vitamin C is a highly potent antioxidant that can help build collagen and skin cells with superficial hyperpigmentation. Collagen helps your skin keep its firm, bouncy appearance, but naturally as we age the amount of collagen, we product decreases. Vitamin C will not only help natural collagen production but will work with your sunscreen to protect your skin from free-radical damage and UV- related collagen damage. Glowbiotics Advanced Vitamin C Brightening Serum, DCL C Scape High Potency Serum 25, and the Vivierskin Vitamin-C IDS High Potency Serum 10 are all high-quality vitamin C products that will help jump start your new found skin care routine.
To assure you are safely and effectively incorporating these ingredients into your skincare be sure to use your retinol and vitamin C products at different times of the day to avoid any irritation. Vitamin C is best used in the morning to prep and protect your skin from environmental stressors, while retinol is best utilized during the evening for a restorative overnight treatment. Vitamin C is another ingredient that you should start implementing into your skin care routine around your mid 20s-30s, by only using it 3 days a week and slowly working up.
Now I know we’ve all heard of peptides, but do we even know exactly what they are? Because I know I didn’t, but after learning their incredible effects on wrinkles, my curiosity quickly became a need. Peptides are essentially building blocks of protein and they can work to not only send signals to help build collagen but to improve skin moisturization as well. It works to fill in fine lines and wrinkles, leaving you with a much smoother and younger appearance. Some peptides even produce a botox like effect, providing you with a needle-free alternative to wrinkle reduction… now seriously, it doesn’t get much better than that! Some great products that can help ease you into the world of peptides are the Vivierskin C E Peptides, DCL Peptide Plus Eye Treatment, Skinuva Brite, and ATZEN Night Recovery Cream. Incorporating peptides into your skincare can happen at any time but they are a valued anti-aging ingredient and implementing them into your skincare routine in your early 30s will help give your skin optimal results.
Now, this ingredient has been labeled one of the best hydrating ingredients on the market, currently controlling the skin care game but most don’t know it is also labeled as one of the best anti-aging ingredients as well. Hyaluronic Acid is an ultra-hydrating ingredient that will soothe dry skin with its humectant properties keeping it hydrated all day long for a glowing complexion. These same properties contribute to reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by plumping the skin, minimizing signs of aging and making age lines and spots less noticeable. Hyaluronic Acid is an ingredient that can be used every day and at any age for real results… I mean there’s a reason why millions of people swear by it. ATZEN DNA Repair Serum, Murad Sensitive Skin Soothing Serum, and Lycon Revitalising Hyaluronic + B5 Booster Serum are great hyaluronic acid products that will help give you that extra hydrating, youthful complexion.
Now that we have discussed the ins and outs of anti-aging skincare it’s time to let you in on a little secret -- the missing piece to the anti-aging skin care puzzle… patience. None of these products or ingredients are going to give you a miracle or instant results. With consistency, patients, and most importantly kindness towards yourself you will start to see a change. These results can be quite dramatic but only if you go into this process with a realistic and educated mindset. Our bodies are magnificent, so gives yours some credit for all it has done for you and cut it some slack. The results you are looking for are right around the corner all you have to do is head to askderm.com and find the best products to jump start your personal journey!
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