Starting to spot signs of aging? Fear not! A good skincare regime is all you need to minimize the effects and help safeguard your skin for the future.
Fine lines and wrinkles
Among the most noticeable signs of aging are wrinkles. First forming as fine lines around the mouth and the delicate creases of the eyes, these eventually deepen into folds in the skin’s fabric. The culprit? A loss of collagen that’s part of the natural aging process, exacerbated by environmental factors like sun exposure and smoking.
Although we all know you can’t fight nature, you can minimize the appearance of wrinkles by stimulating collagen synthesis using products with retinoids. You should start slowly with retinol, applying a small amount once or twice a week to build up tolerance. Always use sunscreen in the morning after night application as retinol increases sun sensitivity.
Loss of firmness/elasticity
Another impact of losing proteins like collagen and elastin is reduced firmness. This stops the skin from ‘bouncing back’ as effectively and eventually leads to sagging.
You can promote collagen production with anti-aging skincare containing peptides which act as the building blocks for proteins. Complement this with hydrating products containing hero ingredients like hyaluronic acid because these will temporarily plump up the skin and support its long-term structure.
Uneven skin tone and age spots
Even if you’re careful with your SPF application, prolonged sun exposure leads to uneven skin tone. ‘Age spots’ are a direct cause of sun damage. Slower skin cell regeneration as we age can also lead to uneven face texture as older cells accumulate on the surface, making the skin feel rough and bumpy.
Aside from wearing SPF every day, you can use skincare with vitamin C to make discolorations less apparent and stimulate cell regeneration. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant which targets root causes of aging for more vibrant skin. You could also experiment with chemical exfoliators which help to clear away dead skin cells without being too abrasive and damaging to your skin barrier.
Dryness and dullness
Your skin produces less oil as you age which obviously leads to dryness but can also dull our natural glow. Retaining hydration is the key to combating this process and maintaining a healthy shine.
Moisturizers with ingredients like glycerin – just think ‘glittering’ – work to attract moisture from the air and transfer it into the deeper layers of skin beneath the surface. Products with ceramides can also help retain moisture by holding skin cells together to minimise the impact of environmental stressors.
