How to Maintain Great Skin as You Age
You’re born with incredible skin. It’s fresh, full of healthy collagen, and has had no exposure to dangerous UV rays yet—it’s incredible. Your skin is the body’s largest organ and is quite complex. It protects your body, gives you your skin color, grows hair, ages over time, and becomes susceptible to damage.
As you age, you can develop some crucial habits to help keep your skin healthy, beautiful, and youthful-looking. With the following habits firmly in place as a part of your regular skincare routine, you’ll look and feel amazing for years to come.
All of the following tips are great additions to any skincare routine. That said, you may find some are easier to do, and you may have to add a few of your own to customize to your skin. Remember, everyone is a unique human with different needs. Go ahead, and pick the skincare tips that are most relevant to you.
There’s no way around it. The science of sunscreen is solid, and if you want great, healthy skin, it’s not optional. Sunscreen protects you from the sun’s UV rays. For your best protection, use a water-resistant, broad-spectrum product with an SPF of at least 30. If you’re going to be in the sun, re-apply every two hours.
What you put into your body is just as, if not more, important as what you put on it. Your body needs water to function properly, and it needs to be fueled by healthy foods. You probably already know what foods are good for you and which ones you should avoid or consume in moderation. Sticking to a healthy diet benefits your entire body in the long run.
Collagen is a protein that your body naturally produces. It keeps your skin looking plump, dewy, and youthful. As you age, you naturally lose collagen and produce less of it.
You can slow the breakdown of collagen by avoiding UV rays from the sun, eating foods high in antioxidants, and adding collagen through supplements or skincare products.
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that can help brighten and smooth your skin tone. It can also aid your body in the natural regeneration process of your skin cells. The acidic nature of vitamin C triggers your body to create collagen and elastin.
One of the first areas to start showing age is the fragile skin around your eyes that can develop fine lines that lead to deeper wrinkles. Adding an eye serum to your regimen can ward off the appearance of those fine lines.
It’s all about the ingredients you choose for your serum. Creating a regular ritual that helps nourish, moisturize, and protect your eyes will lead to lasting results.
You also want to make sure you include a topical vitamin A product. The prescription version of this is called a retinoid; the over-the-counter version is called retinol. Retinoids are much stronger, and because of this, they require some special care when used. As this is a prescription, your healthcare provider will walk you through using a retinoid.
Retinols, on the other hand, are available for everyone to use and aren’t quite as strong, but they’re also not as prone to causing skin irritation and dryness.
Retinols help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. They do this by increasing collagen production and helping to stimulate new blood vessels, which improves the skin's appearance and health. Applying a topical retinol product every other day at first is an easy yet effective way to work the benefits of retinol into your regular routine.
Another way you can make a big difference in your skin and overall health is by making wise choices. In addition to eating right and staying hydrated, you should prioritize sleep, avoid bad habits like smoking and vaping and exercise regularly.
It’s most likely that you hear this advice all the time, but it really is the key to living your best life and looking like it, too!
Prioritizing your skincare routine isn't something to be ashamed of; you should be proud that you're taking care of your body's biggest organ, an organ designed to protect you.
When you start creating a skincare routine customized to your skin, needs, and lifestyle, there are a few tips that hold true for everyone — adding collagen, vitamin C, and retinol help fuel your skin’s health. Making those good, healthy choices regarding how you live your life and what you put into your body plays a significant role in your results. Pull it all together, and not only will your skin benefit, but you’ll love the way you look and feel.