Anti-Aging Skin Care

Aging is a natural process in life, but external factors also contribute to the many signs of aging. Having an anti aging skin care regimen can help slow down the aging process as well as maintain a youthful appearance.

Although there is no anti aging skin care guide to stop the skin from sagging and developing fine lines, there are steps to slowing down the process. Two major anti-aging skin care aids that assist in maintaining youthful skin is proper hydration and cleansing.

Proper skin hydration means having adequate amounts of water in your skin to keep it radiant. Water improves your skin’s elasticity—skin with good elasticity can withstand the effects of external factors such as gravity and dry conditions. These effects include sagging and permanent creases. As we age our skin’s elasticity weakens. Drinking enough water, applying moisturizer, and using sunscreen can help prevent this occurrence.

It is advised to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day to maintain healthy skin and general health. The benefit of drinking water is that it improves blood circulation and flushes away toxins. Good blood circulation helps distribute essential vitamins and minerals to your skin, keeping it healthy.

As we get older, our skin also begins to lose essential oils. This is different from dehydration as our bodies naturally produce these oils, and drinking water alone may not be enough to protect your skin from external hazards. Moisturizers like creams and lotions act as extra barriers that help protect skin from dry conditions.

Prolonged exposure to the sun’s UV rays causes skin to wrinkle into a rough and leathery texture or, in short, age prematurely. Skin can therefore benefit from UV protection such as sunscreen lotion (SPF 15).

Anti-aging skin care has a lot to do with skin rejuvenation as well. Skin rejuvenation translates to how often your skin cells are being replaced by new ones, which is normally every 21-28 weeks. Starting in our 30’s the rate of cell turnover begins to decrease. The accumulation of too many dead skin cells on the skin’s surface may cause pores to clog, thus making your complexion appear dull. Exfoliation helps rid of dead skin cells.

Here are 3 basic steps to anti aging skin care:

1. Cleanse – Wash your face with facial cleanser to remove remaining dirt or excess oil. Exfoliate once a week to scrub off dead skin cells. While cleansing, use circular motions. Exfoliating is also known to improve blood circulation.
2. Tone – Dab a piece of cotton with a toning solution and gently wipe over your face to prepare the skin for moisturizing. Toners help moisturizers and creams penetrate the skin better.
3. Moisturize – Apply dots of moisturizer evenly throughout your face and massage gently until moisturizer has seeped in.

Skin types vary, so consult with your physician before starting any anti-aging skin care routine. Combining proper hydration and cleansing in your daily routine can slow down the progression of skin aging, thus promoting a youthful appearance.