Update your skincare routine this year by adding these simple steps.
It may be the end of January, but It’s not too late to come up with your New Year’s skincare resolutions or at least update the one you already have to include a few steps that specifically address premature skin aging.
Come up with a skincare routine that’s right for you and commit to it.
Dr Maximin Navarro, Fellow of the Philippine Dermatological Society and co-founder of Bella Pelle Philippines, says, “Having a regular skin care regimen is important because it keeps our skin healthy: You need products that moisturize, protect from the damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays, prevent new wrinkles from forming, promote cell renewal, reduce pigmentations, and brighten the skin. It’s important to adopt a healthy lifestyle, too—to eat a proper diet, exercise regularly, and get quality sleep.”
Visit your dermatologist regularly.
Schedule regular visits to your dermatologist for checkups, consultations, and routine facials that’ll help keep your skin looking young and fresh. It’ll also be a good time to ask for a skincare regimen tailored for your skin type (link How To Edit Your Skincare Routine For 2020 to Suit Your Skin Type here).
Navarro says, “I don’t prescribe a long regimen. I make sure I get a good patient history and tailor the regimen according to their skin’s needs and their lifestyle. This encourages them to stick to their regimen. I also encourage my patients to contact me any time they have questions or concerns so I can be there to guide them in taking care of their skin.”
Protect your skin against the sun’s harmful rays.
“Sun protection forms the foundation of every anti-aging skin care plan,” according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), which makes sense since the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that sun exposure may be responsible for up to 90% of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging.
Luckily, results of a recent study has shown that regular sunscreen use slows down the effects of premature skin aging. So if you’re not applying sunscreen yet or aren’t dutiful in your application, this year make sure you start putting on sunscreen every day before heading out. Other sun protection tips from the AAD include wearing a wide-brimmed hat, clothing that covers your arms and legs, and sunglasses to prevent the formation of fine lines around the eyes.
Heliocare 360º Gel Oil-free SPF 50
This broad spectrum sunscreen offers 360-degree protection, shielding your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays, Blue Light (ex. from gadgets), and IR-A. It contains antioxidants that repairs skin from DNA damage and premature skin aging caused by sun exposure. It even has sebum-controlling technology that makes it ideal for acne-prone skin. Learn more here.
Invest in a good eye cream
WebMD says, “The skin around the eyes is more fragile, more prone to dryness, and quicker to show age and fatigue. Squinting and constant movement of the eyes also hasten the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and fluids collect under the eyes and cause puffiness and dark circles.”
So it’s important to use a cream that’s specifically formulated for the delicate skin in this area. Look for products containing peptides to boost collagen production, vitamin C and other antioxidants to prevent free-radical damage, and hyaluronic acid to provide hydration.
Biologique Recherche Crème Contour Yeux et Levres Biofixine
This cream is especially formulated for the more fragile skin around the eyes and lips. (Yes, it’s a two-in-one cream that also helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles around the lips.) It contains active ingredients that restore lipids, smooth and lift skin and function as antioxidants.
Moisturize and introduce serums to your regimen.
One of the more obvious signs of skin aging is dry, dull skin. As we age, we lose oil glands, making the skin more prone to dryness. Add to that, WebMD says, other factors such as sun damage, decreased cell renewal, and loss of hormones are also to blame.
To address this, the AAD recommends including moisturizers in your anti-aging skincare regimen, “Moisturizer traps water in our skin, giving it a more youthful appearance. For best results, use a facial moisturizer, body moisturizer, and lip balm.”
Navarro also suggests adding serums to your skincare routine, highlighting the difference between the two: Moisturizers work by locking in moisture in the upper layer to the skin, preventing it from evaporating. Serums, on the other hand, are more lightweight and penetrate deeper into the skin, delivering powerful ingredients like peptides, retinoids, and antioxidants that target specific skin-aging concerns.
Biologique Recherche Crème Biofixine
It contains antioxidant, anti-wrinkle, regenerating, and moisturizing agents that have been clinically proven to reduce signs of aging, with studies showing a 20% reduction on forehead lines and 22% reduction on smile lines.
Biologique Recherche Sèrum A-GLYCA
This serum targets the effects of glycation—a process wherein sugar molecules contribute to skin aging, specifically called the “sugar sag,” wherein the skin loses elasticity, leading to wrinkles and drooping. Serum A-GLYCA is effective in combating this process by keeping the elastin and collagen fibers of the skin intact.
Don’t forget the neck area!
Often we forget that the neck and décolletage need as much attention as the face, if not more. In fact Navarro points out that, because the neck and chest areas have fewer oil glands than the face, it is prone to aging faster.
This year, give these areas the care they need and deserve: Make sure you apply sunscreen all the way down to your neck (and chest, if it’s going to be exposed to the sun). Same goes for the moisturizers and serums you use on your face. It takes no time at all to extend the care you give to your face to the skin on your neck, and the payoff is worth it. And if you’re interested in treating your neck to some extra pampering, use a cream specifically formulated for that area.
Neostrata Triple Firming Neck Cream, P3,100
The three active ingredients in this neck cream are Neoglucosamine®, which smooths fine lines and evens out skin tone; Neocitriate®, which plumps and firms up skin; and Pro-Amino Acid, which boosts collagen and elastin production.
Biologique Recherche Sérum Matriciel Visage
This serum has 10 active ingredients that “combat the effects of gravity and the atrophy of adipose and muscle tissues” so the skin on your cheekbones, cheeks and jowls, and neck remain taught, hydrated, and wrinkle-free.
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