Your skin is the one part of aging that’s difficult to hide. You can dye your hair and dress to flatter your changing figure, but your skin is out there on show for everyone. So it is doubly important to take care of your skin before the signs of aging begin. Unless you’re willing to undertake the time, cost and risk of invasive procedures, your skin will show every cigarette you smoked, day you got a sunburn and glass of water you failed to drink. Here are three types of products that will keep your skin looking its best for years to come, and in some cases can even reverse some of the damage you’ve inadvertently done.
- SPF
The world has moved on from a beauty ideal based on glowy golden skin achieved through hours on the beach or under sun lamps. Finally, people have realized that ultraviolet light is the number one cause of aging skin. While there are some things you can’t control, like loss of fat in your face and hands as you age, photoaging is a preventable condition that leads to wrinkling, loss of elasticity, liver spots and broken capillaries. In worst-case scenarios, it also leads to skin cancer.
Using a daily SPF is the key to preventing UV damage to the skin. Even if your skin is naturally melanin-rich, SPF will protect you not just from burns but from the ravages of the sun. Maintain elasticity, reduce inflammation and keep your skin tone even and bright with regular SPF use. Look for a broad-spectrum SPF with a minimum rating of 30. The Japanese system of rating protection from UVA is indicated with “+” signs after the SPF number. Look for “++” or “+++” to get the best protection from UVA light.
- Collagen Supplements
UV light also causes the collagen in your skin to break down more rapidly. Collagen keeps your skin plump, wrinkle-free and sag-free. Collagen is the framework in which elastin and hyaluronic acid are suspended in your skin, but aside from sun damage, your body naturally produces less as you age. Thankfully, you can add collagen through supplementation. Read a Dermal Repair Complex review and you’ll see that adding products with collagen produces impressive results. Studies have shown supplements to increase dermal collagen density and elasticity. You can buy skin-specific products like Dermal Repair Complex which are also loaded with other skin-loving ingredients or you can add products like gelatin. You could also try hydrolyzed collagen in a smoothie or add beef broth to your diet.
- Skin Actives
Finally, if you’re looking for a topical anti-aging solution, look no further than active ingredients. While applying collagen directly to your skin may sound like a solution, unlike supplementation, science shows that collagen molecules are too large to be absorbed through the skin. Instead, actives help your skin by increasing your natural production of collagen. There are other benefits including reducing dark spots, evening skin tone and preventing breakouts. Here are some of the most common active ingredients and their primary purposes:
- AHAs like glycolic acid or lactic acid exfoliate the skin, increase collagen and elastin production and lighten dark spots from sun damage.
- BHAs like salicylic acid are known for fighting acne. They penetrate more deeply than AHAs and can also reduce inflammation. They also lighten hyperpigmentation that occurs after a bad breakout.
- Vitamin C increases the production of both elastin and collagen in the skin. It also brightens the skin and leaves it plump without inflammation. It’s also an antioxidant that can prevent and treat free radical damage from sun exposure and pollution.
- Vitamin A is available as different retinoids including prescription tretinoin. It also increases collagen production, fights fine lines, and prevents and treats acne.
Most activities increase sun sensitivity so it’s doubly important to remember daily sunscreen.
A healthy diet and lifestyle are important to good skin, but if you’re looking to prevent aging, these three types of products will keep them guessing and asking for ID.
