19 Jun Your Essential Anti-Aging Toolkit

The best path to anti-aging success is to be well-prepared for the challenges modern life throws at our skin. From stress to lack of sleep to environmental pollutants and more, there are plenty of reasons for those brown spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. Stock up on these anti-aging essentials for the best line of defense for younger, healthier-looking skin.

Moisturizer is a Must

When it comes to fending off fine lines, wrinkles, a dull complexion, and even adult acne, the one anti-aging multi-use tool no one can afford to skip over is a quality moisturizer. The right moisturizer is not one-size-fits-all; everyone’s skin is different, and finding the soulmate moisturizer for your skin depends on skin type, age, ethnicity, exposure to different environmental factors, other products used, and more. Depending on the skin’s needs, the best moisturizer may be as simple as argan oil, or as advanced as a moisturizing serum enriched with stem cell therapy technology. Contact a dermatologist to discover the right fit for your skin.

Sunscreen—Always

For those who don’t think there are any consequences to skipping out on sunscreen, it may be difficult to see the effects now—but over time, the cumulative damage of overlooking SPF will become apparent. Sun spots, wrinkling, loose skin, and enlarged pores are just some of the common signs of sun damage that appear more obvious over time. To protect skin, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen of minimum SPF 30. When outside—even in the winter—reapply sunscreen every two hours or anytime the skin gets wet. And be sure to apply sunscreen to all exposed skin, including the hands, which are often the first area to show premature signs of aging.

Cleansers with Antioxidants

Cleansing at the end of the day is essential—you’ve likely heard it time and time again, and for good reason. However, leaving the tough work of cleansing to makeup removal wipes alone can wreak havoc on your skin’s health. That’s because makeup removers rarely stand a chance against damaging free radicals, which can wage an all-out assault on otherwise healthy collagen, elastin, and DNA.

To maintain younger, healthier-looking skin for longer, follow up makeup removal with a thorough wash of the face, neck, and decollete using a cleanser that contains anti-inflammatory and moisturizing ingredients to neutralize and remove free radicals while gently cleansing and maintaining skin’s natural pH balance. Bonus: The massaging motions while cleansing get blood circulation flowing in the skin, meaning more oxygen to support skin health as well as collagen and elastin production.

Restoring Retinol

For an added cure-all boost that treats fine lines and wrinkles, brown spots, dullness, and sagging skin, add a retinol serum (or a retinoid serum, if prescribed) to the anti-aging skincare mix. Retinol works to improve cell turnover, exfoliating dead skin cells and eliminating dullness while stimulating collagen and elastin production and blood circulation for smoother, younger-looking. The miracle ingredient can feel a little harsh on skin if the concentration level is too high, so it’s best to start off low and work up from there. Apply a retinol serum all over the face and neck after cleansing the skin at night, but only apply it to the eye area every three nights. Follow with a moisturizer that contains niacinamide to strengthen skin’s lipid barrier. Talk to a dermatologist to discover the best serum based on your skin’s unique needs.

Foods to Fight Redness

Redness caused by rosacea or acne can be troubling and lead to even more makeup applications to create the illusion of an even skin tone, which in turn might cause further redness. Pairing a trusted skincare routine with a diet high in omega-3s and low in sugar can help keep acne- and rosacea-related redness at bay. To get started, consider adding foods like salmon, avocados, and plenty of low-acid fruits and vegetables, like asparagus, broccoli, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, and melons, to your diet. Likewise, try eliminating citrus fruits that release histamine and sour vegetables like tomatoes, onions, or spinach, which can trigger inflammation and redness. If this doesn’t help, test out an elimination diet, cutting out common inflammation-causing foods like dairy products or those with a high glycemic index to see how the skin reacts and determine the culprit.