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Let's Age Better Together: A Skincare Guide for the Wise
Take better care of your skin with tips from our experts
By Greta Skuka Updated: Feb 2nd, 2023
There’s something so graceful about aging, but most people fear it. I think this ‘fear’ is fed to people by big industries that promote their products, especially in skincare, as ‘anti-aging’. This term implies that this cream will stop your skin from aging, which is impossible.
Everyone will age because it is part of life, but we will age differently depending on genetics and life choices. A study that featured 186 sets of identical twins with different lifestyles showed that 80% of signs of aging are caused by environmental factors such as UV exposure, skincare, smoking or lack of sunscreen. This means that we can choose to modify these factors in order to age better.
Suppose you have reached the age of 40 and above. In that case, chances are that you may have already started seeing signs of aging, like wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and loss of facial volume due to a decrease in collagen production. This skincare guide is for you, to help you repair this damage at some level, and give your skin a healthy look.
Cleanse your skin gently
Cleansing is one of the three fundamental skincare routine steps and should not be skipped. After a certain age, the skin loses its water retention abilities and hyaluronic acid levels drop. This results in drier skin. So, be aware of harsh cleansers because they can make your skin even drier.
If you choose the double cleansing method at night, we recommend using a cleansing balm followed by a milky cleanser because these two types can nourish the skin besides just cleansing it.
Take The Day Off cleansing balm by Clinique is an all-time favorite for many reasons. It’s a balm that melts into an oil and effortlessly melts away makeup, sunscreen and other impurities. Its star ingredient is Safflower Oil. It’s an emollient rich in linolenic acid and can nourish dry skin symptoms.
The second step of double cleansing is using a water-based cleanser, and I recommend Hydrating Facial Cleanser by CeraVe. This product has a creamy texture, and will clean the skin without stripping the skin barrier from its natural oils. It is formulated with hyaluronic acid and three essential ceramides that can help fortify the skin barrier.
Let’s treat the skin
Plenty of great skincare ingredients can really change your appearance, but I want you to keep things simple, especially if you are starting a skincare regimen right now. Choosing between all these products can be confusing, and it’s hard to be consistent with a long skincare routine. I recommend adding two products that treat your skin that can be used daily.
In the morning, I suggest you use an antioxidant serum. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, and combined with sunscreen, prevent UV rays from damaging skin cells and causing premature aging. You may expect to suggest a vitamin C serum since it’s the most popular antioxidant, but the truth is that I think resveratrol is much better.
Resveratol is a potent antioxidant that protects the skin from external damage, calms irritated and red skin, brightens the overall complexion of dull skin and has phytoestrogen properties that can help combat dry skin.
The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% is an oil-based serum that combines two powerful antioxidants. Ferulic acid, besides its antioxidant properties, can stabilize other ingredients and inhibit some triggers that cause discolorations, making this ingredient perfect if you are looking to target dark spots.
At night, I recommend adding retinol to your skincare routine. This active ingredient is a star ingredient in treating fine lines, wrinkles, and photoaging. Retinol has several decades of studies that support its benefits for the skin. It can increase collagen and elastin production, resulting in fewer fine lines and wrinkles, fade hyperpigmentation, and make the skin firmer and healthier.
Since this ingredient can potentially irritate the skin, I recommend starting with a less concentrated product 2-3 times a week and increasing the frequency up to every night if your skin can tolerate it.
A great, yet gentle retinol serum is Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum by Versed. It is formulated with 0.03% encapsulated retinol. Very gentle on the skin, and with a technology that slowly releases retinol over time. It’s a well-rounded serum enriched with bakuchiol (supposedly a natural alternative to retinol), antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients.
Moisturizing
Moisturizers are formulated with emollients, humectants and occlusive to repair the skin barrier, hydrate it and keep all this hydration sealed in. Dry and dehydrated skin tends to look older and dull, hence a good moisturizer is a must. For aging skin, ceramides are essential and can really make a difference. This ingredient is part of the lipid barrier, which serves as a wall between our body and the external environment. When this wall is broken, our skin can lose water, feel and look dehydrated and dull and is more prone to damage.
Regimen Lab C.R.E.A.M. is a science-based moisturizer formulated with essential ceramides in a ratio 3:1:1:1 that mimics the skin’s natural structure. This moisturizer repairs the skin barrier, helps it maintain hydration as well as protects the skin from further damage. It can be used morning and night.
Protection
The last and most important step is sun protection. As mentioned above, sun rays play a significant role in skin aging. UV rays can damage the skin at a cellular level and cause alterations to its DNA. These changes are manifested in hyperpigmentation, freckles, collagen loss, premature aging, wrinkles and even skin cancer.
UV damage is cumulative, and in order to prevent any unwanted effects, it’s important to use sunscreen every day all year. Dermatologists recommend using sunscreen 20 minutes before sun exposure, applying an adequate amount and reapplying during the day.
RoundLab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Cream spf 50 PA++++ is a high-protection sunscreen that replenishes dry and irritated skin with moisture. It’s very moisturizing, with a lightweight texture, and dewy finish that doesn’t leave a white cast.
It’s formulated with Birch Sap which hydrates the skin, Sodium Hyaluronate, which also hydrates the skin and improves the appearance of wrinkles and skin texture, and Portulaca Oleracea Extract which is rich in antioxidants and strengthens the skin’s protective barrier.
Greta Skuka has an MSc in Dentistry and is a general dentist that has a passion for skincare and dermatology. In her free time, she enjoys helping people create healthy skincare routines.
