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5 Essential Tools you need to slow down the aging process.

​Skin and age are like a fine wine, with age comes confidence, robust character and complexity. With the many layers of flavor that create a beautiful wine, we need to address the many layers of aging that effect our skin. So, then, what should our skincare regime look like as we are aging? 
 
Well, I have tried to narrow this down to the most essential: 

#1: Wear Sunscreen Everyday

​Accumulative sun exposure causes skin inflammation and damage such as hyperpigmentation spots, wrinkles and skin cancer. You want to select an excellent sunscreen that is right for your skin, given the level of sun exposure you are stepping into. Ask yourself these three questions: 
  • How long are you going to be in the sun?
  • What type of activity will you be doing in the sun? 
  • Is it for your face or body? 
 
Why ask these questions? 
  • Longer sun exposure = reapply every two hours
  • Water activities (swimming, surfing, scuba diving, parasailing) require a waterproof component. Outdoor active sports (running, volleyball, park play) requires a fragrance free and water resistant option. 
  • You may need a less heavier sunscreen (weight/texture) on your face than your body because your face uses regular exfoliants and intensive night creams, causing it to be more sensitive compared to the less exfoliated skin on your body. 

Please don't forget a major rule of thumb, reapply your sunscreen every two hours. Why? Our body will naturally absorb and change the chemical structure of any product on your skin. What do I mean by this? Well, just think, your product is either in a sealed or airless container to maintain the efficacy of the product. Now open the container and expose it to the environment for hours. If you left the container open, it would dry out at some point, oxidation would occurs and changes the chemical structure, not to mention exposure to bacteria, dust or insects that decide visit and smell the product, leaving a present on your product. You get the picture! Once you apply your products, you will need to reapply important products that serve a specific purpose. The more you are exposed to the sun in the form of hours, the more you will need to reapply the sunscreen to do its job and protect you. It’s like a bodyguard, but even bodyguards need to change out and have a minute to rest, eat and use the restroom. So, you switch out the bodyguard to keep the protection level at its freshest point. 
Not all sunscreens are the same! And some folks have allergies to certain ingredients. I suggest choosing a sunscreen that is an SPF 40 or higher and blocks both UVA and UVB. If your acne prone, check out my list of comedogenic (pore clogging) ingredients to avoid purchasing sunscreens with those options. If you wear sunscreen, the best anti-aging tip to you is that you MUST cleanse your skin before you go to sleep. You can clog your pores with a sunscreen due to an accumulative build up. This is after all, your protection from the one of our hottest stars in our galaxy. ​

My Favorite Sunscreens: Click this link

#2: Cleanse your skin daily

​I wish I could say that having a moisturizer, the eye cream would be the most important than the cleanser, but if you don’t wash your skin, the product benefits of any gel or cream are just caked on the top dead skin cells.  Having the right cleanser allows for your moisturizer to to it job. Cleanse daily with best cleanser matched according to your skin type.

Sensitive skin needs a gentle gel, oily or creamy cleanser. I always recommend for sensitive skin to obtain a sample size before purchasing and use the sample for 1 week to ensure that the cleanser is the correct fit.

Combination and dry skin types, often needs two types of cleansers, one for mild exfoliation to allow for better product penetration and the other to maintain the hydration, not stripping the skin.

Oily and congested skin types often need two types of cleansers, one to work on the cause of the congestion and the other to maintain hydration.

Keep in mind, you may need to change your cleansers based on environmental exposures. That includes weather, indoor heater and AC exposure, but not limited to occupation exposure such as high heats as a chef and high humidity from wearing facial masks in a hospital during a 4-6 hour surgery. Drier environments versus humid environments can significantly require a different cleaning system. You would want to restore oils in dryer environments and gentle enzymatic support to restore from the buildup in humid environments. 
 
My Favorite Cleansers: Click this Link. 
Considering a washcloth? I highly recommend consulting a licensed esthetician to identify if your skin needs a washcloth upon daily or evening cleanses. Not all skin types require the extra use of a cloth. 
 
Just as your tastes in food and fashion changes with each decade, your skincare may need to change. If you’re ready for an remote consultation to find the best skin care options for your skin type, contact us here. ​