You can't keep youth forever, but it's quite possible to delay the onset of old age by decades. To start anti-aging care, it is not necessary to wait for the appearance of the first wrinkles - on the contrary, it is better to take preventive measures in advance. Let's think about where to start, what to pay attention to and what results to strive for.
How skin ages
The aging process affects all cells of the body and the skin is no exception. This process is influenced by internal and external factors. The first group includes genetics, ethnicity, and hormone levels—things that are impossible or very difficult to change. The second is stress, exposure to air and ultraviolet pollution, smoking, diet, lack of sleep and exercise, and various diseases. These factors can be controlled. It is possible to at least partially neutralize the negative effects by providing quality skin care.
With age, many processes on which the condition of the skin depends slow down, for example, cells are not renewed as quickly as in youth. Blood circulation deteriorates, and hence the nutrition of the cells. Hydration levels drop due to lack of hyaluronic acid and less collagen and elastin are produced. The skin thins, becomes drier and less elastic, wrinkles appear.
External factors make the situation worse. Thus, as a result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the structure of the skin changes, it becomes thinner and less elastic. Smoking slows down the regeneration of the epidermis and disrupts blood circulation, which leads to disruption of cellular nutrition. Polluted air causes the appearance of age spots and wrinkles.
The good news is that a healthy lifestyle prolongs youth. Eating foods rich in antioxidants, quality sleep and moderate physical activity will help you maintain your beauty for a long time.
Prevention or treatment?
It is believed that the skin begins to age as early as 28 years old. In practice, everything is individual: some discover the signs of age earlier, others later, depending on genetic characteristics, health status, lifestyle and the influence of external factors. In any case, you don't need to postpone taking care of yourself until the moment you no longer like the reflection in the mirror. Prevention is always more effective and affordable than treatment, so you should take care in advance to extend your youth. The further you go, the stronger means you will have to use, but to prevent aging it is enough to carefully care for your skin and protect it from negative effects.
When choosing cosmetics, you should focus not on the brand, but on the recommendations of a cosmetologist given after a personal examination. All people are different, the aging process also proceeds differently, and an individual approach is needed to correct it. The doctor will determine the appropriate means that correspond not to the calendar, but to the biological age.
The main features of anti-aging care
- Gentle effect. It's time to ditch harsh scrubs and harsh products that dry out your skin. Mature skin is sensitive and does not recover well after traumatic procedures. She needs delicate, tender care;
- Mandatory skin protection. The sun is the skin's number 1 enemy. It is not for nothing that there is a special term "photoaging" to denote the changes that occur in the skin under the influence of ultraviolet rays. With age, it becomes increasingly difficult for the skin to resist their effects. Creams with SPF will help her with this. It is also necessary to protect the skin from the effects of free radicals;
- Intense hydration. The immediate cause of the deterioration of tone and the appearance of wrinkles is the lack of moisture. Anti-aging care is based on deep hydration;
- Stimulating the production of collagen. In adulthood, collagen, which is responsible for the elasticity of the skin, is synthesized more slowly and breaks down faster than in youth. This means that additional stimulation of the formation of own protein compounds necessary to increase the turgor of the epidermis is necessary;
- Not just cream. A thin layer of moisturizer may not be enough. Anti-age care also includes intensive skin nourishment, use of exfoliants, masks and serums. The need for professional procedures is also increasing every year;
- Regularity. Young skin will forgive its owner for minor sins such as cosmetics left unwashed at night or irregular care. Older women must constantly take care of their face, neck and décolleté, day after day, year after year. Only in this case you can count on a noticeable effect.
Doctor's Comment:
No need to overcomplicate your skin care process in your mind, start small with proper home care! If you have dermatological diseases, then you should consult a dermatologist! Because even high-quality home care will not be able to get you out of the acute process. First, treatment against the background of cosmoceutical care, and then everything else.
Is it possible without a beautician?
Aesthetic medicine and cosmetology have not yet made the dream of eternal youth a reality, but they have made it much closer to its realization. Injection and device cosmetology procedures allow you to rejuvenate from the inside and naturally restore the skin. However, it would be a mistake to think that it is enough to take a course in a cosmetology clinic once a year, and the rest of the time to neglect the care of your face and body. Professional care must be supplemented by home care - constant, daily. This approach allows you to achieve optimal results and postpone old age for many years.
To preserve youth, cosmetic procedures are highly desirable, and anti-aging home care is absolutely necessary. It is best to combine both.
Anti-aging home care
And now it's time to take a detailed look at what anti-aging skin care should include. What stages it consists of, what tools you need to use and how to use them correctly.
Once again, it should be emphasized that the age at which you should start approaching facial care from the point of view of rejuvenation is determined individually. It is difficult to independently assess the condition of your skin and detect changes in time, so it is better to consult a cosmetologist to draw up an individual plan to preserve youth.
Cleaning
It is necessary to constantly fight age-related changes, and it is better to choose even routine personal care products with a rejuvenating effect. To prevent fading, it is recommended to use the mildest and most delicate cleansers possible. They should easily remove make-up residues, sebum and impurities, but not dry or injure the skin.
When choosing a cleanser, you should focus on the condition of your skin. If there is a feeling of tightness or discomfort after washing, you should look for another option with a higher content of moisturizing components. The appearance of an oily sheen also, oddly enough, indicates a lack of moisture. If irritation and redness appear, you should pay attention to hypoallergenic products.
Even if your skin is prone to rashes, you should not choose aggressive drying products. It is better to give preference to cosmetics with an anti-inflammatory effect.
Cleaning in the morning and in the evening are two completely different procedures. In the first case, you just need to remove the skin secretions and the remnants of the night cream. Foam can easily cope with this task, and in some cases it is enough to use only tonic. In the evening, you should also remove all traces of sunscreen, cosmetics and atmospheric pollution. In such a situation, makeup remover lotions, creams, and oils will come in handy. You should also use a pore cleansing mask 1-2 times a week.
You need to clean not only the face, but also the neck and décolletage. These areas are very susceptible to aging and therefore require careful attention.
Toning
This stage of care is underestimated by many and completely in vain. Using a tonic restores the water and acid balance, prepares the face for cream application and protects it from aggressive influences. It also removes residual contaminants that a cleansing lotion or foam can't handle.
The tonic is selected according to the skin type and is used after washing (or other cleansing) in the morning and evening. In both cases, the same suitable remedy can be used.
Hydration
Perhaps the most important thing in antiaging care is hydration. Mature skin always needs moisture and, accordingly, hydrating products and professional treatments.
The hyaluronic acid molecule has an impressive size and cannot penetrate the epidermal barrier to enter the deeper layers of the skin, so injections have been and remain the most effective way to use it. However, scientists have learned to process the molecule so that it penetrates the dermis better. Thanks to these developments, the effectiveness of modern external products with hyaluronic acid has increased significantly.
Another famous hydrant is urea. Don't be put off by the unappetizing name: the substance effectively saturates the skin with moisture while stimulating cell renewal. Such products are very suitable for dry, dehydrated, rough and rough skin. To maintain moisture levels and improve the complexion, creams with a low urea content are sufficient. More concentrated products are used to smooth out rough calluses on the feet.
Glycerin is another popular ingredient. Thanks to its hygroscopicity, it attracts and binds water molecules such as hyaluronic acid. In terms of moisturizing properties, trivalent alcohol (glycerin) is inferior to hyaluronic acid, but it has smaller molecules that easily penetrate the skin. This component is included in most budget moisturizers with an anti-aging effect. At the same time, concentrated glycerin can have the opposite effect, drawing moisture from the epidermis, so most manufacturers combine trivalent alcohol with other skin moisturizers.
Doctor's Comment:
I want to emphasize that we choose products with urea for hyperkeratosis, for example, for rough skin, for psoriasis, for ichthyosis. Urea helps to exfoliate the scales, and the other components of the products moisturize and nourish.
Eating
Unlike other organs, the skin can receive food not only in the traditional way - through the blood, but also by absorbing substances that are applied to its surface. It is not only moisture, but also all kinds of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and lipids. They replenish the lack of nutrients in the skin, improve the structure of the epidermis, saturate it with useful ingredients and strengthen the protective lipid layer.
If before cosmetic products were confidently divided into moisturizing and nourishing, now this line has been erased: the same cream can saturate the skin with moisture and nutrients. As a rule, modern creams, serums and masks combine both types of effect.
To nourish the skin, fats and fat-soluble substances are needed above all. Do not underestimate their importance in preserving youth. With age, the skin needs more and more lipids. Even those girls who complain of excessive secretion of sebum in their youth note that their skin becomes drier with age. The fatty film on the surface of the skin thins and can no longer protect the epidermis from negative environmental influences.
Lipid deficiency leads to:
- Increased sensitivity;
- Delaying the exfoliation of dead cells;
- Reduced moisture levels;
- Premature drying.
It is believed that the skin absorbs nutrients best at night, so it is recommended to apply nourishing products in the evening, at night.
Doctor's Comment:
Our skin is covered with a hydrolipid mantle, this is a very important structure that ensures the normal functioning of our skin! If its integrity is broken, the skin becomes fragile, dry, dehydrated, unable to withstand aggressive environmental factors, and the balance of the skin's microflora is disturbed. We become defenseless and lose resistance to various skin diseases.
Protection
The skin protects the internal organs from the negative influences of the environment. It comes into contact with polluted air, ultraviolet radiation, aggressive substances, low or high temperatures. This effect does not go unnoticed: the condition of the skin worsens. To avoid premature aging, you need to take care of protecting your skin throughout your life.
First of all, it is necessary to protect the skin from exposure to sunlight. And you should do this every time you go outside in the daylight, not just when you're getting ready for the beach. The cream is applied for 20-30 minutes until it comes out in an abundant layer, if necessary, it needs to be renewed. In addition, it is necessary to choose such products in accordance with your phototype: the whiter the skin, the higher the protective factor should be. If you do not follow these rules, using sunscreen lotion will not bring the expected benefits.
Sunscreen products protect the skin not only from burns, but also from aging. Long-wave radiation (UVA) penetrates the deep layers of the skin and destroys cells. Such rays damage the epidermis even in cloudy weather, so it is recommended to use products with SPF all year round.
Daily use of protective creams protects the skin from photoaging - pigmentation, sagging, wrinkles, dehydration. But you need to choose the means carefully. The best option would be pharmaceutical cosmetics.
High-quality day creams usually contain sunscreen ingredients. If you have to combine moisturizers with sunscreens, first apply a moisturizing cream on the face and neck, and after it is completely absorbed, a protective one.
UV radiation is not the only factor that causes skin aging. To prolong youth, it is also necessary to protect the epidermis from the effects of free radicals - molecules that damage cells and destroy collagen. Antioxidants are used for this purpose, which neutralize the effects of "aggressors".
They can be:
- Vitamins A, C, P and E;
- Alpha lipoic acid;
- Amino acids;
- Coenzyme Q10;
- isoflavones;
- tannins;
- Beta glucan.
These components can be contained in the cream in various combinations. Antioxidants are a recognized means of preventing aging, so it is recommended to start using creams containing such ingredients even before the first signs of age-related changes appear.
Doctor's Comment:
It is important to know that different antioxidants work only in certain combinations and their absorption occurs strictly according to the body's needs. Cosmoceuticals are now presented in the right combinations. It is important to determine your skin type and your needs, a dermatologist or cosmetologist can help you with this.
Special care
In addition to routine skin care, "special purpose" procedures are also needed. This category includes both anti-aging courses in cosmetology clinics and the use of masks and peeling at home.
Mature skin needs exfoliation of dead cells much more than young skin, as natural renewal processes slow down with age. That's why scrubs, which girls use only occasionally in their youth, become a necessity for adult women. Gentle exfoliants should be used 2-3 times a week.
It is important to use products designed for mature skin. They should be gentle, without scratchy particles or irritating ingredients.
When we talk about skin care, we can't help but mention masks. They usually contain the same ingredients as creams, but in higher concentrations, so masks are designed for intensive care. They can be used regularly, gradually improving the condition of the skin, or as express care if you need to put your face in order before some event.
Masks can be produced in the form of a cream, gel, self-dissolving powder, and a ready-made piece of cloth soaked in medicinal compounds. The last variety is most often used for urgent skin refreshing.
The purpose of masks can also be different. For mature skin, products for nourishing, moisturizing, toning, firming and brightening are most suitable. Choosing a specific mask is best done in conjunction with a cosmetologist.
Doctor's Comment:
Pay attention to alginate masks, they are sold for home use, and there are also professional ones. They have unique properties and are ideal for any skin type. Their healing properties are explained by the fact that they are made from brown algae. They have a super pronounced lymphatic drainage effect and are a powerful anti-aging prevention.
From theory to practice: choosing cosmetics
A general understanding of ingredients that are beneficial for rejuvenation will help you choose personal care products.
Day cream to prolong youth
The main tasks of the day cream are to moisturize and protect the skin. Hyaluronic acid and other hydrating components help achieve the first goal. In addition, the day cream should improve the quality of the skin, making it more resistant to the negative effects of free radicals - aggressive molecules that provoke aging. Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E are used for this.
Vitamin C is usually called the vitamin of youth, and this is no accident: ascorbic acid stimulates the production of collagen by fibrocytes and destroys melanin, removing unnecessary pigmentation.
When choosing a cream, you should give preference to the so-called cosmetics, that is, cosmetics that are sold in pharmacies. These varieties differ from mass creams with a high content of active substances and, accordingly, greater effectiveness. And the best results can be achieved by combining the use of the cream with cosmetic procedures, for example, mesotherapy and biorevitalization.
Anti-aging night cream
Night is the best time to nourish the skin. Although modern night creams do not necessarily have a heavy, greasy texture, they always contain lipids and fat-soluble substances. These can be fatty acids, shea butter or wheat germ, cholesterol and other ingredients. It also contains moisturizing components.
The task of such products is to restore the skin, as well as to stimulate the production of substances necessary to improve its structure - hyaluronic acid, collagen, elastin.
When nourishing the skin, it is important not to overdo it - not to overload it with lipids. This effect is possible if you choose the wrong night cream: the skin acquires an oily sheen, pores become clogged, comedones and rashes appear. Such phenomena indicate that the night cream is incorrectly selected or used incorrectly.
It is important to remember that thick, oily products are primarily intended for dehydrated, rough, flaky skin. In other cases, it is better to choose lighter, melting textures. In addition, the cream should correspond to your skin type and age: for anti-aging care, it is better to use cosmetics with an anti-age label.
As for usage, the main mistake here is over-application. The night cream is applied in a thin layer on slightly damp skin after applying the tonic. After 15 minutes, you can wipe off the excess that has not absorbed into the epidermis with a napkin.
Remember that products should be applied not only to the face, but also to the neck and décolleté!
Doctor's Comment: Modern high-quality creams purchased at the pharmacy eliminate the need to use a tonic. It is important to choose your night cream and apply it half an hour before going to bed. Gently, avoiding eye contact. Light patting movements.
Serums, peels and masks: the secret weapon in the fight for youth
When choosing products for special purposes, you should pay attention to the following parameters:
- Active substances in the composition;
- Their concentration;
- Potential allergens and irritants.
As with the choice of creams, it is recommended to give preference to serums and masks with antioxidants, moisturizing and nourishing ingredients. But the presence of SPF is no longer necessary - the day cream will take care of the sun protection.
Antiaging serums can contain retinol, vitamin C, ceramides, peptides, collagen, and acids. Masks also often contain various oils that soften the upper layer of the epidermis. Modern effective peelings rarely do without the addition of acids.
In addition to masks and peels, it is worth buying anti-aging serums. These are very concentrated products and literally a few drops are enough for a transformation. As a rule, serums are not greasy, they are absorbed instantly and significantly rejuvenate the skin. This is not surprising: after all, they contain shock doses of vitamins, amino acids, trace elements, peptides and other substances that moisturize, nourish, brighten and tone the skin.
When choosing such products, you should focus not so much on your skin type, but on what problems need to be solved. Is there pigmentation? Serums that even skin tone will come to the rescue. Is the oval of the face "floating"? This means that you should choose the option with a lifting effect. Increased dryness of the epidermis? The problem will be solved faster if, in addition to the usual cream, you use a serum with hyaluronic acid.
Individual approach
Choosing anti-aging cosmetics yourself is not as easy as it might seem. The ideal option is to entrust this choice to a cosmetologist. An experienced doctor will easily identify the "weak places" that require maximum attention and help you choose the appropriate means.
It is much more difficult to detect the signs of aging on our own: we get used to our own appearance and cannot track changes in time. The result is an incorrect choice of antiaging products and, accordingly, ineffective prevention and treatment of skin aging. So it is better to spend an hour in consultation with a doctor to immediately choose exactly the products that your skin needs.
And, of course, the best addition to routine home care will be professional cosmetic procedures in the clinic. We will tell you about them next time.