You cannot preserve youth forever, but it is quite possible to postpone the onset of old age for decades. To start anti-aging care, it is not necessary to wait for the first wrinkles to appear - on the contrary, it is better to take preventive measures in advance. Let's consider where to start, what to pay attention to and what results to strive for.
As the skin ages
The aging process affects all cells in the body, and the skin is no exception. This process is influenced by both internal and external factors. The first group includes genetics, ethnicity and hormonal 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 movement, and various diseases. These factors can be controlled. With quality skin care, it is possible to at least partially neutralize the negative effects.
With age, many processes that depend on the condition of the skin slow down, for example, cells are not renewed as quickly as in youth. Blood circulation worsens, and thus cell nutrition. The level of hydration decreases due to the lack of hyaluronic acid, and less collagen and elastin are produced. The skin becomes thinner, drier and less elastic, and wrinkles appear.
External factors make the situation worse. So, 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 hinders blood circulation, which leads to cell nutrition disorders. Air pollution 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 considered that the skin begins to age already at the age of 28. In practice, everything is individual: some reveal signs of age earlier, and others later, depending on genetic characteristics, health status, lifestyle and the influence of external factors. In any case, there's no need to postpone taking care of yourself until the moment you stop liking the reflection in the mirror. Prevention is always more effective and affordable than treatment, so you should take care of prolonging your youth in advance. The further you go, the stronger the means you will have to use, but to prevent aging it is enough to care for the skin carefully and protect it from negative effects.
When choosing cosmetics, you don't have to focus on the brand, but on the cosmetologist's recommendations given after a personal examination. All people are different, the aging process also happens 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 give up harsh scrubs and aggressive 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" that denotes 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 in this. It is also necessary to protect the skin from the effects of free radicals;
- Intensive hydration. The immediate cause of tone deterioration and the appearance of wrinkles is a lack of moisture. Anti-aging care is based on deep hydration;
- Stimulation of collagen production. In adulthood, collagen, which is responsible for the elasticity of the skin, is synthesized more slowly and destroyed more quickly than in youth. This means that additional stimulation of the creation 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-aging care includes intensive skin nutrition, the use of peelings, masks and serums. The need for professional procedures also increases every year;
- Regularity. Young skin will forgive its owner for minor sins such as unwashed cosmetics at night or irregular care. Adult women must constantly take care of their face, neck and cleavage, day after day, year after year. Only in this case you can count on a noticeable effect.
Doctor's Comment:
There is no need to complicate the 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 quality home care will not be able to get you out of the acute process. First, treatment on the background of cosmoceutical care, and then only everything else.
Is it possible without a cosmetologist?
Aesthetic medicine and cosmetology have not yet realized the dream of eternal youth, but they have made it possible to get much closer to its realization. Injection and hardware cosmetology procedures allow you to rejuvenate from the inside and naturally renew your skin. However, it would be a mistake to think that it is enough to attend a course at a beauty salon once a year, and neglect face and body care the rest of the time. Professional care must be supplemented with home care - constant, daily. This approach allows you to achieve optimal results and move your age forward by 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 consider in detail what anti-aging skin care should consist of. Which phase consists of which tools should be used and how to use them properly.
Once again, it must be emphasized that the age at which one should begin to approach 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 in order to make an individual plan to preserve youth.
Cleaning
It is necessary to constantly fight against age 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 softest and most delicate cleansers. They should easily remove the remains of makeup, sebum and impurities, but not dry out the skin or injure it.
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, surprisingly, indicates a lack of moisture. If irritation and redness occur, you must 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, it is only necessary to remove the secretion from the skin and the rest of the night cream. Foam easily copes with this task, and in some cases it is enough to use only tonic. In the evening, you must also remove the remains of sunscreen, cosmetics and atmospheric pollution. In such a situation, lotions, creams and oils for removing make-up will come in handy. In addition, you should use a pore cleansing mask 1-2 times a week.
You need to clean not only your face, but also your neck and décolletage. These areas are very sensitive to aging and therefore require careful attention.
Toning
This phase of care is underestimated by many and completely in vain. Using a tonic restores the balance of water and acid, prepares the face for cream application and protects it from aggressive influences. In addition, residual impurities are removed that the cleansing lotion or foam could not deal with.
The tonic is chosen according to the skin type and is used after washing (or other cleansing) in the morning and in the evening. In both cases, the same suitable agent can be used.
Hydration
Perhaps the most important thing in antiaging care is hydration. Mature skin always needs moisture and, accordingly, moisturizing products and professional procedures.
The hyaluronic acid molecule has an impressive size and cannot penetrate the epidermal barrier to enter the deeper layers of the skin, so injections were and remain the most effective way of use. However, scientists have learned to process the molecules so that they penetrate the dermis better. Thanks to this development, the effectiveness of modern external products with hyaluronic acid has increased significantly.
Another well-known hydrant is urea. Don't let the unsavory name put you off: the substance effectively saturates the skin with moisture while simultaneously stimulating cell renewal. Such products are suitable for dry, dehydrated, rough and rough skin. Creams with a low urea content are sufficient to maintain the moisture level and improve the complexion. Concentrated products are used to smooth rough calluses on the feet.
Glycerin is another popular ingredient. Due to its hygroscopicity, it attracts and binds water molecules such as hyaluronic acid. In terms of moisturizing properties, trihydric alcohol (glycerin) is inferior to hyaluronic acid, but it has smaller molecules that easily penetrate the skin. This component is included in most cheap moisturizing creams 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 trihydric alcohol with other skin moisturizers.
Doctor's Comment:
I would like to emphasize that we choose products with urea in cases of hyperkeratosis, for example, with rough skin, with psoriasis, with ichthyosis. Urea helps to exfoliate the scales, and the other components of the product hydrate and nourish.
Nutrition
Unlike other organs, the skin can be nourished not only in the traditional way - through blood - but also by absorbing substances that are applied to its surface. This is not only moisture, but also all kinds of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and lipids. They compensate for nutritional deficiencies in the skin, improve the structure of the epidermis, saturate it with useful ingredients and strengthen the protective lipid layer.
If earlier cosmetic products were reliably divided into moisturizing and nourishing, now this line has been erased: the same cream can saturate the skin with moisture and nutrients. Modern creams, serums and masks usually combine both types of effects.
To nourish the skin, first of all, fats and fat-soluble substances are needed. Do not underestimate their importance for preserving youth. With age, the skin needs more and more lipids. Even those girls who complained of excessive sebum secretion in their youth notice that their skin becomes drier with age. The fatty film on the surface of the skin becomes thinner and can no longer protect the epidermis from negative environmental influences.
Lack of lipids leads to:
- Increased sensitivity;
- Slowing down the exfoliation of dead cells;
- Reduced moisture levels;
- Premature wilting.
It is believed that the skin absorbs nutrients best at night, so it is recommended to apply nourishing products in the evening, in the evening.
Doctor's Comment:
Our skin is covered with a hydro-lipid layer, this is a very important structure that ensures the normal functioning of our skin! If its integrity is violated, the skin becomes brittle, dry, dehydrated, does not resist aggressive environmental factors, and the balance of the skin's microflora is disturbed. We become helpless and lose resistance to various skin diseases.
Protection
The skin protects internal organs from negative environmental influences. 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 should take care of skin protection 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 during the day, not just when you're getting ready for the beach. The cream is applied for 20-30 minutes until it comes out in a generous 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 protection factor should be. If you do not follow these rules, using sunscreen lotion will not bring the expected benefits.
Sun protection cosmetics protect the skin not only from burns, but also from aging. Long-wave radiation (UVA) penetrates into 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 throughout the year.
Daily use of protective creams will protect the skin from photoaging - pigmentation, sagging, wrinkles, dehydration. But you have to choose the means carefully. The best option would be pharmaceutical cosmetics.
High-quality day creams usually contain sun protection components. If you have to combine moisturizing creams with sunscreens, then first apply the moisturizing cream on the face and neck, and after it is completely absorbed, the protective cream.
UV radiation is not the only factor that causes skin aging. To prolong youth, it is necessary to protect the epidermis from the action of free radicals - molecules that damage cells and destroy collagen. For this purpose, antioxidants are used to 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 different combinations. Antioxidants are a recognized means of preventing aging, so it is recommended that you start using creams containing such ingredients even before the first signs of aging-related changes appear.
Doctor's Comment:
It is important to know that different antioxidants work only in certain combinations, and their absorption takes place strictly according to the needs of the body. Cosmoceutical products are already 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 also includes anti-aging courses in cosmetology clinics and the use of masks and scrubs at home.
Mature skin needs to slough off dead cells much more than young skin, as natural renewal processes slow down with age. Therefore, scrubs, which young girls use only occasionally, become a necessity for adult women. Gentle scrubs should be used 2-3 times a week.
It is important to use products intended for mature skin. They should be gentle, without scratching or irritating ingredients.
When we talk about skin care, it's impossible not to mention masks. They usually contain the same ingredients as creams, but in higher concentrations, so masks are intended 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 an event.
Masks can be produced in the form of a cream, gel, self-diluting powder and a finished piece of fabric soaked in medicinal compounds. The last variety is most often used for urgent skin refreshment.
The purpose of masks can also be different. For mature skin, products for care, hydration, toning, tightening and brightening are most suitable. Choosing a specific mask is best done together 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 medicinal properties are explained by the fact that they are made from brown algae. They have a super pronounced effect of lymphatic drainage and are a powerful prevention against aging.
From theory to practice: choosing cosmetics
A general understanding of the ingredients that are beneficial in rejuvenating will help you choose your personal care products.
Day cream for prolonging youth
The main tasks of the day cream are moisturizing and protecting the skin. Hyaluronic acid and other moisturizing components help achieve the first goal. Also, the day cream should improve the quality of the skin, making it more resistant to the negative effects of free radicals - aggressive molecules that cause aging. Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E are used for this.
Vitamin C is generally called the vitamin of youth, and it is not by chance: ascorbic acid stimulates the production of collagen by fibrocytes and destroys melanin, eliminating unnecessary pigmentation.
When choosing a cream, preference should be given to so-called cosmetics, i. e. cosmetics sold in pharmacies. These varieties differ from mass creams by their high content of active substances and. consequently, greater efficiency. 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 for skin care. 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 caring for 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 gets an oily sheen, pores get clogged, comedones and rashes appear. Such occurrences indicate that the night cream was poorly chosen 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 must match your skin type and age: for anti-aging care, it is better to use cosmetics labeled anti-age.
In terms of usage, the main mistake is over-application. Apply the night cream in a thin layer on slightly damp skin after applying the tonic. After 15 minutes, you can remove the excess that has not been absorbed into the epidermis with a napkin.
Do not forget that the products should be applied not only to the face, but also to the neck and décolletage!
Doctor's comment: Modern high-quality creams bought at the pharmacy eliminate the need to use tonics. It is important to choose a night cream and apply it half an hour before going to bed. Subtly, avoiding eye contact. Light tapping motions.
Serums, peels and masks: secret weapons in the fight for youth
When choosing a "special purpose" product, pay attention to the following parameters:
- Active substances in the composition;
- Their concentration;
- Potential allergens and irritants.
As when choosing creams, it is advisable to give preference to serums and masks with antioxidants, moisturizing and nourishing ingredients. But the presence of SPF is no longer necessary - a day cream will take care of 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 peels rarely go without adding acids.
In addition to masks and peelings, anti-aging serums are also worth getting. These are highly concentrated products, and literally a few drops are enough for transformation. As a rule, serums are non-greasy, instantly absorbed and significantly rejuvenate the skin. It is not surprising: after all, they contain shock doses of vitamins, amino acids, microelements, 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 the problems that need to be solved. Is there pigmentation? Serums that even out skin tone will help. Does the face oval "swim"? This means that you should choose an option with a lifting effect. Increased dryness of the epidermis? The problem will be solved faster if, in addition to the regular cream, you use a serum with hyaluronic acid.
Individual approach
Choosing anti-aging cosmetics yourself is not as simple as it seems. The ideal option is to entrust this choice to a cosmetologist. An experienced doctor will easily identify "weak points" that need maximum attention and will help you choose the appropriate drugs.
Signs of aging are much more difficult to detect on our own: we get used to our own appearance and cannot follow the changes in time. The result is improper selection of anti-aging products, and therefore ineffective prevention and treatment of skin aging. That's why it's better to spend an hour in consultation with a doctor to immediately choose 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.