It’s never too late to start taking care of your skin, even when damage has occurred and accumulated over the years. No matter what age, there are many ways one can revert their skin from the harm that has been caused in the past. One’s skin care routine should optimize products and ingredients that help prevent and revert the sun damage that has occurred over the years. The sun is the main source of damage as a result of UV rays penetrating deeply into the skin, damaging our collagen and causing wrinkle formation.
Sunscreen is a great way to protect your skin and prevent further wrinkles, fine lines, and pigmentation. Sunscreen should not only be applied to the face but to the neck, chest, and hands as well. Sunscreens in our makeup products are not enough. The SPF in make products will protect against UVB rays but not UVA rays, therefore its essential to apply sunscreen prior to make up application. When picking out a sunscreen, one should look for an SPF of 30 or above and should reapply every 2 hours.
Free radicals are unstable molecules that exert damage to our cells and accelerate the process of aging. UV exposure decreases the natural antioxidants in our skin, resulting in our skin cells embarking on oxidative stress and free radical formation. Antioxidant serums are a great way to add additional exogenous antioxidants to our skin, slowing down the accelerated aging process that takes place. Medications like COQ-10 and Resveratrol are great forms of introducing additional antioxidants to the body. Skin care ingredients such as Niacinamide and Vitamin C significantly increase antioxidants to the skin, further helping fight free radical formation.
Incorporating Retinoids and Retinols into your skin care routine are a great way to reduce aging, reverse sun damage and lift pigmentation. They increase cell turnover and stimulate collagen synthesis and production, promoting elastic fiber production.
Exfoliants can come in many forms and formulas. Whether you’re using a chemical or physical exfoliant it’s important to know that exfoliates are a great tool for improving the appearance of damaged skin through exfoliation of dead and damaged skin cells, stimulating the growth of new skin cells overall improving the vibrance and appearance of your skin.
