Aging is a fact of life, but that doesn’t mean we can’t delay the visible signs of time. It’s never too early to start an anti-aging skincare regimen and the proper products can minimize visible signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration and more—and keep your skin looking healthy, youthful and vibrant for years to come.
Sunscreen
Ask any dermatologist for their number-one anti-aging product and you’re likely to get sunscreen as an answer. Diligent sunscreen use 365 days a year, rain or shine, is key for preventing the UV damage that leads to premature signs of aging—and this 2016 study showed that daily sunscreen use alone (in conjunction with sun avoidance) can actually reverse visible signs of aging as well. Product to try: Offering brand-spectrum, all-physical UV protection in a formula you’ll actually want to use, EltaMD’s UV Replenish Broad-Spectrum SPF 44 is a dermatologist favorite.
Antioxidants
Protecting your skin from UV rays with a broad-spectrum sunscreen is great, but you also need to shield your skin from the free radicals that contribute to premature aging, and that’s where a daily antioxidant comes in. Vitamin C is the gold standard for neutralizing free radicals, and this ingredient has also been proven to stimulate the skin’s natural collagen production and brighten the complexion for even more anti-aging benefits. Product to try: Give your skin it’s daily dose of antioxidant protection with SkinCeuticals’ award-winning C E Ferulic.
Retinol/Retinoids
This ingredient family includes both prescription (retinoids) and non-prescription (retinol) options that are derived from vitamin A. In addition to being considered one of the most effective skincare ingredients for improving visible signs of skin aging and sun damage by dermatologists, this anti-aging ingredient is a must for anyone wanting to prevent age-related changes. Proven to increase the skin’s production of collagen (which keep skin line-free), promote the skin’s natural exfoliation process (to eliminate damaged surface cells), and exfoliate (to maintain even skin tone), a retinol or retinoid product should be part of any anti-aging skincare regimen. Product to try: Once only available by prescription, Differin can now be found at a drugstore or supermarket near you—and you don’t need to make a trip to the doctor’s office to get it.
Forever Young BBL
There’s a light-based treatment for virtually every aging concern, including preventing age-related changes. Many dermatologists and plastic surgeons recommend Forever Young BBL to delay skin aging by prompting the expression of the genes that are abundant in young skin. When the skin functions more youthfully, it continues to produce proteins such as collagen and elastin, and it’s more able to repair itself. BBL treatments are downtime-free, and you can get right back to your regular routine afterwards (including applying makeup and your usual skincare products). Two to three days after treatment, existing pigment begins to darken and rise to the skin’s surface before it sheds naturally after five to seven days. Depending on your skin’s starting point, just one treatment per year can prevent visible signs of aging from progressing, so what are you waiting for?
Injectables
Have you noticed a lines around your eyes or between your eyebrows when you smile, squint or frown? Sure, they might go away when you relax your facial muscles, but that won’t always be the case. Targeting these motion-related wrinkles with Botox, Dysport or Xeomin early on can prevent these lines from becoming etched into the skin and becoming visible when your face is at rest—and help minimize the need for more intense wrinkle-removing treatments down the line.
