When it Comes to Anti-Aging, be Proactive

Being proactive about anti-aging means using a skincare routine before your skin breaks down.

Instead of waiting until you see the visible signs of chronological aging, you can take a proactive approach toward your skin and make it look glowing now. This requires a cursory understanding of how collagen breakdown and skin elasticity.

Here are just a few proactive skincare tips to stay ahead of the aging process.

The Importance of SPF

The sun is to blame for accelerating the aging process. All that ultraviolet light can increase the rate at which our skin produces unwanted spots, wrinkles, and blotches. The SPF in your regular moisturizer isn’t enough to do the job – what you need is a dedicated sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30. This is true even if you don’t spend time outside under the sun.

You also have to contend with the high energy visible light (HEV) emitted from everyday gadgets such as your computer and phone. HEV is also good at damaging the skin cells. To effectively minimize the damage that HEV and UV light do to your skin, look for a sunblock that contains both zinc oxide and titanium oxide.

As a rule of thumb, apply sunscreen at least 10 minutes before sun exposure to keep your skin protected throughout the day. You may reapply sunscreen depending on your exposure to the sun, how much you are sweating, or when spending time in the water.

Keep Yourself Hydrated

Nothing makes your skin look more dull and wrinkly than a dry skin from lack of hydration.   Drinking 6-8 glasses of water throughout the day will help flush out harmful toxins from your body that not only clogs pores and cause pimples and acne but also affect your overall health. Keeping your body hydrated also helps maintain your skin’s elasticity.

Improve Your Microbiome

An imbalanced microbiome can lead to skin problems.  In more ways than one, your skin health will reflect the state of your microbiome. If your gut health is worse for wear, then it could undo all the hard work you do in front of the mirror! Worse still is the increased likelihood of acne, rosacea, and eczema. It is highly recommended to take a probiotic supplement.

Gut health can take a few days to improve, and it can take a few weeks for your skin to adapt to gut health. You can take probiotics as a supplement – just make sure to set a reminder on your phone every day.

Keep Yourself Active

Working out regularly does a lot for your health than just recomp your body and improve strength. It also plays a role in improving the health of internal systems such as respiratory, digestive, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems. By increasing blood flow, for example, exercise can carry more oxygen and nutrients to keep your skin cells nourished. The increased blood flow also flushes away any waste products such as free radicals.

Build a Skincare Routine

Every skincare routine should contain the following steps:

  • Cleanse and wash the face;
  • Apply serum to rejuvenate, nourish the skin, and give it a quick makeover;
  • Apply a moisturizer to hydrate and soften the skin;
  • Apply SPF and reapply throughout the day as needed

The end goal is to help the skin perform at its best and target any areas you want to tune-up.

Cleaning is the most basic step of any skincare routine, and it is recommended to wash twice a day.  Each skin is different and so you should use one that is best suited for your skin type.  Some cleansers specifically for oily or acne-prone skin for example, may be too drying for mild to dry skin. 

Then apply a serum to fight off premature aging. They are filled with a dose of active ingredients that can mitigate several issues – from wrinkles to dark spots and everything in between. Some of the best serums that we recommend contain the following ingredients:

  • Hyaluronic acid: This is used to strengthen the top layer of your skin and prevent moisture loss. Hyaluronic acid plays a vital role in hydrating the skin.
  • Vitamin C: It is used to minimize dark spots and brighten dull skin.
  • Retinol and Peptides: These ingredients are used to increase the production of elastin and collagen and prevent the skin from sagging.

Next up is applying a moisturizer to hydrate and soften the skin. The ideal moisturizer will complement the naturally occurring skills within the skin.  A moisturizer is important because our skin loses its ability to retain moisture with age.

Finally, don’t forget to apply SPF to protect your skin throughout the day.

Check out Skin Loft’s Skin Care Pyramid for a guide to a good skin care regimen.    

Getting Professional Skincare Treatments

There is a dizzying variety of skincare products on the market – each catering to different skin types. You owe it to yourself to visit a medical spa at least once a year to evaluate your skin and skincare routine and prescribe professional treatments to help rejuvenate your skin.  They can help you develop a skincare regimen to manage:

  • Acne
  • Wrinkles and dark spots
  • Fine lines and pigmentation
  • And more!

Depending on where you are on your skincare journey, you may be recommended a myriad of treatments that include the following:

Wrapping Up – Proactive Skincare is all about Planning Ahead

The key difference between proactive and reactive skincare routines is that proactive planning is better suited to preventing skin problems to occur or slow down the effects of aging while reactive skincare responds to undesirable consequences of slacking off. In other words, it all boils down to one’s state of preparedness.    

With that said, it is unreasonable to suggest that we can foresee every single threat to our skin. However, we can embark on basic skincare steps that will ward off the vast majority of threats to our skin.

And always remember, your skincare journey is unique to you. Get in touch with a skin expert to learn more.

Start your skincare journey today with Skin Loft medical spa and gain access to the best skincare plans in NYC.

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