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 preventative measures in advance. Let's consider where to start, what to pay attention to and what results to aim for.
How skin ages
The aging process affects every cell in 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 atmospheric and ultraviolet pollution, smoking, nutrition, lack of sleep and movement 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 do not renew themselves as quickly as they do in youth. Blood circulation deteriorates and therefore cellular nutrition. The hydration level drops 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 worsen the situation. Thus, with exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the structure of the skin changes, becoming thinner and less elastic. Smoking slows down the regeneration of the epidermis and impairs blood circulation, which leads to disruption of cellular nutrition. 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 maintain your beauty for a long time.
Prevention or treatment?
It is believed that the skin begins to age at the age of 28. In practice, everything is individual: some discover the signs of aging earlier, others later, depending on genetic characteristics, health status, lifestyle and the influence of external factors. In any case, there is no need to postpone taking care of yourself until the moment when the reflection in the mirror stops pleasing you. Prevention is always more effective and affordable than treatment, so care should be taken in advance to prolong youth. The further you progress, the stronger the means you will have to use, but to prevent aging you just need to take careful care of your skin and protect it from negative effects.
When choosing cosmetics, you need to focus not on the brand, but on the recommendations of a cosmetologist given after an in-person examination. All people are different, the aging process also proceeds differently and an individual approach is needed to correct it. The doctor will determine suitable 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 exfoliants and harsh products that dry out your skin. Mature skin is sensitive and does not recover well after traumatic procedures. She needs delicate, gentle 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 refer to changes that occur in the skin under the influence of ultraviolet rays. With age, it becomes increasingly difficult for the skin to resist its effects. Creams with SPF will help you with this. It is also necessary to protect the skin from the effects of free radicals;
- Intense hydration. The immediate cause of deterioration in tone and the appearance of wrinkles is a lack of hydration. Anti-aging care is based on deep hydration;
- Stimulation of collagen production. In adulthood, collagen, responsible for skin elasticity, is synthesized more slowly and destroyed more quickly than in youth. This means that additional stimulation of the formation of its own protein compounds necessary to increase the turgor of the epidermis is required;
- Not just cream. A thin layer of moisturizer may not be enough. Anti-aging care also involves intensive skin nutrition, the use of exfoliants, masks and serums. The need for professional procedures also increases every year;
- Regularity. Young skin will forgive its owner for small sins, such as cosmetics left unwashed at night or irregular care. Adult women need to constantly take care of their face, neck and décolleté, day after day, year after year. Only in this case can you count on a noticeable effect.
Doctor's comment:There is no need to complicate the skin care process in your thoughts, start small, with proper home care! If you have dermatological diseases, you need to see a dermatologist! Because even high-quality home care will not be able to get you out of the acute process. First, the treatment in the context of cosmoceutical care, then just everything else.
Is it possible to do without a cosmetologist?
Aesthetic medicine and cosmetology have not yet made the dream of eternal youth a reality, but they have made it much closer to achieving it. Injection and hardware 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 at a cosmetology clinic once a year and, the rest of the time, neglect face and body care. Professional care must be complemented by home care – constant, daily. This approach allows you to obtain ideal results and delay old age by many years.
To preserve youth, cosmetic procedures are very desirable and home anti-aging care is absolutely necessary. It's best to combine the two.
Anti-aging care at home
And now it's time to consider in detail what anti-aging skin care should consist of. What steps it consists of, what tools should be used and how to use them correctly.
It is necessary to emphasize once again 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 over time, so it is best to consult a cosmetologist to draw up an individual plan to preserve youth.
Cleaning
It is necessary to constantly combat changes related to aging, and it is better to choose even routine personal hygiene products with a rejuvenating effect. To prevent fading, it is recommended to use the gentlest and most delicate cleaning products possible. They should easily remove makeup residues, sebum and impurities, but not dry out or injure the skin.
When choosing a cleanser, you should focus on the condition of your skin. If after washing there is a feeling of tightness or discomfort, you need to 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 occur, pay attention to hypoallergenic products.
Even if your skin is prone to breakouts, you shouldn't choose harsh drying products. It is better to give preference to cosmetics with an anti-inflammatory effect.
Cleansing in the morning and at night are two completely different procedures. In the first case, simply remove skin secretions and the remains of the night cream. The foam copes with this task easily and, in some cases, it is enough to use just tonic. At night, it is also necessary to remove any remains of sunscreen, cosmetics and atmospheric pollution. In such a situation, makeup remover lotions, creams and oils will come in handy. Additionally, you should use a pore cleansing mask 1 to 2 times a week.
You need to clean not only your face, but also your neck and décolleté. 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 toner restores water and acid balance, prepares the face for applying the cream and protects it from aggressive influences. Additionally, residual contaminants that the cleansing lotion or foam were unable to withstand are removed.
The tonic is selected depending on the skin type and used after washing (or other cleansing) in the morning and evening. In both cases the same suitable agent can be used.
Hydration
Perhaps the most important thing in anti-aging care is hydration. Mature skin always needs hydration and, consequently, moisturizing 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, which is why injections were and continue to be the most effective way to use it. However, scientists have learned how to process the molecule so that it better penetrates the dermis. Thanks to these developments, the effectiveness of modern external products with hyaluronic acid has increased significantly.
Another well-known hydrant is urea. Don't be intimidated by the unappetizing name: the substance effectively saturates the skin with moisture, while stimulating cell renewal. These products are suitable for dry, dehydrated, rough and rough skin. To maintain hydration levels and improve complexion, creams with a low urea content are enough. More concentrated products are used to soften 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 budget moisturizers with anti-aging effects. At the same time, concentrated glycerin can have the opposite effect, drawing moisture from the epidermis, which is why 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 exfoliate scales and other components of the products moisturize and nourish.
Nutrition
Unlike other organs, the skin can receive nutrition not only in the traditional way – through blood – but also by absorbing substances that are applied to its surface. It's not just moisture, but also all kinds of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and lipids. They replenish 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 safely 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 effects.
To nourish the skin, first of all, fats and fat-soluble substances are needed. Do not underestimate its importance for preserving youth. With age, the skin needs more and more lipids. Even those girls who complained of excess sebum secretion in their youth note that their skin becomes drier over the years. The fatty film on the surface of the skin becomes thinner and can no longer protect the epidermis from negative environmental influences.
Lipid deficiency leads to:
- Increasing sensitivity;
- Slow down the exfoliation of dead cells;
- Reduced humidity levels;
- Premature wilting.
It is believed that the skin absorbs nutrients better at night, so it is recommended to apply nourishing products at night.
Doctor's comment:Our skin is covered by a hydrolipidic mantle, this is a very important structure that guarantees the normal functioning of our skin! If its integrity is violated, the skin becomes fragile, dry, dehydrated, cannot resist 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 internal organs from negative environmental influences. 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 must take care to protect your skin throughout your life.
First of all, you need to protect your skin from sun exposure. And you need to do this every time you go out during the day, not just when getting ready for the beach. The cream is applied for 20-30 minutes until it comes off in a generous layer, renewing it if necessary. Furthermore, it is necessary to select these products according to your phototype: the whiter your skin, the higher the protection factor should be. If you don't follow these rules, using sunscreen will not bring the expected benefits.
Sunscreen cosmetics protect the skin not only against burns, but also against aging. Longwave radiation (UVA) penetrates the deep layers of the skin and destroys cells. These rays damage the epidermis even in cloudy weather, which is why it is recommended to use products with SPF all year round.
Daily use of protective creams protects against skin photoaging - pigmentation, sagging, wrinkles, dehydration. But you need to choose the means carefully. The best option would be pharmaceutical cosmeceuticals.
High-quality day creams often contain sun protection components. If it is necessary to combine moisturizers with Sanskrits, first apply a moisturizing cream to the face and neck and, once fully absorbed, a protector.
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. To this end, 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 various combinations. Antioxidants are a recognized means of preventing aging, therefore it is recommended to start using creams containing these ingredients even before the first signs of age-related changes appear.
Doctor's comment:It is important to know that different antioxidants only work in certain combinations, and their absorption occurs strictly according to the body's needs. Cosmoceutical products are already available in the right combinations. It is important to determine your skin type and needs, a dermatologist or cosmetologist can help you with this.
Special care
In addition to routine skin care, "special purpose" procedures are also necessary. This category includes both anti-aging courses in cosmetology clinics and the use of masks and peels at home.
Mature skin needs to exfoliate dead cells much more than young skin, as natural renewal processes slow down with age. Therefore, peelings, which girls only occasionally use in their youth, become a necessity for adult women. Gentle exfoliants should be used 2 to 3 times a week.
It is important to use products designed for mature skin. They should be smooth, without scratching particles or irritating ingredients.
When talking about skin care, it's impossible not to mention masks. They generally contain the same ingredients as creams, but in higher concentrations, which is why 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 tidy up your face before an event.
Masks can be produced in the form of a cream, gel, powder for self-dilution and a piece of finished fabric soaked in healing compounds. The latter variety is most often used to urgently refresh the skin.
The purpose of masks can also be different. For mature skin, nourishing, moisturizing, toning, tightening and illuminating products are best suited. 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 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 useful in rejuvenation will help you choose personal care products.
Day cream to prolong youth
The main functions of a day cream are to hydrate and protect the skin. Hyaluronic acid and other moisturizing components help achieve the first goal. Furthermore, 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 like vitamins C and E are used for this.
Vitamin C is often called the vitamin of youth, and this is no coincidence: 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 cosmeceuticals, that is, cosmetics that are sold in pharmacies. These varieties differ from mass creams in 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
Nighttime is the best time to nourish your skin. Although modern night creams do not necessarily have a heavy, oily 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 function of these products is to restore the skin, as well as 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 shine, pores become clogged, comedones and rashes appear. Such phenomena indicate that the night cream was poorly selected or used incorrectly.
It is important to remember that thick and oily products are mainly intended for dehydrated, rough and flaking skin. In other cases, it is better to choose lighter, melting textures. In addition, the cream must correspond to your skin type and age: for anti-aging care, it is best to use cosmetics labeled as anti-aging.
As for use, the main mistake here is over-application. The night cream should be applied in a thin layer to slightly damp skin after applying the toner. After 15 minutes, you can remove the excess that is not absorbed by the epidermis with a napkin.
Don't forget that products need to 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 tonic. It's important to choose your night cream and apply it half an hour before bed. Subtly, avoiding contact with the eyes. 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;
- Your concentration;
- Potential allergens and irritants.
As with choosing creams, it is advisable to give preference to serums and masks with antioxidant, moisturizing and nourishing ingredients. But the presence of SPF is no longer necessary - the day cream will take care of sun protection.
Anti-aging serums can contain retinol, vitamin C, ceramides, peptides, collagen and acids. Masks also often contain a variety of oils that soften the top layer of the epidermis. Modern effective peels rarely do without adding acids.
In addition to masks and peels, it is worth purchasing anti-aging serums. These are very concentrated products and literally a few drops are enough for the transformation. As a rule, serums are non-greasy, are absorbed instantly and significantly rejuvenate the skin. No wonder: 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 these products, you should not focus 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 come to the rescue. Is the oval of the face "swimming"? This means that you should choose the option with a lifting effect. Increased dryness of the epidermis? The problem will be resolved faster if, in addition to regular cream, you use serum with hyaluronic acid.
Individual approach
Choosing anti-aging cosmetics on your own 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 "weak points" that need maximum attention and will help you choose appropriate remedies.
It is much more difficult to detect signs of aging on your own: we get used to our appearance and cannot keep up with changes over time. The result is an incorrect selection of anti-aging products and, consequently, ineffective prevention and treatment of skin aging. Therefore, it is better to spend an hour consulting a doctor to immediately select 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'll talk about them next time.