You cannot preserve youth forever, but it is quite possible to delay the onset of old age by decades. To start anti-aging care, there is no need 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 aim for.
How the skin ages
The aging process affects every cell 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 hormone levels—things that are impossible or very difficult to change. Others are stress, exposure to air and ultraviolet pollution, smoking, nutrition, lack of sleep and exercise, and various diseases. These factors can be controlled. It is possible to neutralize the negative effects at least partially by providing good skin care.
With age, many processes that depend on the condition of the skin slow down, for example, cells do not regenerate as quickly as in youth. The circulation deteriorates, and therefore cell nutrition. The fluid level decreases due to the lack of hyaluronic acid and less collagen and elastin are produced. The skin thins, becomes drier and more elastic, and wrinkles appear.
External factors exacerbate the situation. Thus, due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the structure of the skin changes, it becomes thinner and more elastic. Smoking slows down the regeneration of the epidermis and impairs blood circulation, which leads to disruption of cell nutrition. Air pollution causes age spots and wrinkles to appear.
Prevention or treatment?
It is believed that the skin begins to age as soon as the age of 28. In practice, everything is individual: some people discover signs of aging earlier and others later, depending on genetic characteristics, health status, lifestyle and the influence of external factors. In any case, there is no need to postpone thinking about yourself until the moment when the reflection in the mirror ceases to please you. Prevention is always more effective and cost-effective than treatment, so you should take care in advance to extend your youth. The further you go, the stronger the methods you have to use, but to prevent aging it is enough to take good care of your skin and protect it from negative effects.
Key features of anti-aging care
- Soft effect. It's time to stop using harsh scrubs and aggressive products that dry out your skin. Mature skin is sensitive and does not recover well from trauma. She needs delicate, gentle care;
- Mandatory skin protection. The sun is the skin's enemy no. 1. It is not for nothing that there is a special term "photogenesis" to refer to the changes that occur in the skin under the influence of ultraviolet rays. With age, it becomes more difficult for the skin to resist their effects. Creams with SPF will help it with this. Itit is also necessary to protect the skin against the effects of free radicals;
- High hydration. The immediate cause of worsening the tone and 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 produced more slowly and is destroyed faster than in youth. This means that further stimulation of the synthesis of own protein compounds, which is necessary to increase the congestion in the epidermis, is necessary;
- Not just cream. A thin layer of moisturizer may not be enough. Anti-aging care also includes intensive nutrition for the skin, the use of exfoliants, masks and serums. The need for professional procedures also increases every year;
- Regularity. Young skin will forgive its owner small sins such as cosmetics left unwashed at night or irregular care. Adult women have to constantly take care of their face, neck and necklace, day after day, year after year. Only in this case you can count on a noticeable effect.
Doctor's note:
Is it possible to live without a beautician?
Aesthetic medicine and cosmetology have not yet made the dream of eternal youth a reality, but they have made it possible to get much closer to its reality. Injectable and mechanical cosmetic procedures allow you to rejuvenate from the inside and naturally restore your skin. However, it would be a mistake to think that it is enough to take a course at a beauty salon once a year and for the rest of the time neglect to take care of your face and body. Professional care needs to be added to home care - constant, daily. This approach allows you to achieve the best results and push back old age for many years.
Anti-aging home treatment
And now it's time to consider in detail what anti-aging skin care should be. At what levels is it, what tools to use and how to use them correctly.
Cleaning
It is necessary to constantly fight against age-related changes, and it is better to choose even ordinary personal care products with a rejuvenating effect. To prevent fading, it is recommended to use the mildest and most gentle cleansers possible. They should easily remove traces of make-up, grease and dirt, but not dry out or damage the skin.
When choosing a cleanser, you should focus on the condition of your skin. If after washing there is a feeling of heaviness or discomfort, you need to look for another option with a higher content of moisturizing components. The appearance of an oily sheen also oddly suggests a lack of moisture. If irritation and redness occur, you need to consider hypoallergenic products.
Cleansing in the morning and in the evening are two completely different methods. In the first case, you just need to remove the skin secretions and the remnants of the night cream. Foam can easily cope with this task, and in some cases it is enough to use only tonic. At night, you also need to remove all traces of sunscreen, cosmetics and atmospheric pollution. In such situations, lotions, creams and makeup oils will come in handy. In addition, you should use a pore-cleansing mask 1-2 times a week.
Toning
This level of care is underestimated by many and completely useless. Using a tonic restores water and acid balance, prepares the face for cream application and protects it from aggressive effects. In addition, traces of dirt that the cleansing cream or foam could not tolerate are removed.
Fluid administration
Perhaps the most important thing in antiaging care is hydration. Mature skin always needs moisture and therefore moisturizing products and professional treatments.
Another well-known hydrant is urea. Don't be put off by the unsavory name: the material effectively saturates the skin with moisture while stimulating cell renewal. Such products are suitable for dry, dehydrated, rough and rough skin. To maintain the moisture level and improve the complexion, creams with a low urea content are sufficient. More concentrated products are used to smooth out rough skin on the feet.
Glycerin is another popular ingredient. Due to its humectant activity, 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 anti-aging moisturizers. At the same time, concentrated glycerin can have the opposite effect, pulling moisture away from the epidermis, so most manufacturers combine tricyclic alcohol with other skin moisturizers.
Doctor's note:
Nutrition
Unlike other organs, the skin can be nourished not only in the traditional way - through the blood - but also by absorbing substances applied to its surface. It's not just moisture, but also all kinds of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and lipids. They make up for nutritional deficiencies in the skin, improve the structure of the epidermis, saturate it with useful ingredients and strengthen the protective lipid layer.
To nourish the skin, you primarily need fat and fat-soluble substances. Do not underestimate their importance in 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 fat film on the surface of the skin becomes thinner and can no longer protect the epidermis from negative environmental influences.
Lipid deficiency leads to:
- Increased sensitivity;
- slow down the exfoliation of dead cells;
- Reduced humidity;
- Premature withering.
Doctor's note:
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 to protect your skin throughout your life.
First of all, it is necessary to protect the skin from sunlight. And you need to do this every time you go out for the day, not just when you get ready for the beach. The cream is applied for 20-30 minutes until it comes out in a rich layer, if necessary it needs to be renewed. In addition, it is necessary to choose such products according to your phototype: the whiter the skin, the higher the protection factor should be. If you do not follow these rules, using sunscreen will not have the expected benefits.
Daily use of protective creams will protect against photoaging of the skin - pigmentation, sagging, wrinkles, dehydration. But you need to choose your ways carefully. The best option would be pharmaceutical cosmetics.
High-quality day creams usually contain sunscreen. If you need to combine a moisturizer with Sanskrins, first apply a moisturizer to the face and neck, and after it has been completely absorbed, protectively.
UV radiation is not the only factor that causes skin aging. To prolong youth, it is also necessary to protect the epidermis against the effects 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;
- Tannin;
- Beta glucan.
These elements can be in the cream in various combinations. Antioxidants are a recognized way to prevent aging, so it is recommended to start using creams containing such substances even before the first signs of age-related changes appear.
Doctor's note:
Special care
In addition to routine skin care, "special" measures are also required. This category includes both anti-aging courses in beauty salons and the use of masks and peels at home.
Mature skin needs to exfoliate dead cells much more than young skin, as the natural renewal process slows down with age. Therefore, peels, which girls use only occasionally in childhood, become a necessity for adult women. Use mild exfoliators 2-3 times a week.
When talking about skin care, it is 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 a first aid if you need to get your face in shape for an event.
Masks can be produced in the form of creams, gels, self-diluting powders, and synthetic materials soaked in healing compounds. The latter variant is most often used to refresh the skin.
The purpose of masks can also be different. For mature skin, nourishing, moisturizing, refreshing, exciting and brightening products are best suited. Choosing a specific mask is best done in consultation with a beautician.
Doctor's note:
From theory to practice: choosing cosmetics
A general understanding of the ingredients that are beneficial in regeneration will help you choose personal care products.
Day cream to prolong youth
The main tasks of a day cream are to moisturize and protect the skin. Hyaluronic acid and other moisturizing factors help achieve the first goal. The day cream should also improve the quality of the skin and make it more resistant to the negative effects of free radicals - aggressive molecules that trigger aging. Antioxidants such as vitamins C and E are used for this.
When choosing a cream, you should give preference to so-called cosmetics, that is, cosmetics that are sold in pharmacies. These types differ from mass creams in the high content of active substances and. accordingly, higher 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 to nourish your skin. Although modern night creams do not necessarily have a heavy, greasy texture, they always contain lipids and fat-soluble ingredients. These can be fatty acids, shea butter or wheat germ, cholesterol and other ingredients. Also contains moisturizing ingredients.
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.
It is important to remember that thick, oily products are primarily intended for dry, rough, flaky skin. In other cases, it is better to choose a lighter, melting texture. Moreover, the cream must match the skin type and age: to protect aging, it is better to use cosmetics labeled anti-aging.
As for use, the main fault here is overuse. Night cream should be applied in a thin layer to slightly damp skin after applying the tonic. After 15 minutes, you can wipe off the excess that is not absorbed into the epidermis with a napkin.
Doctor's note: Modern high-quality creams bought at the pharmacy eliminate the need to use a tonic. It is important to choose a night cream and apply it half an hour before bed. Small, avoid contact with eyes. Light clapping movements.
Serums, peels and masks: the secret weapon in the fight for youth
When choosing "special purpose" products, you should pay attention to the following parameters:
- Active substances in the composition;
- Their concentration;
- Potential allergens and irritants.
As when choosing a cream, it is advisable to choose serums and masks with antioxidant, moisturizing and nourishing ingredients. But the presence of SPF is no longer necessary - a day cream will take care of sun protection.
Antiaging serums may contain retinol, vitamin C, ceramides, peptides, collagen, and acids. Masks also often contain various oils that soften the top layer of the epidermis. Modern effective peels rarely do without the addition of acids.
In addition to masks and peels, it is worth acquiring an anti-aging serum. These are highly concentrated products and literally a few drops are enough for a transformation. As a rule, serums are non-greasy, they are absorbed instantly and significantly renew the skin. It's not surprising: after all, they contain shocking doses of vitamins, amino acids, micronutrients, peptides and other substances that moisturize, nourish, brighten and tone the skin.
A unique approach
Choosing anti-aging cosmetics on your own is not as easy as it may seem. The ideal option is to entrust this choice to a beautician. An experienced doctor will easily find "weak spots" that need maximum attention and will help you choose the appropriate remedy.
It is much more difficult to detect the signs of aging on our own: we get used to our own appearance and cannot follow changes over time. The result is the wrong choice of anti-aging products and, as a result, ineffective prevention and treatment of skin aging. So it is better to spend an hour consulting a doctor to immediately choose the exact products that your skin needs.
And of course, the best addition to regular home care will be professional cosmetic procedures at the clinic. We will tell you about them next time.