Aging gets a bad rap. (Why does everything feel so dry?) But did you know that most signs of aging are not predetermined by your genetic blueprint? In fact, genes are responsible for only 10 percent of so-called “diseases of age”—the other 90 percent are caused by lifestyle. (Mind. Blown.)
Luckily, six simple tweaks to your skin-care and wellness routines are all it takes to ensure that you age as gracefully as your great-grandma Phyllis. Hint: She drank a lot of lemon water.
Gently...We Hope
Squeaky does not always equal clean, especially when it comes to your face. Removing dead cells keeps skin looking healthy and allows the good stuff in moisturizers and anti-agers to sink in. But you don’t need an overly aggressive product to do so—especially as your skin starts to thin. Too often, brands peddle gritty formulas that can irritate and inflame. So, what should you use? Gently wiping your face with a washcloth is exfoliating enough. Swipe (don’t scrub) the cloth over your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin in a circular motion for a few seconds. It’s all you need.
We’ve Got This Down to a Science
It may not look like it, but your skin is constantly at work. And the toughest job of all? The uppermost layer, the stratum corneum—or, more colloquially, the skin barrier. Much like a security guard, the barrier is there to stop the bad guys: UV, pollution, infections and toxic chemicals. If your barrier is working well, your skin will be hydrated and flexible, resulting in a radiant complexion. On the contrary, a thin or damaged barrier is prone to rashes, redness and irritation. The skin barrier weakens with age, so building it up is the key to reducing signs of aging long term.
A Restoring Serum is the Golden Ticket
Quick science lesson: Ceramides are naturally occurring fatty acids that help support the skin’s natural renewal process. Unfortunately, your skin’s ceramide levels decrease with age, and by the time you reach your 40s, you will have lost about 60 percent of them (eep).
To help bolster their levels, reach for Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Capsules—single-dose capsules that replenish lost ceramides and allow the skin itself to produce more of the ceramides it needs. Each capsule helps increase hydration levels, leaving skin looking firmer, smoother and more radiant. Twist the capsule tab twice to open and apply the serum over cleansed (and gently exfoliated) skin, morning and night.
P.S. The capsules are biodegradable, so don’t forget to recycle ’em.
When should you wear sunscreen? Always, duh.
Sunscreen: Used correctly, it’s pretty much akin to taking a dip in the Fountain of Youth. Skip or misuse it (which most people do) and you risk getting literally burned now…and figuratively burned later (with premature wrinkles). Don’t fret, the right steps are easy.
Instead of struggling to determine when to apply the sunscreen layer (Before makeup? After makeup? Um, but how?), look for a moisturizer with built-in SPF 30. Unless you’re in the tropics, this should be enough to cover you throughout the day. Want to up the ante? Elizabeth Arden Prevage City Smart SPF 50 Hydrating Shield is actually meant to be coupled with the Ceramide Capsules to defend your skin from pollution and those pesky UV rays.
Oh, and about those vitamin D levels: Most people get what they need from 30 minutes outside just twice a week. In other words, it’s no excuse to skip the sunblock.
No, Not Those Drinking Habits
Improving your skin-care routine is one thing, but the key to maintaining overall skin health has a lot to do with what you’re putting in your body—not just on it. The best way to see skin improvements is to up your water intake. Start by drinking a glass of water (warm water, in particular) right when you wake up to help stimulate your GI tract so that your body is better able to absorb nutrients and pass food through your system with ease. Then continue throughout the day. Not only will your skin look clearer but you’ll have a lot more energy, to boot.
Hint: It’s Also Found in Your Glass of OJ
Your body will continue to produce collagen throughout your life, but the manufacturing process slows down with age. Vitamin C can considerably help with this problem, because when consumed, the vitamin actually synthesizes collagen—meaning, it makes it (apologies for all the biology lessons). Some studies have shown that vitamin C may also help prevent and treat ultraviolet-induced photodamage. Boosts your immune system and your skin? A win-win, if you ask us.
A Personalized Vitamin Pack
Despite the popularity of “wellness” these days, it’s still kind of confusing to figure out whichvitamins you need. A? B? K2? OK, we’re lost.
The new company Care/of removes the guesswork and guides you in creating a custom pill pack based on your health, goals and lifestyle (using scientific advisers from the Harvard School of Public Health and the Tufts Human Nutrition Center on Aging, FYI). Once you find your ideal combination, you can expect a monthly delivery straight to your doorstep.
You Don’t Want Them Showing Up On Your Face
OK, so this may be a tough pill to swallow, but stress affects our overall health way more than we think it does. And while your kids, career and mortgage payments don’t show any signs of slowing down, you need to prioritize some downtime. Start by heading to a sauna. Not only is a sauna or infrared bathing great for relaxation, but there’s also evidence that it can help you age well. The heat stressors reset and detox the body and activate longevity genes. See, you always knew that pool membership was a good investment.
