It is impossible to preserve youth forever, but it is quite possible to delay the onset of old age by decades. You don't have to wait for the first wrinkles to start taking care of anti-aging - it's better to take preventive measures in advance. Let's take a look at where to start, what to focus on, and what results to aim for.
How the skin ages
The aging process affects all cells 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 hormonal levels - things that are impossible or very difficult to change. The second is stress, exposure to air and ultraviolet pollution, smoking, poor diet, lack of sleep and movement, various diseases. These factors can be controlled. The negative effects can be at least partially neutralized with quality skin care.
With age, many processes on which the condition of the skin depends slows down, for example, cells do not renew as quickly as in youth. Blood circulation deteriorates, and therefore cell nutrition. Due to lack of hyaluronic acid, the level of hydration decreases and less collagen and elastin are produced. The skin becomes thin, dry, elastic, and wrinkles appear.
External factors aggravate the situation. Thus, as a result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the structure of the skin changes, it becomes thinner and more elastic. Smoking slows down the regeneration of the epidermis, impairs blood circulation, which leads to a breakdown in the nutrition of cells. Air pollution causes age spots and wrinkles.
The good news is that a healthy lifestyle can prolong youth. Eating antioxidant-rich foods, quality sleep, and moderate physical activity will help you maintain your beauty for a long time.
Prevention or treatment?
It is believed that the skin begins to age from the age of 28. In fact, everyone is individual: some people show signs of aging early, others later, depending on genetic characteristics, health status, lifestyle and the influence of external factors. In any case, you don't need to put off taking care of yourself until you don't like the reflection in the mirror. Prevention is always more effective and affordable than cure, so preventative care is essential to prolonging your youth. The longer you go, the stronger the product you will need to use, but to prevent aging, it is enough to take good care of your skin and protect it from negative effects.
When choosing cosmetics, you should pay attention not to the brand, but to the recommendations of the beautician after personal examination. Everyone is different, and the aging process is different, and it takes an individualized approach to correct it. The doctor determines the means suitable for the biological age, not the calendar.
Key Features of Anti-Aging Care
- Soft touch. It's time to ditch harsh scrubs and harsh products that dry out your skin. Mature skin is sensitive and does not recover well after traumatic procedures. It should be tender, tender care;
- Mandatory skin protection. The sun is the number 1 enemy of the skin. It is not for nothing that the special term "photoaging" refers to the changes that occur in the skin under the influence of ultraviolet rays. With age, it becomes difficult for the skin to withstand their effects. In this regard, creams with SPF will help him. It is also necessary to protect the skin from the effects of free radicals;
- Intensive hydration. The immediate cause of loss of tone and appearance of wrinkles is a lack of moisture. Antiaging care is based on deep hydration;
- Stimulate collagen production. In old age, collagen, which is responsible for the elasticity of the skin, is synthesized more slowly and destroyed faster than in young people. This means additional stimulation of the formation of its own protein compounds, which are necessary to increase the turgor of the epidermis;
- Not just cream. A thin layer of moisturizer may not be enough. Anti-aging care also includes intensive skin nutrition, exfoliants, masks and serums. The need for professional procedures is also increasing every year;
- Regularity. Young skin forgives its owner for minor sins, such as cosmetics not washed off at night or improper care. Adult women need to take care of their face, neck and décolleté every day and year after year. Only in this case you can be sure of a noticeable result.
Doctor's Comment:
You don't need to overcomplicate your skin care routine in your mind, start small with proper home care! If you have dermatological diseases, you should consult a dermatologist! Because even high-quality home care can't get you out of the acute process. First, treatment in the background of cosmoceutical care, and only then everything else.
Is it possible to work without a cosmetologist?
Aesthetic medicine and cosmetology have not yet realized the dream of eternal youth, but have made it possible to be much closer to its realization. Injectable and hardware cosmetology procedures allow you to rejuvenate from the inside and restore the skin naturally. But if you think that it is enough to take a course at a cosmetology clinic once a year and neglect the care of your face and body the rest of the time, you would be wrong. Professional care should be supplemented by home care - constant, daily. This method allows you to achieve optimal results and delay aging for many years.
To preserve youth, cosmetic procedures are very necessary, and anti-aging care at home is very necessary. The best is a combination of both.
Anti-aging care at home
Now it's time to take a closer look at what antiaging skin care should consist of. What steps it consists of, what tools to use and how to use them properly.
It should be emphasized again that the age at which you can start from the point of view of rejuvenation for facial care is determined individually. It is difficult to self-assess the condition of the skin and detect changes in time, so it is better to consult with a beautician to create a personal plan to maintain youth.
Brush up
It is necessary to constantly fight age changes, and it is even better to choose daily personal hygiene products with a rejuvenating effect. To avoid fading, it is recommended to use the mildest, most gentle cleansers possible. They should easily remove make-up residue, oil and dirt, but not dry or injure the skin.
When choosing a cleanser, you should pay attention to the condition of your skin. If moisture or discomfort occurs after washing, then you should look for another option with a high content of moisturizing components. The appearance of an oily sheen, surprisingly, indicates a lack of moisture. If irritation and redness appear, then you should pay attention to hypoallergenic products.
Even if your skin is prone to rashes, you should not choose aggressive drying products. It is better to give preference to cosmetics with an anti-inflammatory effect.
Morning and evening cleansing are two different procedures. In the first case, you just need to remove the skin secretion and the remnants of the night cream. Peno can easily cope with this task, and in some cases it is enough to use only tonic. In the evening, you should also remove the remnants of sunscreen, cosmetics and atmospheric pollution. Lotions, creams, and makeup removers come in handy in this situation. In addition, 1-2 times a week you should use a pore cleansing mask.
You should clean not only your face, but also your neck and décolleté. These areas are very prone to aging and therefore require careful attention.
Toning
These stages of care are underestimated by many and are completely free. Using a tonic restores the water and acid balance, prepares the face for cream application and protects against aggressive effects. In addition, the residue that the cleansing lotion or foam cannot withstand is removed.
Tonic is selected according to skin type and used in the morning and evening after washing (or other cleansing). In both cases, the same suitable agent can be used.
Hydration
Perhaps the most important thing in antiaging care is hydration. Mature skin is always in need of moisture and, accordingly, moisturizers and professional treatments.
The hyaluronic acid molecule has an impressive size and cannot pass through the epidermal barrier to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, which is why injections have been and remain the most effective way to use it. But scientists have learned to manipulate the molecule so that it penetrates the dermis better. Thanks to these developments, the effectiveness of modern external products with hyaluronic acid has increased significantly.
Another well-known hydrant is urea. Do not be surprised by the unpleasant name: the substance saturates the skin with moisture, and at the same time stimulates cell renewal. Such products are best suited for dry, dehydrated, rough and rough skin. Creams with a low urea content are enough to maintain the moisture level and improve the complexion. More concentrated products are used for smoothing rough calluses on the legs.
Glycerin is another popular ingredient. Due to its hygroscopicity, it attracts and binds water molecules such as hyaluronic acid. Trihydric alcohol (glycerin) is inferior to hyaluronic acid in terms of moisturizing properties, but it has small molecules that easily penetrate the skin. This component is included in most budget moisturizers with its anti-aging effect. At the same time, concentrated glycerin can have the opposite effect by dehydrating the epidermis, so most manufacturers combine trihydric alcohol with other skin moisturizers.
Doctor's Comment:
I want to emphasize that we choose products with urea in hyperkeratosis, for example, rough skin, psoriasis, ichthyosis. Urea helps to exfoliate the skin, while other components of the products moisturize and nourish.
Eating out
Unlike other organs, the skin can receive nutrition in the traditional way - not only through the blood, but also by absorbing substances applied to its surface. It is not only moisture, but also all kinds of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and lipids. They supplement nutritional deficiencies in the skin, improve the structure of the epidermis, enrich it with useful ingredients and strengthen the protective lipid layer.
If earlier cosmetics were reliably divided into moisturizing and nourishing, now this line has been erased: the same cream can saturate the skin with moisture and useful substances. As a rule, modern creams, serums and masks combine both types of effects.
Oils and fat-soluble substances are essential for nourishing the skin. Don't underestimate their importance in saving the youth. With age, the skin needs more lipids. Even girls who complained about excessive oil production in their youth note that their skin is becoming drier as the years go by. The oily film on the surface of the skin is thin and cannot protect the epidermis from the negative effects of the environment.
Lipid deficiency causes:
- increase sensitivity;
- Slows down exfoliation of dead cells;
- decrease in humidity;
- Early wilting.
It is believed that the skin absorbs nutrients best at night, so it is recommended to use nutrients in the evening, at night.
Doctor's Comment:
Our skin is covered with a hydro-lipid mantle, a very important structure that ensures normal skin function! If its integrity is broken, the skin becomes fragile, dry, dehydrated, does not withstand aggressive environmental factors, and the balance of skin microflora is disturbed. We become defenseless and lose resistance to various skin diseases.
To defend
The skin protects the internal organs from the negative effects of the environment. Contact with polluted air, ultraviolet radiation, aggressive substances, low or high temperatures. This effect is not noticeable: the condition of the skin worsens. To avoid premature aging, you need to take care of your skin protection throughout your life.
First of all, it is necessary to protect the skin from sunlight. You should do this every time you go out during the day, not just when you're getting ready for the beach. The cream is used for 20-30 minutes until it spreads, if necessary, it should be renewed. In addition, such products should be selected according to your phototype: the whiter the skin, the higher the protection factor should be. If you do not follow these rules, using sunscreen lotion will not provide the expected benefits.
Sun protection cosmetics protect the skin not only from burning, but also from aging. Long-wave radiation (UVA) penetrates deep into the skin and destroys cells. Such rays damage the epidermis even in cloudy weather, so it is recommended to use products with SPF all year round.
Daily use of protective creams protects the skin from photoaging - pigmentation, sagging, wrinkles, dehydration. However, it is necessary to choose the means carefully. The best option would be pharmaceutical cosmeceuticals.
High-quality day creams usually contain sunscreen ingredients. If you need to combine moisturizers with Sanskrins, apply a moisturizer to the face and neck first, and a protective cream once it's fully absorbed.
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. 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;
- tannins;
- Beta glucan.
These components can be present in the cream in various combinations. Antioxidants are a recognized means of preventing aging, so it is recommended to use creams containing such ingredients before the first signs of age changes appear.
Doctor's Comment:
It is important to know that different antioxidants work only in certain combinations and that their absorption takes place according to the needs of the body. Space items are already provided in the correct combinations. It is important to determine your skin type and needs, and a dermatologist or cosmetologist can help you with this.
Special care
In addition to daily skin care, "special" procedures are also required. This category includes anti-aging courses in cosmetology clinics and the use of masks and peelings at home.
Mature skin needs to exfoliate more dead cells than younger skin, as natural renewal processes slow down with age. Therefore, peeling, which girls use only occasionally when they are young, becomes a necessity for adult women. Gentle exfoliators should be used 2-3 times a week.
It is important to use products designed for mature skin. They should be mild, without abrasive particles or irritating ingredients.
Masks cannot be left out when talking about skin care. They usually contain the same ingredients as creams, but in higher concentrations, so masks are intended for intensive therapy. They can be used regularly, to gradually improve the condition of the skin, or as an express care if you need to put your face in order before an event.
Masks can be produced in the form of creams, gels, powders for self-dissolving, and ready-made tissues soaked in healing compounds. The last variety is often used for quick skin rejuvenation.
The purpose of masks can also be different. For mature skin, nourishing, moisturizing, toning, firming and whitening products are best suited. Choosing a specific mask is best done together with a cosmetologist.
Doctor's Comment:
Pay attention to alginate masks, which are sold for home use, as well as professional ones. They have unique properties and are ideal for all skin types. Their medicinal properties are explained by the fact that they are made from brown algae. They have a very clear lymphatic drainage effect and are a powerful anti-aging agent.
From theory to practice: choosing cosmetics
A general understanding of healthy ingredients can help you choose your personal care products.
Day cream to prolong youth
The main tasks of the day cream are to moisturize and protect the skin. Hyaluronic acid and other moisturizing ingredients help achieve the first goal. Also, 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 such as vitamin C and E are used for this.
Vitamin C is generally called the vitamin of youth, and for good reason: ascorbic acid stimulates the production of collagen by fibrocytes and removes unwanted pigmentation and melanin.
When choosing a cream, preference should be given to so-called cosmetics, that is, cosmetics sold in pharmacies. These varieties differ from mass creams with a high content of active substances. accordingly, more effective. 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 the skin. Although modern night creams do not necessarily have a heavy, greasy 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 task of such products is to stimulate the production of hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin, which are necessary to restore the skin and improve its structure.
Do not overdo it when nourishing the skin - do not overload it with lipids. If you choose the wrong night cream, this effect is possible: the skin will have an oily sheen, clogged pores, comedones and rashes. Such phenomena indicate that the night cream was poorly chosen or used incorrectly.
It should be remembered that these thick, oily products are primarily intended for dehydrated, scaly and rough skin. In other cases, it's better to opt for lighter, more fluid textures. In addition, the cream should match your skin type and age: for antiaging care, it is better to use cosmetics with the inscription antiaging.
As for usage, the main mistake here is using too much. Night cream should be applied in a thin layer on slightly wet skin after using tonic. After 15 minutes, you can remove the excess that has not been absorbed into the epidermis with a tissue.
Don't forget to apply products not only on the face, but also on the neck and décolleté!
Doctor's Comment: Modern high-quality creams purchased at the pharmacy exclude the use of tonics. Choose your night cream and apply it half an hour before going to bed. Be careful not to touch the eyes. Light slapping motions.
Serums, peels and masks: secret weapons 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.
When choosing creams, it is advisable to give preference to serums and masks with antioxidants, moisturizing and nourishing ingredients. But having SPF is no longer necessary - a day cream takes care of the sun protection.
Antiaging serums may contain retinol, vitamin C, ceramides, peptides, collagen, and acids. Masks also often contain various oils that soften the upper layer of the epidermis. Modern effective peels are rarely acid-free.
In addition to masks and peels, it is necessary to get anti-aging serums. These are very concentrated products, and literally one or two drops are enough to change. As a rule, serums are non-greasy, they absorb instantly and significantly plump the skin. It is not surprising: they contain shocking doses of vitamins, amino acids, trace elements, peptides and other substances that moisturize, nourish, lighten and tone the skin.
When choosing such products, you should pay attention not to the type of skin, but to what problems need to be solved. Is there pigmentation? Serums that even out skin tone can help. Is the oval of the face "floating"? This means that you should choose an option with a lifting effect. Increased dryness of the epidermis? In addition to the usual cream, if you use a serum with hyaluronic acid, the problem will be solved faster.
Personal relationship
Choosing anti-aging cosmetics on your own is not as easy as you might think. The ideal option is to entrust the choice to a beautician. An experienced doctor can easily identify "weak places" that require maximum attention and help to choose the appropriate means.
It is much more difficult to detect the signs of aging on our own: we get used to our appearance and do not notice changes over time. The result is the wrong choice of anti-aging products, and, accordingly, ineffective prevention and treatment of skin aging. So visit your doctor within an hour to choose the right products for your skin.
And, of course, professional cosmetic procedures in the clinic will be the best addition to daily home care. We will tell about them next time.