I’m no spring chicken. Your girl is now closer to her mid-30s than early 30’s and like most women, I used to dread and fear the aging process. Wrinkles, sagging skin, sun spots, back pain, debilitating hangovers… please count me out! Yet, as I progress through my 30’s I’ve found that my perspective on aging has shifted significantly. For anyone who doubts that they could ever be gung-ho about aging, read and take notes. Looking and feeling damned good in your 30’s and onwards is in fact, possible, with the right tools, techniques & mindset of course 😉. These are the non-negotiable skincare products and practices that will make all the difference in your 30s+ but trust me, you’ll want to start them in your 20s (I wish I did). Here we go… #1: Wear sunscreen & STOP TANNING In aesthetics, most of what we do is about constantly trying to preserve and stimulate COLLAGEN. We’re also reeeealllly trying our best to help you prevent skin cancer. Simply put, sunscreen and keeping your sun exposure to a minimum, prevents skin cancer & aging concerns due to cumulative sun damage. Wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, thin, sagging, leathery skin and chronic inflammation are all symptoms of damage due to UV rays. Why is this? Because UV rays, specifically UVA rays break down the most abundant protein responsible for our skin structure: COLLAGEN. It's a primary instigator for inflammation and free radical damage which results in cell mutation and degradation. Deliberate tanning, in all forms, accelerates those symptoms which leads to premature aging. This is the most important practice I wish I implemented as a non-negotiable in my younger years as I am now working on correcting the damage. Skincare Essential: An antioxidant-rich broad-spectrum sunscreen Skincare Fact: Sunscreen prevents damage, antioxidants correct it, hence why they should be paired together Skincare Practice: Avoid the sun & spread the word about sun safety Top Tip: Build sun safe practices into your daily routine with the family. Healthy skin starts with healthy habits from childhood Top Skincare Pick Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46 An anti-inflammatory sunscreen safe for even the most reactive skin types in a lightweight texture that everyone can get on board with. Tinted formula now available for a sun-kissed glow #2: Spend time on CLEANSING, especially in the PM Prepping your skin thoroughly every morning and evening sets your skin up for success. This is a foundational concept for healthy skin function. Our skin is constantly exposed to environmental debris, bacteria, products, natural oil and sweat aka the recipe for a congestion cocktail. If there are blockages in our skin, skincare cannot effectively penetrate and perform at its best. When you really think about how much gets in contact with your face in the 16-18 hours you’re awake, a double cleanse totaling two full minutes is not asking for a lot. The last big no-no: Never ever EVER go to bed with makeup on as it accelerates the aging process tremendously. Skincare Essential: An acidic pH cleanser Skin fact: Your skin’s natural pH lies on the slightly acidic side of the pH scale (roughly 4.5-5.5) which is meant to inhibit bacteria. Using a cleanser that is developed with an acidic pH will aid in effectively removing debris without over-stripping the skin's natural balance Skincare Practice: Gentle Cleanse in the AM | Double Cleanse in the PM Top Tip: Time yourself when you cleanse and pay extra attention to the areas most prone to congestion & breakouts (1 min/cleanse) If wearing makeup, then the cleansing process should ideally also include one of the following: Micellar Water Cleansing Balm or Oil Cleanser Top Skincare Pick: iS Clinical Cleansing Complex The most versatile and gentle but decongesting gel cleanser that leaves your skin feeling oh so fresh and balanced 3: Exfoliate Regularly Another necessary practice, both in and out of the treatment room is, exfoliation. Removing the build up of dead skin cells is key to maintaining healthy young skin. As you age, cell turnover slows down. This is the process whereby dead cells are replaced by new healthy cells. As these dead cells pile up, it is expected that:
To achieve healthy skin function that operates as young skin does, it is imperative to constantly promote cell turnover through the use of exfoliants and/or retinoids (more on that next). In general, exfoliating 1-3x/week is sufficient however, can be successfully implemented daily through the use of chemical acids. Monthly treatments that expose your skin to deeper methods of exfoliation are an excellent way to further accelerate results. Skincare Essential: Enzymes and/or Chemical Acids Skin Fact: Healthy cell turnover occurs in roughly 28 days however that process naturally slows down as we age which results in a much thicker epidermis (1st layer of skin) and thinner dermis (2nd layer). To restore youthful skin, we want to achieve the opposite: thin epidermis, thick dermis. Skincare Practice: Build in at least one form of exfoliation to your skincare routine Top Tip: Dedicate the same days during the week for your exfoliation so it becomes a habit Top Skincare Picks: iS Clinical Warming Honey Cleanser & iS Clinical Active Serum Warming Honey Cleanser leaves your skin radiant and refined with an antibacterial, triple honey blend and papaya enzymes Active Serum is a multifunctional chemical acid blend that provides lasting results for clear, youthful looking skin #4: Topically apply and eat your antioxidants Everything that goes into and onto your body plays a significant role in skin health. It is important to nourish your skin from the inside out by ingesting a variety of vitamin/mineral-rich natural food sources that includes lean proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. Consuming foods with a variety of antioxidants like vitamin c, vitamin e, resveratrol, lycopene, EGCG and beta-carotene assist in:
Foods with high concentrations of the above:
Our bodies are designed to break down food and disperse nutrients to organs that require them first, our skin being the last to receive them. This is why it is equally necessary to topically apply skincare with antioxidants. Skincare Essentials: Vitamin C Serums + Retinoids Skin Fact: These two antioxidants have the most supporting clinical research to prove their effectiveness which means, in properly formulated products, most people can integrate them regularly and will notice results. Basically, THEY REALLY WORK Skincare Practice: Vitamin C in the AM - Retinoids in the PM - whole foods daily Top Tip: You don't need every antioxidant in the market. Keep it simple, start with staples and be consistent with application & consumption Top Skincare Picks iS Clinical Super Serum + DMK Revise-A Super Serum is the ultimate glow in a bottle. It tackles an array of aging concerns ie. hyperpigmentation and is suitable for all skin types Revise-A is a blended retinoid product that is easy to integrate and tolerate to tackle everything from acne to sun damaged skin I’d like to end part one off with something that I say often and whole-heartedly believe. Strive for progress, not perfection. There are no magical overnight fixes and the end goal should never be perfection. When we make self-care practices a priority, we can find true beauty and happiness in progress, and ultimately, learn to enjoy the aging process.
Shop my top skincare picks online www.skinforeverinc.ca/s/shop To shop DMK email [email protected] xoxo Alicia
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