When the skin begins to age, it begins to lose elasticity and the ability to produce as much collagen as before. After you hit your 40s, you may need to help your skin come out a bit to give it some radiance and keep it supple like it was in your 20s and 30s. There are many skincare habits and products you can start to include in your routine to reveal your most youthful glow. It’s never too late to start – these are our top skincare hacks for aging skin in 2022.
1. Clean, clean, clean
This should be the first and last part of your day, and it’s the most important step to healthy skin, even more so than expensive facial products and treatments. To remove contaminants from your face, you should use a gentle cleanser that won’t strip the skin. Some of these cleansers even have natural enzymes to act as a daily exfoliator. Be sure to use lukewarm water so as not to damage the skin. Try using a face wash with a low pH which will remove toxins but protect your natural barrier.
2. Protect your skin with SPF
Sunscreen is crucial when it comes to keeping skin blemish and wrinkle free. Avoid getting too much sun, wear a wide-brimmed hat if possible, and wear a minimum of SPF 30 (some people say SPF 50 is better) on your face. The skin on your face is much more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your body, so those rays can cause much more damage.
3. Invest in an anti-aging serum
As long as your cleanser is gentle enough, a toner shouldn’t be necessary. Now the next step is a serum with anti-aging properties. Lighter than a moisturizer is a gel or serum that often contains important vitamins and other essential nutrients. Serums often contain the most powerful ingredients of all skincare products, and hyaluronic acid is a great ingredient to look for when shopping for them.
4. Moisturize
As we age, our skin loses its ability to naturally hydrate itself. Moisturizing with a face cream can help replenish the water levels in your skin, as well as lock in water and keep your skin hydrated throughout the day. You can also mix several moisturizers together, and your sunscreen will help add some moisture as well.
5. Night cream
Protecting your skin before bed is essential. A night cream may include retinol, a powerful anti-aging ingredient that shouldn’t be used in sunlight, making it ideal for overnight use. Another great ingredient for mature skin is glycolic acid, which can help remove dead cells and keep skin looking as young as possible. A richer cream might be necessary for mature skin.
6. Eat healthy and hydrate
No matter how many products you apply to the exterior, it is of no use if you are eating sugary and processed fast foods as the bulk of your diet. Drinking enough water and eating fresh fruits and vegetables is key, as they are often packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Healthy fats are also key, so get those Omega-3s and eat healthy fish. Lifestyle habits are important, too: smoking will wreak havoc on your skin as it constricts blood vessels, while alcohol can severely dehydrate you.
7. Get enough sleep
There’s a reason it’s called beauty sleep! Even if you do all of the above, if you don’t rest, your skin won’t look its best, and that’s an unfortunate fact. So make sure you get your eight hours and prioritize sleep, even if you have a busy lifestyle, because otherwise dark circles and a dull complexion won’t be long in coming.
8. Additional treatments
Apart from having an at home skin care routine as we mentioned above, you can also use face masks and exfoliation to improve the health of your skin. The masks moisturize and have anti-aging properties; some even reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Scrubs come in many forms: You can opt for a food-derived one or a mild chemical exfoliant that contains AHAs as your weekly treatment.
9. Use a humidifier in dry or cold climates
Come winter, forget rosy, dewy skin. Dry skin causes wrinkles, patches, roughness, and all sorts of other things that make you want to go to a spa for an expensive facial. But adding a humidifier to your home or even an essential oil diffuser can introduce some moisture into your home, and your skin will thank you.
