When skin starts to age, it begins losing elasticity and the ability to produce as much collagen as it once did. After you reach your 40s, you might have to help your skin out a little bit to give it some radiance and keep it supple as it once was in your 20s and 30s. There are plenty of skincare habits and products you can start including in your routine to reveal your most youthful glow. It’s never too late to start — here are our ultimate skincare hacks for aging skin in 2022.
1.Cleanse, cleanse, cleanse
This should be the first and last part of your day, and it’s the most important step for healthy skin — even more than expensive products and facials. To remove the contaminants from your face, you should use a mild 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 you don’t damage the skin. Try to use 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 spot and wrinkle-free. Avoid being out in the sun too much, wear a wide-brimmed hat if possible and use a minimum of SPF 30 (some people say SPF 50 is better) on your face. Your facial skin is a lot more sensitive than the rest of your body, so those rays can do a lot 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. More lightweight than a moisturizer is a gel or a serum which are often packed with 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. Hydrate
As we get older, our skin loses the ability to naturally hydrate. Hydrating with a face cream can help refill water levels in your skin as well as lock water in and keep skin moisturized throughout the day. You can also mix multiple moisturizers, and your sunscreen will help add some moisture as well.
5. Night cream
Protecting your skin before you sleep is essential. A night cream might include retinol, a powerful anti-aging ingredient which shouldn’t be worn in the sunlight, making it ideal for overnight usage. Another superb ingredient for maturing skin is glycolic acid, which can help slough off dead cells and keep skin looking as young as possible. A richer cream might be necessary for mature skin.
6. Eating healthy and hydrating
As many products as you apply to the outside, it’s nothing if you’re eating sugary, processed fast foods as the bulk of your diet. Drinking enough water and eating fresh fruits and vegetables is key, since they’re often packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Healthy fats are also key, so get in those Omega-3s and eat some healthy fish. Lifestyle habits are also important — smoking will wreak havoc on your skin as it constricts blood vessels while alcohol can be severely dehydrating.
7. Get enough sleep
There’s a reason it’s called beauty sleep! Even if you do all of the above, if you’re not getting rest, your skin will not look good and that’s an unfortunate fact. So be sure to get your eight hours and prioritize sleep even if you live a busy lifestyle, because otherwise, it won’t take long for dark circles and a dull complexion to show up.
8. Additional treatments
Along with have a skincare routine at home as we mentioned above, you can use face masks and exfoliation to improve the health of your skin as well. Face masks add moisture and have anti-aging properties — some even reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Exfoliators come in many forms — you can opt for a food-derived one or a gentle chemical exfoliator that contains AHA as a weekly treatment.
9. Use a humidifier in dry or cold weather
When winter comes around, forget dewy, rosy skin. Dry skin leads to wrinkles, patches, roughness and all other kinds of things that make you want to go get an expensive facial at a spa. 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 for it.
