"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

About the face

This day by day routine will help your aging skin stay healthy.

Your skin goes through many changes as you age. All that you must do is look within the mirror.

As you age, the skin loses fat and becomes thin and dry. Red and scaly patches may appear on the face (a condition called rosacea).

The patches may additionally be waxy and pink, especially across the nose, eyebrows, ears, and hairline (a condition often known as seborrheic dermatitis). Years of sun exposure could cause extra wrinkles and dark spots.

But your skin (and face) is just not defenseless against the results of time and life.

Give me an A.

Another solution to help rejuvenate aging skin is to make use of a lotion or cream with a vitamin A-derived retinoid. Retinoids increase collagen (probably the most abundant protein within the body) and help firm skin and reduce wrinkles and sun spots. Choose products with retinol or adapalene as energetic ingredients. Apply a pea-sized amount throughout your face before going to bed. Retinoids make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, so avoid using them in the course of the day. Apply every three days at first, as they’ll irritate the skin if overused. Monitor your skin for redness, significant peeling, or irritation. As your skin builds tolerance, increase applications each night.

Step 1: Wash.

Wash your face and neck once day by day if you could have dry skin, and twice day by day if not. “Avoid using soap on a regular basis,” says Dr. Waldman. “It strips the skin of its outer layer and makes it harder to retain moisture.”

Instead, select an over-the-counter product labeled as a delicate cleanser for sensitive skin. “But avoid facial scrubs with fine particles, as they can irritate the skin and lead to more breakouts, dryness, or uneven pigmentation,” says Dr. Waldman.

Wash your face the identical way you wash your hands to avoid germs. Massage a pea-sized amount of cleanser onto your wet face and neck for about 20 seconds, or so long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice, after which rinse with warm or lukewarm water. “If you tend to get waxy red or pink patches around the nose, ears, eyebrows and hairline, make sure to spend extra time washing those areas,” says Dr. Waldman.

Keep your cleanser by the toilet sink as a reminder once you brush your teeth—after you get up and before you go to bed.

Step 2: Moisturize.

Apply a moisturizing lotion or cream after washing. (People with oily skin can often skip it.) “Moisturizing rebuilds the skin's outer barrier to keep moisture out and foreign substances in,” says Dr. Waldman. can go.” Dr. Waldman says.

While your skin continues to be damp, apply one dollop throughout your face and one in your neck until completely absorbed. Look for lotions or creams with fewer than 10 ingredients or labeled for sensitive skin. “Fewer ingredients means fewer chemicals or additives, especially fragrances that can irritate sensitive skin,” says Dr. Waldman.

Key ingredients include hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, glycolic acid, and squalene, which help keep skin hydrated. Vitamin C or azelaic acid will help especially with dark spots.

You may have more moisturizer during winter when your skin becomes drier. “The lotion or cream should stay in place when you invert the bottle,” says Dr. Waldman.

Although your arms, legs and body may not show the identical aging because the face and neck, it’s best to moisturize the skin throughout your body to stop dryness, itchiness and itchiness. Moisturize your entire body after showering while your skin continues to be wet.

Step 3: Apply sunscreen.

Finally, apply sunscreen to your face, especially across the eyes, in addition to your neck and ears. Sunscreen not only protects against skin cancer and the aging effects of sunlight, but in addition helps prevent brown spots and forestall existing ones from worsening.

Use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of a minimum of 30. Also, search for products labeled for sensitive skin or children. Avoid spray sunscreens, which contain alcohol that may burn.

“For performance, a combination of a moisturizing and sunscreen product works well,” says Dr. Waldman.

Photo: © Ryan McVay/Getty Images