Anti Aging Skin Care

Your Guide To Slowing Down The Hands Of Time

Really, when you think about it, anti aging skin care is kind of a silly name.  Aging is, after all, an inevitable physiological process, and as long as you are continuing to move forward in time celebrating birthdays, aging will be an unavoidable part of your life experience.

What the term 'anti aging' really implies is an effort to minimize your rate of aging to the best of your ability by addressing issues like nutrition, physical fitness, exposure to tissue damaging agents like free radicals and skin care.  

Anti aging skin care IDEALLY starts from an early age for optimal results, but if your are attending to your skin a little later in life (all you tail end Baby Boomer's and Generation X-er's) take heart, you will still see results that you can be happy with.

So, What Meaningful Measures Can We Take With Our Skin Care?
(And Can It Actually Slow Down Our Rate Of Aging?)

ANTI AGING SKIN CARE GUIDE STEP #1 - PROTECT YOUR SKIN 

PRIMARILY FROM THE SUN...

Part I.  The most significant measure you can take, one that will keep your skin looking it's most youthful for your chronological age, is being careful in the sun...don't ever let it burn.  To avoid burning doesn't mean avoiding the sun.  The sun is SO good for you in many ways.  What being careful means is using common sense in the sun.  Arm yourself with knowledge and good quality sun protection products, and then go out and enjoy it.

Part II.  *Hand down a legacy of good common sun sense to your kids.  Teach them about the sun, and how to enjoy it safely.  As you put on a quality broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF of 15 or 30 ( I don't recommend a higher SPF than 30 except for special circumstances), explain to them about how the sun shine travels in the form of ultra violet rays that can be harmful to our skin when our skin gets too much (which can happen in about 20-30 minutes of direct exposure).  Explain when you put on their hat, that the sun is strongest when it is at its highest point in the sky (usually between the hours of 10 AM and 2 PM).  Explain when you put on their sunglasses, that not only do they look really cool, they are protecting their eyes from the suns rays reflecting off objects like sand and water, and potentially harmful to their eyes.

A life in the sun is good for the soul but very hard on the skin if its not protected.

Image: ©beauty-and-makeup-tips.com.com/ A life in the sun...

Aside: *When I was a kid, most people (especially teens) didn't attempt to 'screen' or 'block' the sun, they were looking for 'tan accelerators'! Anything that would speed up the coveted display of a tan ( even my grandmother applied baby oil to her skin  before gardening). A different time.

My face is telling that tale now...one of skin that has fair Northern European  ancestry, sun worshiping for many years...not the best habit I ever had.

My children will know better!

For great sun care information, quick facts and great product choices, click on Sun Care on the left navigation tool bar.

DON'T FORGET OTHER  ANTI AGING SKIN CARE PROTECTION FROM OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS SUCH AS WIND, POLLUTION, EXTREME TEMPERATURES.

ANTI AGING SKIN CARE GUIDE STEP #2 - BE INFORMED

There are many different places being informed is going to both SERVE AND PROTECT you:

• ensuring your present skin care regime is effective and serving your unique skin issues well
• skin care knowledge that is current will inform you of news relating to subjects such as cosmetic ingredients proving to be beneficial or harmful (ex.  new anti aging skin care products that unbiased studies support, new ingredients proving helpful to skin restoration, new procedures, sunscreen agents that when combined with uv absorption become unstable etcetera...)
• keeping current with reliable skin care information sources will also help you make sound judgment calls for yourself
• cause you to take steps that improve your skin's appearance
  

Do some homework...as unappealing as that may sound, you will be saving yourself BIG $$, disappointment and time (trying to faithfully follow a hopeful new regimen that doesn't work and usually takes 3-6 weeks to see apparent results).

As cynical as I feel sometimes when new wonder anti aging ingredients come to the cosmetic marketplace, there are truly wonder ingredients that *science has explored, and supports.

*Check to see if the study's clinical 'context' is not only unbiased, as in conducted by non company lab but also that it's reported success can be replicated in your experience.

Strivectin, Hyaluronic Acid, Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Retin A, Green Tea, Cytokinin, Alpha Lipoic Acid....are all great anti aging success ingredients...however, they do require specific formulations for you to see any benefits.

There are also plenty of ingredients that have been explored and disproved, or at best remain unsubstantiated, but that doesn't mean the larger consumer market place is aware of those findings- and those findings certainly aren't going to be presented by the cosmetic industry.

For your convenience, here is my current quick study on popular anti aging skin care ingredients...

Anti Aging Skin Care Products at Beso.com Beso.comAds by

ANTI AGING SKIN CARE GUIDE STEP #3 - BE PROACTIVE

Take action when it comes to anti aging skin care. There are things you can do and they will get you results!

Anti aging skin care falls generally into these basic categories;

DO IT YOURSELF:

1.  PREVENTION- a good skin care program which includes exfoliation and sun protection

2.  REVERSAL of SOME damage- skin lightener for pigmentation problems, Retin A for strong cell turnover (exfoliation)

3.  RESTORATION (SOME)- of skin tone, texture

4.  REDUCTION in the appearance of aging i.e. loss of skin elasticity, fine lines, wrinkles, dehydrations, pore size

Your skin is an organ that reflects your biological age, but also reflects the health of your overall body...don't forget to take care of your 'one and only' body.  Good nutrition, opting for low fat choices, good water intake (don't over do it), moderate consumption of alcohol, good sleep habits, and regular intentional exercise (planned and effective), ALL will generate contribute to anti aging skin care and deliver your best skin.

You would be surprised at what some great anti aging makeup products can do to combat the appearance of aging skin.  Take a look at my anti aging makeup techniques article and this page on amazing new makeup products that address issues specific to anti aging skin care. You might even amaze yourself!

MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL:

5.  REDUCTION of wrinkles-Non Invasive-addressing dynamic expression lines and loss of volume; Botox, Restylane, Juvaderm, Collagen etc.

6.  REWORK SKIN SURFACE- Invasive- lift, tighten sagging skin, deep resurfacing of skin via laser technology, and other surgical methods.

Last word on anti aging skin care...

Middle age is when you become particularly vulnerable to the promises and potential of anti aging products.  A clever cosmetics company Philosophy aptly named one of their anti aging creams "Hope In A Jar"...that's what anti aging skin care feels like 'in a nutshell'. 

Have realistic expectations as you 'advance in birthdays'...nothing will keep you in a twenties holding pattern.  Be positive, be hopeful, be proactive but don't be gullible and you will be sure to find your best when you look in the mirror.

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