Every year that goes by, you blow out the ever-increasing number of candles on your birthday cake and reminisce on life’s journey. From making strides in your career to gaining self-confidence, getting older is something to joyfully embrace. Plus, the research is in, and studies demonstrate that happiness actually increases as we age [1].
When it comes to our skin, however, it helps to not have to show the wisdom we’ve accrued or the bliss we’ve experienced. Fortunately, there are dozens of ways to maintain your youthful glow. Best of all, life takes on a more glorious hue when our complexions mirror our inner radiance.
Read on for our 8 savviest tips on sustaining your skin’s youthful bounce—and that bounce in your step.
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#1 Shield Your Skin
Wearing SPF is arguably the most frequently-repeated advice when asking how to stay looking young. There’s a reason for this. Studies indicate that the sun’s harmful rays are responsible for a whopping 80% of the signs of aging [2].
The combination of UVA and UVB radiation crushes your radiance and may result in a whole litany of skincare woes, including [3]:
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, there are also several other less obvious signs of sun-damaged skin, including broken blood vessels and a red neck—which, it’s safe to say, is helpful to avoid.
To this end, wear a daily moisturizer with SPF of 30 or higher religiously—as in every single day.
This applies to the drab depths of winter, too. While it might seem like there’s a respite from the sun in the cloudiest, darkest of seasons, dermatologists claim that the sun’s rays can also be even more dangerous during winter. Nearly 80% of UV radiation is reflected off the snow. By comparison, 25% of UV radiation is reflected off sand [4]
Weave SPF into your morning skincare routine and wear a hat if you’re planning to spend a great deal of time outside.
#2 Rethink The Position You Sleep
Sun isn’t the only culprit behind fine lines and wrinkles. The way you sleep can also impact the smooth, supple skin you’re keen on achieving or retaining.
If you’ve gotten into the habit of sleeping on your face or side, keep in mind that all of those hours of compressing your face (and chest) against a surface may result in wrinkles [5]. Here’s how to resolve it:
- Train yourself to sleep on your back, which will keep the skin on your face, neck, and chest free and open.
- Invest in a bamboo or satin pillowcase to curb the amount of friction your healthy skin encounters if you do end up curling into the fetal position or sleeping face-down.
- Elevate your head while you sleep to ward off puffiness and raccoon-like circles by keeping blood and fluid from accumulating under your eyes.
#3 Prioritize Sleep, Period
Remember those footloose and fancy-free days when we could get away with five hours of sleep and still look fantastic? While it certainly wasn’t healthy, our skin seemed a tad more forgiving when we skimped on slumber.
A mounting body of research reveals that deep, restorative sleep is as imperative to our well-being as proper nutrition and adequate hydration [6]. It’s not just essential for helping us preserve a bright demeanor or being quick on our reflexes, either. Studies indicate that a single night of poor sleep may affect the health and appearance of our skin and lead to [7]:
- Lips that droop at the corners
- Puffy eyes
- Eyelids that hang
- Wrinkles
Why? Because your skin performs the vast majority of its reparative tasks while you sleep, from synthesizing collagen to repairing the effects of UV radiation.
Alas, research also shows that people struggle to get a good night’s sleep as they age [8]. Medications, lifestyle changes (such as exercising less), and reduced amounts of melatonin and growth hormone—two “chemical messengers” that are crucial for sleep—can all cause us to toss and turn throughout the night and interrupt the body’s natural healing process.
With this in mind, turn bedtime into a nurturing, soothing event. Unwind with a peace-inducing hot bath, reduce your screen time, and keep your room comfortable, clean, and cool. And if sleep problems persist, you may want to schedule an appointment with your healthcare practitioner. Your skin (and body and mind) will amply thank you.
#4 Reach for Retinol
There are thousands of age-defying products on the market, but retinol is deemed the most effective over-the-counter solution for mitigating the signs of premature aging skin [9]. Derived from Vitamin A, retinol has proven efficacy in terms of diminishing some of the most telltale “side effects” of time’s perpetual forward motion.
Specifically, retinol has the power to [10]:
- Naturally exfoliate your skin – Exfoliation is one of the keys to holding onto lush, springy skin. Retinol asks similarly to a traditional exfoliant. The difference is that it prevents the build up of dead skin while traditional exfoliants break the bonds between dead skin cells. Nonetheless, it’ll transform ashy, dull, and dry skin —to reveal the brighter, healthier layer underneath.
- Plump up your complexion – As people age, they manufacture less and less collagen and elastin, two naturally-generated proteins that are critical to maintaining the structure, resilience, and plumpness of their skin. Indeed, this is precisely why damaged, less youthful skin has that characteristic “hollowed-out” look. Retinol works towards countering this by stimulating collagen and elastin production [11]. This has the potential to minimize the appearance of enlarged pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.
- Improve skin tone – Sun damage doesn’t just promote the development of fine lines and wrinkles: It can also do a number on the evenness of your skin tone. Retinol may help with hyperpigmentation to bring your skin back into balance.
Consult with a board-certified dermatologist to learn how to integrate retinol into your skincare routine. PROVEN skincare utilizes advanced tech to develop a personalized skincare set with formulations using Granactive Retinoid to target anti-aging concerns. Continuing with our skincare regimen will help your skin get used to retinol and other active ingredients, as it’s automatically introduced in gradual amounts to restore your radiance.
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#5 Revitalize With Vitamin C
What was once reserved for staving off winter colds has become one of the most lauded and valuable skincare ingredients. And while you can certainly amplify your Vitamin C intake with dietary supplements and a diet brimming with produce, research suggests that topical Vitamin C—or what you would find in a gel, eye cream, or serum—is more effective [12].
In addition to encouraging collagen production, Vitamin C may have a bevy of health benefits for your skin, such as:
- Enhancing your natural glow by evening out your skin tone
- Repairing cartilage and damaged skin
- Reducing the signs of fine lines and wrinkles
Luckily, Vitamin C is available in a vast majority of our skin set formulations, allowing you to braid it into your skincare regimen with ease.
#6 Nourish Your Skin From the Inside Out
As wonderfully beneficial as topical products can be, your skin’s health is also profoundly affected by what you consume—including the amount of water you drink and the foods you eat.
You may already follow a whole-foods diet (at least part of the time), but if you’re wondering how to keep skin young, you’ll also want to specifically prioritize anti-inflammatory foods. There’s a direct link between inflammation, such as UV radiation, and the signs of photodamage and aging [13].
With this in mind, combat the free radicals your skin tussles with by weaving these antioxidant-rich eats into your diet [14]:
- Broccoli
- Fatty fish (such as salmon, mackerel, and herring)
- Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries
- Avocado
- Peppers
- Grapes
- Mushrooms
- Tomatoes
- Cherries
Take this up a level by using extra virgin olive oil when you cook and relax with a cup of hot green tea and a piece of dark chocolate—both have been shown to temper inflammation.
#7 Use a Gentle Cleanser and Quench Your Complexion’s Thirst
Double cleansing has been in vogue for some time, but it’s especially popular now amidst the glass skin craze.
Keeping your skin free from dirt and bacteria is one of the golden tickets to glowing skin, but over-cleansing, especially with hash chemicals, can deprive your skin of much-needed moisture and exacerbate the sight of fine lines and wrinkles [15].
When you do wash your face, use a rich, creamy facial cleanser that’s free from harmful additives like parabens and sulfates, and after applying a serum, use a moisturizer to keep your skin well hydrated.
#8 Let Your Face Relax
You might be surprised by the number of facial expressions we make on a daily, and even hourly, basis. From squinting at our smartphone’s screen to raising our eyebrows in shock when you know who walks in the room, our faces are often hard at work.
Over time, these facial expressions, which create temporary, dynamic wrinkles, can turn into more profoundly-entrenched static wrinkles—something those of us who are searching for ways on how to keep skin young want to dodge.
This is not to advocate looking like a statue and refraining from laughter, smiling, crying, and frowning. Instead, let your facial muscles chill out here and there too. Relax your jaw, bring your smartphone closer to your face (or wear glasses), and invoke your inner tranquility.
Bask in Luminous, Youthful Skin With PROVEN Skincare
PROVEN Skincare is the partner to bring along on this journey. After completing a quick but thorough skin quiz, we’ll provide you with a list of skin-saving ingredients that will help you ring in each new year delightedly.
Age with grace and pride with Proven by your side.
