No matter your age, this simple anti aging skincare routine can help you maintain gorgeous, youthful-looking skin. You can minimize signs of aging like fine lines, dark spots, and loose skin by slathering on high-quality products that contain our favorite anti-aging ingredients (think hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, retinol, and peptides).
5 Simple Anti-Aging Skincare Tips That’ll Transform Your Beauty Routine
1. Wash with a gentle cleanser
Cleansing is essential for the skin because dirt, dust, and the natural shedding of dead skin cells can build up and clog pores. A gentle cleanser helps prevent this and maximizes the effectiveness of other anti-aging products you use afterward, such as serums with ingredients like retinoids and vitamin C.
A good cleanser should target your skin type and include ingredients like niacinamide, which can brighten skin, fade dark spots, and improve fine lines and wrinkles. Woods recommends looking for products with a 2-5% niacinamide concentration for best results.
2. Use physical or chemical exfoliant
Your skin renews itself every 28 days, bringing new cells to the surface. But that process slows down with age, leading to dull, flaky skin. Regular exfoliation can help restore your glow.
You can physically exfoliate using a scrub or a chemical product with acids that dissolve dead skin cells. (Be sure to read the product instructions carefully, as some chemical exfoliators can be too harsh for daily use.
Another benefit of exfoliating is that it allows serums and moisturizers to penetrate more deeply. And since dryness contributes to facial lines, you want your anti-aging products to get at the skin’s core.
3. Use a Liquid-based Toner
Toner is a liquid-based skin care product that acts like a second cleanser. It removes remaining makeup and excess oil that may have accumulated on the face throughout the day, balances skin’s natural oils, helps unclog pores, and eliminates impurities. It can also help reduce the appearance of pores, improve skin tone, and reduce dark spots.
A good toner will also restore the skin’s pH levels, making it less prone to oiliness, breakouts, and other skincare problems. You can apply a toner by saturating a cotton ball (preferably a reusable one) with the formula and gently blotting it across the face, neck, and decollete.
Think of toner as a primer for your serums and moisturizers, New York-based dermatologist Arielle Kauvar tells Allure. “If you put a thick cream on a dry sponge, it won’t absorb it as easily,” she says
4. Apply Moisturizer
Moisturizing is a step many people skip, but it is the most important skincare step for every skin type. When the skin is fully healthy, it naturally produces and regulates its own oils – this creates that slick shine we all crave – but if you’re experiencing oil or dryness, moisturizer can help balance things out.
Moisture can also help treat a dull complexion by smoothing out texture and promoting cell turnover. This will give the skin a gorgeous glow that hides minor imperfections like blemishes, discoloration, and dark spots and evens the skin tone.
You can apply your moisturizer after your toner, serum, or treatment for best results. And if you’re using any sunscreen, be sure to apply this last as well.
5. Always wear sunscreen
We’re all accustomed to slathering on sunscreen at the beach or on sunny days, but it’s important to wear it daily. It protects your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays that increase the risk of sun damage (think blotchiness, dark spots, and premature wrinkles) and can lead to various types of skin cancer.
Look for a broad spectrum, chemical, or mineral sunscreen at least SPF 30. It can be found in lotions, creams, gels, wax sticks or sprays, and some foundations, moisturizers, and lip products. The best time to apply it is right after cleansing and toning before you start layering your other skincare products. Choosing an oil-free product is best to avoid leaving your face with that “oily” feel.
