The Formula for Great Skin

If you're like everybody else, you want healthy, great-looking skin—no matter what age you are. Skin that is clear, smooth, and radiant proclaims good health and lends tremendous confidence to how you feel about your appearance. By following some fundamental rules and by giving your skin everything it needs to function at its peak, you have the formula for younger, healthier, smoother skin at any age.

 

GREAT SKIN IN YOUR TWENTIES

In your twenties, you are probably enjoying some of the best skin of your life—moist, smooth, and supple skin. However, your skin cell renewal rate has already dropped, and dead cells aren't being shed quite as easily, leaving your skin dull. And the acne of your teenage years might still be hanging around.

 

This is a great time to establish a beneficial skin care regimen that will keep your skin in great shape while protecting it against damage from the environment. Use a gentle cleanser that removes dirt and dead cells while moisturizing. Follow with a toner to add radiance and restore proper pH balance. Then apply a product to preserve youthful collagen and elastin in your skin. Finally, use a good moisturizer and SPF 15 sunscreen to guard against the sun's damaging rays.

 

If you're still struggling with acne, consider using a cleanser, toner, and lotion that have been specifically formulated to clear and calm irritated skin, manage oil levels, and protect against future breakouts.

 

GREAT SKIN IN YOUR THIRTIES

In your thirties, sunlight and environmental pollution will have begun to have noticeable effects on your skin's collagen. And with collagen production naturally dropping, you might be noticing some wrinkles and sagging as your skin doesn't bounce back quite as readily as it used to.

 

Keep a cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen as part of your daily regimen. To counter the damage being done by the environment, it's also important to get a balanced diet rich in antioxidants such as vitamins A, B, C and E. These and other powerful antioxidants protect your skin against free radical damage and help your skin repair itself, and stay healthy looking and moist. Finally, a product that contains polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) can help stimulate cell renewal and enhance your skin's radiance for a smooth, more youthful looking complexion.

 

You might also like to try a home microdermabrasion treatment. This kind of treatment can quickly and gently polish your skin while removing dull skin cells and toxins for a fresher, healthier looking appearance.

 

GREAT SKIN IN YOUR FORTIES

In your forties, your skin's sebum production slows down, meaning your skin is getting dryer. Plus, you are losing fat beneath your skin's outer layer, which means your skin is becoming more fragile. You are losing the elasticity that made your skin spring back, and you are probably noticing more wrinkles appearing and getting deeper.

 

With dryer skin, you may benefit from an antioxidant-rich cleanser and a hydrating moisturizer. Also, a product containing procollagen peptides can help soften lines and wrinkles around your mouth, eyes, and forehead. Continue to include plenty of antioxidants in your diet to help your skin repair itself, and never stop protecting your skin with sunscreen.

 

GREAT SKIN IN YOUR FIFTIES AND BEYOND

As you pass your fifties, the pigment cells in your skin may clump together more, creating "age spots." Plus, your skin has lost much of its plumpness and tone, and may be drier, more itchy, and more sensitive to allergens. It is thinner and more fragile, and takes longer to heal.

 

In addition to cleansing and moisturizing, consider adding a skin brightening system to your skin care regimen to reduce skin discoloration and achieve a more even tone. Continue to apply pro-collagen peptides, and don't slack off on getting the antioxidants your skin needs to combat environmental damage and maintain its healthy look and radiance. Also, a product designed to help increase elastin production while slowing elastin degradation can help to firm up sagging, undefined skin around your chin, eyes, and jaw.

 

The greater understanding we have today about taking care of skin, combined with advanced skin care products and technology, gives you the formula for great skin at any age. By paying attention to your skin's needs, adopting beneficial skin care habits, and applying today's skin care advances, you can have fresher, smoother, more radiant skin now and for many years to come.

 

1http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/womenshealth/features/greatskin.htm