The Earlier, the Better

Skin care may not be a huge issue for most at a young age, but starting young is always the best choice. Making a change to one’s lifestyle may seem a little over-the-top. As teenagers, and sometimes into our twenties, we really don’t need to do much. Our skin, at that age, is plump, supple, and firm. However, wouldn’t you agree that skin maintenance requires more time and effort as we grow older? Whether young or old, we must learn to maintain our elastin.

Being preventative is an excellent approach: stop sagging, creasing, sluggish skin before it begins. One may think “No one needs serum in their twenties” or “Why should I massage my face at my age? Nothing will happen to it because I’m young.” These are common assumptions. However, we always keep a smoke alarm at home although we’re not really expecting a fire. Your face is the same idea – be prepared and be preventative.

One should always stay on a fixed routine and never allow their skin to dry out. All moisturizers target a variety of different things, but the main idea is to keep the skin moisturized at all times.

Exfoliation is King

We cannot stress the importance of exfoliation enough. This step is just as important (if not more) as the application of moisturizer to keep it natural. Exfoliation strips away the dead skin cells and reveals the fresh, new skin underneath. Not only does exfoliation keep the skin fresh, youthful, and soft but it also keeps the skin free of any congestion which causes acne.

What is the importance of exfoliation? Imagine covering your face with water and then pressing your face into a sandy beach. Theoretically, the sand would adhere to your water-covered face and the sand represents the dead skin cells. Then imagine applying moisturizer to your sand-covered face. Very little of the moisturizer would absorb into the skin because the sand would act as a barrier. Thus, your moisture-starved face would dry out. The same analogy goes for the skin over your entire body.

Exfoliation can be done either manually or chemically.

They both technically do the same thing—slough off dead skin—but they do so in very different ways. And you want to make sure you’re doing it right, because proper exfoliation allows your serums, moisturizers, etc. to sink into your skin a whole lot better.

Tom and Emily from Into the Gloss

Whether caring for your skin and hair in the shower or outdoors, there are a couple options when it comes to exfoliation. A manual exfoliant can be an abrasive sponge, or it can be a product containing micro-beads. Manual exfoliants are anything by which the dead skin cells are removed physically.

Chemical exfoliants are creams/gels that are left on the skin for approximately ten minutes or so and then wiped or washed away. The dead skin cells become emulsified (i.e. loosened) and are removed with water or facial cleanser.

Despite what you may have been told, exfoliating every day is absolutely fine (just as long as you aren’t too harsh on your skin.) Lots of people exfoliate every day. Just remember to be gentle.

Using serum products daily is crucial for the maintenance of collagen. Serum is a product that should be applied after cleanser, after toner, and before moisturizer in the morning and/or before sleep. Serum is usually a thin, water/gel/cream-like product that easily penetrates into the skin’s outer layers. It helps with firming and supports collagen.

More Preventative Advice

Never stretch or pull your skin – especially the skin on your face, neck, and décolleté. Repetitive movements will cause creases. For example, try not to furrow your brow each time something bugs you and try not to raise your brow excessively each time you’re surprised. Try to yawn less widely, as well. These changes may not be quite as self-gratifying, but you will be better off in the long-run.

Applying body lotion every morning, also to the neck and décolleté, and constantly moistening the skin will keep it from creasing. Of course, a thicker lotion is optimal, but any kind of lotion is better than nothing at all and will help you stress less.

Time Will Tell

Basic physics tells us that if an item (think of paper) is folded repeatedly, a line or indentation will inevitably form in the place which endures the most stress. Try folding a piece of paper and smoothing it out again. The line where the most stress was placed can be faded if ironed or nurtured for a period of time, but it will not be gone 100%. Skin creases cannot be completely prevented or repaired either; they can only be postponed and softened. Humankind is yet to discover the fountain of youth and, although everyone ages, we are able slow down the aging process significantly.