Do you ever catch yourself looking in the mirror wondering why your skin is showing signs of aging, but perhaps your body is feeling so much younger? This has happened to me more often than not.
My posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, you will not pay a penny more, but I will receive a small commission. Please read my disclaimer for more information.
However, I made a promise to myself not to get caught up in negative feelings about the aging process, so I am taking better care of my skin to help slow down any signs of aging, and as they say, age gracefully.
In doing a little research on what I should be doing to take better care of my skin, I came to the conclusion that I needed to get back to basics with my skincare routine.
Related Post: Why Skincare Is Important: Prioritizing Self-Care for Confidence That Lasts
It was surprising to me to learn that our skin begins to show signs of aging in our 20s.
Most certainly I would have taken much better care of my skin had I known my skin was going to start showing signs of aging so early in life!
Here’s where I went wrong
Lack Of Moisture
I’ve always had combination skin with oily areas being in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). I also suffered from acne in my young adult years, with large cystic acne on my chin. Having switched to a high-performing, toxin-free line of skincare, I no longer suffer from the awful cystic acne I was experiencing.
With this in mind, I used to think moisturizing my skin would make it even more oily and/or make it break out even more. This could not be further from the truth! Your skin needs moisture no matter how oily it is. If your skin lacks moisture it will in turn produce even more oil.
Worshiping The Sun
In my youth, I would sunbathe until I was fried like a french fry, using baby oil as suntan lotion and of course no sunscreen. As a result, I have really done some damage and my skin definitely shows signs of aging. I will admit I feel quite fortunate that I have not developed skin cancer on my face, yet. Unfortunately, I have had two skin cancer spots removed from other areas of my body.
Fast forward 30 years, and I’m scrambling to reduce the signs of aging.
Since I did not treat my skin very well over the years, I now have sun damage, discoloration, and thin, sagging skin. These are all typical signs of aging skin according to this Cleveland Clinic article. These signs of aging probably would be less had I taken better care of my skin throughout the years.
Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not trying to look 20 again, I just want to feel confident that my skin is well taken care of, protected, and looking the best it possibly can.
So, what can you do to help reduce the signs of aging skin?
Determine Your Skin Type
Knowing your skin type will help you narrow down which products to use.
Dermatologists classify skin into four main types as noted in an article from Web MD.
. Oily skin: Skin that looks shiny due to an overproduction of oil.
. Dry skin: Skin with dry and flakey areas that may feel tight.
. Sensitive skin: Skin with red and irritated areas that are typically painful to the touch.
. Combination skin: Skin that has a combination of oily and flakey areas.
Three basic skincare steps to follow to help fight the signs of aging skin
Cleansing
Cleansing your face both morning and night with a cleanser appropriate to your skin type is key to helping reduce the signs of aging. This will help rid your skin of any dirt and debris. Always have a fresh face prior to applying your skincare products. Never go to bed with makeup on!
Proper cleansing also allows your skin to get the maximum benefits from the skincare products you apply after cleansing.
Related Post: Why Is It Important to Cleanse Your Face? The Truth You Need to Know
Double cleansing (cleansing your face twice – to effectively remove makeup or other impurities from the day) will leave your skin looking beautiful, hydrated, and clean. I AM The Balm™ is my favorite product to achieve these results and is part of my skincare routine to help fend off those pesky signs of aging skin.
Moisturizing
Your skin needs moisture to replenish the water your skin loses throughout the day.
Moisturizers with nutrient-rich ingredients such as organic jojoba, sunflower, avocado, and sesame oils are the perfect option to help moisturize your skin.
Even if you have oily or combination skin you still need to moisturize. Lack of moisture can cause the production of even more oil.
When looking for moisturizers to help reduce the signs of aging skin, look for those containing bakuchiol rather than retinol. Bakuchiol is a plant-derived ingredient that mimics the effects of retinol without the safety concerns of retinol. Other ingredients to look for would be azelaic acid and Vitamin C.
You can find all of these youth-activating ingredients in Daylight® Advanced & Nightlight® Advanced moisturizers which I personally use and love. So many women have experienced dramatic changes in their skin with consistent use.
Protect Your Skin With Sunscreen: One Of The Most Important Tips To Help Reduce The Signs of Aging Skin
It is so important to wear sunscreen every day, rain or shine!
In addition to reducing your skin cancer risk, you’ll also be preventing the effects of photoaging—which can include dark spots and wrinkles.
There are additional optional steps, which can be added to your routine to aid in reducing the signs of aging skin.
Related Post: Achieve Healthier-Looking Skin With One Important Skincare Step
Consistency Is Key To Helping Reduce The Signs Of Aging Skin
Establish a daily skincare routine for both morning and evening.
In general, it takes 8-12 weeks to see dramatic results with any new skincare routine, so don’t give up.
You are never too young or too old to start treating your skin with the respect it deserves. You’d be pleasantly surprised how glowing, healthy, youthful-looking skin can do to boost your confidence.
So, get started with a basic routine to help stop the signs of aging skin!! Your skin will thank you!
Other posts you may enjoy:
. Achieve Healthier-Looking Skin With One Important Skincare Step
. When to Throw Out Makeup: The Importance of When & Why
. Summer Beauty Tips: How to Keep Your Skin Looking Radiant This Summer
. Healthy Appearing Winter Skin Is Achievable With These Tips
. Self-Care Tips For Women: Are You Really Taking Care Of Yourself?
Nice skin care blog !!
Thank you for taking the time to read it. So glad you enjoyed it!!
Great article. Looking forward to reading more!
Thanks so much for your kind words, and I hope it was helpful! More to come very soon 🙂
Thank you! A lot of great information!
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog! So glad you found it informative 🙂
Love your tips and these apply to any age group! For me, the sun is my best enemy and for the past couple of years, I’ve always put sunscreen on and I definitely recommend it! Now, I can enjoy the sun and not burn/age too fast!
So happy to hear you enjoyed this post. I wish I would have learned a very long time ago about the importance of sunscreen. It’s never too late though.