1. Minimize Your Pores. Pores expand as goo accumulates in them— unfortunately, the older we get, the more likely they are to stay expanded giving you the dreaded large pore complex… Put them in check by switching to a cleanser containing salicylic acid. This will help exfoliate away dead skin that usually leads to clogged pores.
2. ZZZ! Get more sleep. The necessary sleep time for a rested visage, is 8 hours. Clearly, we all don’t get that much rest. But, I find that just going to bed 15 minutes earlier each day for a week you’ll quickly establish a new routine and gain about an extra hour of beauty sleep, leading to less dark circles. Also, for my night owls, try not to exercise 3 hours before bed and quit the coffee by 4pm.
3. Rip it Good. Shrink and clear pores like the ones on your chin and nose using pore strips once a week. Also, indulge in a yummy face mask once a week for a radiant complexion.
4. Look on The Bright Side. As we age, cell turnover (the ability of our skin to shed dead skin cells and look younger) slows down, resulting in wrinkles and dull skin. Sweep them away by using an at-home glycolic peel twice a week. This will give your skin a healthy, youthful glow.
5. Don’t Neglect your Hands and Neck. A clear tell-tale sign of aging are neglected hands and neck. I usually do the same for my hands and neck as I do for my face. Exfoliate twice a week, wear sunscreen every morning, and an anti-aging cream especially for hands or the same one used on your face at night. If you’ve developed pesky sun spots, treat them with Hydroquinone–a product used to lighten skin discolorations like age spots and freckles. And, don’t forget a manicure. Nothing says “I take care of myself” like beautifully manicured hands.
6. Take Supplements and Antioxidants. These are your “internal” secret weapons against pollution. The most effective are Idebenone- A stimulant that increases brain energy levels and has a rejuvenating effect on the whole body, Green Tea- which contains Vitamin B and Vitamin C. An adequate amount of Vitamin B, especially B12 is key for skin regeneration. Vitamin C is essential in the production of collagen, a protein which enhances the firmness of skin and helps your skin repair itself, and Coffeeberry- which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and reduces redness and skin pigmentation.
7. Never, Ever Sleep in Your Makeup. Nighttime is when our skin rests and repairs itself. This is also when it absorbs all of the anti-aging goodies we put on it. So why would you want to have your skin absorb all of the dirt, grime and makeup from the day? Um, no thank you. Make sure to develop a nighttime cleansing routine and for those party-hardy nights when you’re just too partied out (guilty..) to do it, keep some makeup removing wipes handy for a quick clean up.
8. Don’t Over Tweeze your Eyebrows. Been there, done that…Nothing screams “older woman” than overly tweezed eyebrows. If you find yourself in this predicament, bite the bullet and “wolf” it out for a few months until your brows have grown in some. Then, seek professional help (unless you are tweezer savvy) and get them shaped for a more flattering, youthful look.
9. Finally, Wear SPF. Nothing deteriorates the skin more than the sun. Looking like you’ve dipped in a bag of Doritos isn’t flattering and it is the #1 cause for wrinkles and skin cancer. Choose products that contain at least an SPF 15 and re-apply after 2 hours of exposure. Also, a great alternative to looking like a baked lobster is self-tanner. Choose one that is one shade darker than your skin tone for a flattering, natural sun-kissed look.