Let's face it. No one wants to get old...nope no one. But unfortunately (may be fortunately, depending on how you see it) all that lives, ages. Although you can't totally skip the whole aging thing, there are a few ways to slow it down. Let's get into it!
1. Medical-Grade Skincare
One of the most influential reasons to use medical-grade skincare is because OTC skincare products are not regulated by the FDA, meaning thorough product or ingredient testing is not required. That means that over the counter products that claim to get rid of acne may not do so at all - it could even make it worse! In medical-grade, the products must have clinical research to back up their claims of positive effects on the skin. They might be pricier, but they will be the most beneficial element to help whatever your skin concerns are. You can usually get medical-grade skincare from your dermatologist, however, the skincare products we at The Lotus sell, (that we LOVE) are:
- Revision Skincare Line
- iS CLINICAL Skincare Line
- ISDIN Skincare Line
In addition to these lines, using serums like Hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C help keep your skin hydrated and aid in the healing process of acne and scarring. They can also help prevent lines and wrinkles. My favorite mixture of this serum is Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum that has hyaluronic acid in it and is free from nasty chemicals that you may find elsewhere. This is a great choice for acne-prone skin.
2. Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen
You can do all the skincare in the world, but without SPF, it's pointless. The sun's UV rays penetrate the top layer of the skin at first, but after continual exposure, the middle layer of your skin (called the dermis) is penetrated. This kills skin cells and damages the fibers in your skin called elastin, which causes skin to sag, stretch, and be unable to bounce back after stretching. The damage won't be obvious when you're young because youngins have an abundance of collagen, but it definitely will when you get older. There are also a few chemicals to look out for when purchasing a sunscreen. These include: Oxybenzone, Octinoxate (Octyl methoxycinnamate), Octocrylene, Octisalate, Avobenzone, Retinyl Palmitate, Homosalate, and Benzene. Most of these chemicals are hormone disrupters, and are very toxic to ocean life. Your best bet is to look for pure mineral sunscreen and stay away from the chemicals. Our picks are:
If these don't work out, here are a couple chemical sunscreens that don't have those nasty chemicals:
- Sun Bum
People are filing lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson, Aveeno, and Nutrogena because their sunscreen products have contained the chemical Benzene, which is known to cause cancer. Be cautious when buying these products!
This looks fun. I bet she's wearing sunscreen.
3. Healthy Habits
Eating healthy portions of fruits and vegetables have many, many benefits. One study found that people who ate plant-based diets are 50% less likely to develop cancer, type two diabetes, and heart disease. In addition to that, there are areas of the world called "Blue Zones", where people regularly live to be over 100 with no health issues. These people eat primarily plant-based diets...
But come on, we live in Texas. Majority of residents center their meals around meat, and that's completely okay. Instead of just cutting off meat altogether, try to fill 50% of your meal with vegetables and stick to lean meat and clean grains.
This looks really delicious...and its just veggies.
4. Hydration
Consuming enough water every day helps keep your body hydrated, refreshed, and helps maintain skin elasticity. Individuals that keep hydrated have a better chance at preventing wrinkles, fine lines, and scars, than someone who drinks little water. In addition to drinking enough water, find a good gel-based moisturizer that will hydrate your skin and not clog your pores. Drink ya water, reader!!! Take a gulp right now. Do it.
5. Remove Your Makeup at Night!
I'm really not sure why we have to say this, but take your makeup off before you go to bed! It doesn't matter if you're too tired, feeling a little lazy, or are sleeping over at your partner's house and want to look pretty in the morning. They will like you either way, and if not, sayonara! They lost a good one.
Anyways, keeping your makeup on overnight can prematurely age your skin by causing dryness, wrinkles, and enlarged pores. If you're not cleansing your face, chances are you're not moisturizing either, and you need to moisturize. You accumulate dirt and smog from air pollutants throughout the day, and adding foundation and other makeup products makes it so your skin can't breath. By not removing your makeup and cleaning your face, you're trapping the grime on your skin, which can harbor bacteria and lead to infections and pimples. Girl, wash your face. (That is also the title of a great book).
See, she's having a great time washing her face, you can too!
6. Preventative Neurotoxins (Botox®, Jeuveau®, etc.)
Many people develop signs of aging early, but that can be prevented. Regular tox (after you've already developed wrinkles and lines), can reduce the visibility of aging, while preventative tox can reverse mild lines and truly prevent wrinkles and fine lines from developing. Experts say to use preventative tox as soon as you see mild lines appearing.
7. Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is when the body repairs itself. When you sleep, there is increased blood flow and circulation that brings collagen to repair damaged cells on the skin. That being said, when you don't get enough sleep, your body has less time to repair these damages. Sleep deprivation is associated with signs of aging, including skin that ages faster, skin that doesn't recover well from things like sun exposure and outside contaminants, and less satisfaction with the quality of your skin. So, reader, get enough sleep. Researchers say that getting 7-9 hours is recommended.
There is no substitute for skin care. Your skin will eventually show how you treat it, whether you take care of it or not is up to you. The good news is, is that taking time out of your day to maintain self-care can lead to increased emotional health, physical health, and can take the pressure off of daily stressors. Take some time for you, friend.
To Book a Complimentary Consultation with our amazing Aesthetician or Injectors:
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Text or call: 210-774-2850
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