The more sun you are exposed to, the more of an increase there are in fine lines, dark spots, and loss of elasticity (Source: SkinCancer.org). However if you religiously applied sunscreen, then you’re def in a better position than those who did not. Here are some tips to keep your skin young, healthy and glowing.
The Basics:
Cleanser
Use a gentle face wash in the morning and at night time. Harsher face washes with known irritants in the ingredients could damage your skin’s natural barrier. Find a cleanser containing hydroxy acids; these acids have been found to increase cell renewal, improve moisture content and reduce lines and wrinkles in just over a six-week period (Source: NCBI). Also, if necessary, you can use a soft scrub a few times a week to help remove dead skin cells.
Moisturizer and Serum
Keep using moisturizer with SPF 30 and UVA/UVB protection, but now start to apply a layer of Vitamin C serum under the moisturizer. Try and find one that has 15-20 percent of L-ascorbic acid, which is a form of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is not a “sunscreen” but can protect against UV induced damage caused by sun rays (Source: OSU). If you need extra moisture, then add a facial oil to your routine, which can also add more glow to your complexion and temporarily reduce the appearance of fine lines. Our editor’s recommend jojoba oil.
Nighttime Treatment
The main focus should now be on the skin around your eye area. Use an under eye cream with niacinamide. Also known as Vitamin B3, it’s been found to improve fine lines/wrinkles, hyper-pigmentation spots, texture, and red blotchiness (Source:NCBI). In addition products containing caffeine act as an anti-inflammatory to reduce swelling (Source: NCBI ).
