The ever-evolving world of skincare can be convoluted at times. With so many treatment options, landing on a skincare plan can feel like landing on the moon. Many of us go years without solidifying our everyday routine, which can cause our skin to not have the glow we’re looking for. We are here to answer those common unanswered questions like, “How often should you do your skincare routine?”, “What do you need in a skincare routine?” and more.
- Pre-juventation
New word alert! This is one that you’re going to want to remember. Pre-juvenation — the steps you take to prevent skin damage. Remember, it’s never too early to take care of your skin. According to board-certified dermatologist and our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson, “A potent combination to help prevent sun and environmental free radical damage during the day is layering a topical antioxidant with an SPF.”
Free radicals occur naturally in our body, but can also come from exposure to ozone, cigarette smoke, air pollutants, and industrial chemicals. These unstable atoms break cells down over time and changes in your appearance like loss of skin elasticity, wrinkles, pigmentation, and uneven skin texture have all been linked to an increase in free radicals. As we age we lose our ability to fight off free radicals. So it’s important to keep them under control. EltaMD’s UV Clear Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 is an incredible SPF that acts as a mirror reflecting UV light off of your skin and preventing environmental damage. Besides containing
SPF, it also contains topical antioxidants such as niacinamide.
For nighttime pre-juvenation, she recommends topicals such as retinoids and or bakuchiol (pronounced ba-koo-heel) to “turn over our skin cells and help promote new collagen growth.” Retinoids are a Vitamin A compound that increases the production of collagen and in turn, reduces fine lines and wrinkles. They also help improve skin color by stimulating the production of new blood vessels in your skin. Bakuchiol, on the other hand, is a natural alternative to retinol made of an botanical extract from the seeds and leaves of the Psoralea corylifolia plant. This option is perfect for sensitive skin.
Getting Botox® is also a great non-surgical treatment to pre-juvenate with. It helps relax the muscles in your face so that you can prevent wrinkles, smile lines, frown lines, and other unwanted lines before they happen.
Overall, prioritizing pre-juvenation is the best way to stay one step ahead of your skin.
- Re-juvenation
Re-juvenation is a close relative of pre-juvenation that you may be more familiar with. This routine revitalizes skin as we grow older. Our skin expert explains that “As we age, we naturally lose the building blocks of our skin, collagen and elastin fibers.” That’s why skin care for rejuvenation focuses on “protecting, repairing, and building new collagen and elastin.”
One of Dr. Mraz Robinson’s favorite topical products is MD Solar Sciences BB creme. Not only is this powerful cream an SPF 50, it’s also packed with topical antioxidants that help reverse free radical damage. This works best when you apply in the morning, every two hours that you’re in the sun, and after your face has been exposed to water or sweating. Next, our Chief Medical Officer recommends using Alastin Restorative Skin Complex, which is “a peptide-based serum scientifically proven to boost collagen and elastin. Anyone can fit these two simple steps into their busy schedules to help keep their skin young and healthy!”
In addition to the daily use of those must-have facial products, medical-grade rejuvenating services are also incredibly helpful.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Photofacial should definitely be on your radar. Get ready for younger-looking skin. With IPL, you can care for your skin from the inside out. It works as the ultimate multi-tasker, treating freckles, rosacea, age spots, uneven skin texture, pigmented lesions, and vascular lesions all at once. Treatment time takes as little as 30-60 minutes and requires very little recovery time.
Ultherapy® is another great solution to help the signs of aging. This treatment uses ultrasound to work with your body’s natural healing process by delivering targeted energy into the deep tissues where old collagen lives. Each soundwave stimulates the growth of new collagen. That means you will have tighter, better-fitting skin. Yes, even on those problem neck areas.
Of course, we couldn’t leave out Fillers. Different filler types provide different kinds of results. For instance, Juvederm® Volebella™ can add volume to the lips and correct perioral lines, which are little linear wrinkle lines that form around the border of the mouth. While Juvederm® Vollure™ XC corrects moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, like those annoying but common nasolabial folds that extend from the edge of your nose to the outer corners of your mouth. If you’re trying to correct age-related volume loss in the cheek area, you’ll want Voluma® for that full, contoured look you’ve been missing.
These fillers cover a lot of ground, or face, but there’s more! Restylane® instantly smooths away wrinkles, plumps up and improves the shape of your lips – it also restores lost volume in your face. To tackle more severe wrinkles, try Restylane® Lyft, which has a slightly thicker gel for a deeper injection.
Botox® is also amazing for re-juvenation. It’s great for smoothing wrinkles on the forehead, treating lines in between the eyes, and improving the appearance of those pesky crow’s feet. Plus, Botox® isn’t as invasive as you may think. In fact, it requires zero downtime. So getting treatment could be as simple as stopping by Ideal Image during your lunch break.
- Healthy Eating for Healthy Skin
When we hear the word diet we associate it with weight loss goals. But, our skin is reaping more benefits than we think from healthy eating. According to Dr. Mraz Robinson, “for healthy, younger-looking skin, a balanced diet and one rich in antioxidants can help fight off free radical damage we receive on a daily basis from pollution, high energy blue light, and other toxins such as cigarette smoke.”
Wondering why your acne seems to flare up whenever you indulge in a grease-filled burger? The doctor explains that “The core of the theory here is surrounding inflammation – if you are eating foods your body is sensitive to, you will have higher levels of inflammation, which can fuel breakouts, specifically larger, firm lesions referred to as cystic or nodular acne.”
So, what foods are best to avoid for better skin health? Dr. Mraz Robinson suggests foods high in refined sugars and glycemic index should be at the top of your don’t-eat list. “Even if you don’t have any food sensitivities, a diet high in refined sugar or foods high in glycemic index can cause hormone elevations in the blood which triggers inflammation and sebum production, ultimately leading to acne.”
- How to Create a Skincare Routine and Get Started Today
Now that you’re ready to pre-juvenate and rejuvenate your skin, let’s talk about how easy an everyday routine can be. The key is to keep it simple. Even on your most hectic day, you can follow these easy steps to show your skin the love it needs:
Morning:
- Start off with a clean slate. A gentle cleanser is a great way to begin the day.
- Follow this with a broad spectrum SPF of at least 30. A great one for all skin types is EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46, even if you are acne or rosacea prone.
Mid-day:
- Re-apply SPF every two hours when you’re in the sun.
- Make sure you’re eating healthy. More greens than sugars is the way to go.
Evening:
- Get the day off your face with your gentle cleanser.
- For extra hydration and nourishment, add an oil-free moisturizer before bed.
These simple steps are the key to making sure you’re never too busy to take care of your skin. For more helpful skin tips, be sure to follow Ideal Image on Facebook and Instagram
