Photo 17/26
Q
So, you slather yourself in SPF 50 sunscreen religiously and use the best anti-aging creams money can buy, but you're still lighting up? Every cigarette robs your skin of oxygen and vitamin C, and contributes to the formation of those telltale wrinkles that form around your mouth. P.S. Have you seen the price of a pack of smokes lately? According to DailyFinance.com, the average smoker spends about $1,500 a year on cigarettes. Replace that expensive habit with a healthier one: monthly facials!
Photo 18/26
R
There are no magic bullets in anti-aging, but if you're looking for the oldest, most trusted and heavily researched anti-aging ingredient in skin care, you can find it in retinol. Retinol is basically any vitamin A derivative found in skin care products, and helps you shed dead skin cells more rapidly. Dr. Lancer recommends using retinol in varying intensities depending on your age and need, but warns that you should only apply at night as it makes your skin extra sensitive to sunlight. After age 40, it's generally safe to work up to using retinol up to four days a week.
Photo 19/26
S
You may achieve the soft, radiant skin of a newborn with a great skin care regimen, but a set of coffee- and red-wine-stained teeth can age your appearance in an instant. You can whiten your teeth at home, but in-office whitening treatments from the dentist can give you pearly whites in about an hour, rather than several weeks.
Photo 20/26
T
When applying skin care products, particularly eye creams, don't rub or smear the product into your skin. With your pinky or ring finger (they deliver the lightest touch) dot and pat the product around the treatment areas. Tension and pulling around the eyes can decrease elasticity, says Dr. Woolery-Lloyd.
Photo 21/26
U
Read the label on your sunscreen as if the life of your skin depends on it -- because it does. "Not every sunscreen offers protection from both UVA and UVB rays," says Dr. Lancer. UVB rays are the ones most likely to cause sunburn, but UVA rays are known to contribute heavily to photo aging and the development of skin cancer, so it's important to protect your skin from both. You know the drill: Apply a sunscreen SPF 30 or higher 30 minutes before you go outside, and reapply every three hours. To maximize your sun protection regimen, Dr. Lancer recommends using sunscreen with an SPF of 20 or higher on lips, and wearing sunglasses to cut back on squinting, which causes crow's feet and frown lines.
You know those stories about the latest, greatest breakthroughs and research into anti-aging -- the ones that make you feel like you need a masters degree in chemistry, biology and dermatology to understand? This isn't one of them. Because creating an amazing anti-aging skin care regimen isn't about knowing every nuance behind the science of anti-aging. It's about distilling all of the research and how-to tips out there into a plan that suits you -- a plan that fits your life and your unique skin care needs.
Consider this your elementary guide to youthful, wrinkle-free and radiant skin. It's as easy as A-B-C.
Consider this your elementary guide to youthful, wrinkle-free and radiant skin. It's as easy as A-B-C.
