The Ultimate Guide To An Effective Anti-Aging Skincare Routine
While we can’t turn back the hands of time or alter anyone’s DNA, we can surely provide our best advice by this compilation of an effective anti-aging skincare regimen for you to abide by, both day and night. Though we’d always recommend consulting with a skincare expert or dermatologist for specific problems or targeted concerns, we are confident that following this simple skincare routine will build a firm foundation for radiant and rejuvenated skin!
Morning and Evening Routines
Skincare routines and the time of the day that they are followed, are absolutely crucial: a morning routine helps to preserve, protect, and prepare the skin for what lies ahead throughout the day – exposure to pollutants, perspiration, and sun, to name a few. While a nighttime skincare routine is often designed to address specific needs of the skin and assists your skin with its natural restoration (as skin regenerates overnight) and makes it more durable during the day.
Neglecting to consistently follow an effective skincare routine has the potential to cause an array of unnecessary problems, such as acne, clogged pores, and leaves the skin more susceptible to damage caused by environmental factors and stress. Over time, these factors may lead to premature aging and an unflattering (dull) complexion.
Benefits of a consistent anti-aging skincare routine:
Morning
- Hydrates and replenishes moisture levels of your skin
- Softens and smoothens your skin
- Purifies your skin, removing impurities like dead skin cells, toxins, or excess oils that your skin produced overnight
- Reduces the appearance wrinkles, crow’s feet, and fine lines
- Eases pigmentation and evens out skin tone
- Prevents damage caused by harmful UV exposure
- Reduces the ageing process and improves overall skin texture
- Helps regain your skin’s original radiance
Evening
- Hydrates and nourishes your skin
- Purifies your skin, removing impurities that have accumulated on your skin during the day
- Maximizes rejuvenation for faster and better creation of new skin cells
- Improves pigmentation and evens out skin tone
- Repairs damage caused by harmful UV exposure
- Impedes the ageing process and improves overall skin texture
Please keep in mind, when it comes to any skincare routine, that the order and the manner in which you apply your products, matters. This helps to ensure that each product is fully absorbed into the skin and can provide the most benefits.
There could easily be twelve steps to the most effective skincare regimens. Fortunately, skincare routines do not have to be excessively complex. By setting aside just a few minutes each morning and evening, you can have a significant impact on the health of your skin. Let’s take a look:
Step 1: CLEANSER
Cleansing is an essential part of any anti-aging skincare routine for maintaining proper hydration and removing excess dirt, oil, and dead skin cell build-up on the skin’s surface, which causes bacterial blockages of the pores, resulting in inflammation, and acne.
Anti-Aging Skincare Routine Cleaning Method:
Start by splashing your face with warm water; apply a gentle face cleanser (designed for your skin type); massage in circular motions, all over your face using gentle pressure; rinse until water runs clear; then gently pat dry with a soft, clean towel.
Options:
- Clay Cleansers – purifies skin by drawing out excess oil and toxins from pores. Ideal for: Oily and combination skin
- Cream Cleansers – contains moisturizing ingredients to gently cleanse your skin without stripping it of its natural oils. Ideal for: Dry and sensitive skin
- Foam Cleansers – starts out as cream/gel and develops into a rich, foamy lather to remove excess oils. Ideal for: Oily and combination skin
- Gel Cleansers – has antiseptic and exfoliating properties, designed for deep cleansing and is effective at decongesting clogged pores, removing excess oil and killing acne-causing bacteria. Ideal for: Oily and combination skin
- Micellar Cleansers – features tiny oil molecules suspended in soft water, that attract oil, dirt, and makeup. No need to rinse off with water. Ideal for: Dry and sensitive skin
- Oil Cleansers – a gentle way of removing pore-clogging debris—including waterproof makeup—without drying your skin. Ideal for: Most skin types
- Powder Cleansers – contain ingredients like rice starch or chickpea flour, which are kinder on the environment. Powdery soft when dry, then dissolves into a creamy mixture upon contact with water, cleansing your skin while providing gentle exfoliation. Beware though, as sometimes the powder particles can be abrasive if product ingredients are too scratchy. Ideal for: Oily and sensitive skin
- Physical Cleansers, like Wash Cloths, Mitts, Sponges, and Cleansing Wipes – made with special fibers, to thoroughly remove impurities while also sloughing off dead skin cells. Beware though, as sometimes physical cleaners can be too abrasive and may have a harsh effect on your skin. Ideal for: Oily and combination skin
- Water – washing face with water is good for younger kids – when hormones kick in and there’s a possibility of oil production and can cause congestion etc.
We caution against the use of Bar Cleansers. Although bar cleaners offer skin-friendly pH levels and moisturizing ingredients, such as glycerin and essential oils, they tend to leave a film on your skin that dries it out and hinders product absorption.
What you opt to use will ultimately depend on your age and condition of your skin.
Step 2: TONER
Toner is the first barrier product you apply. A carefully and properly selected anti-aging skincare routine toner balances your skin’s PH, delivers antioxidants and vitamin-B derivatives, and is intended to hydrate and tighten pores, not strip your skin. Each type of toner is intended for a different skin concern, so it’s vital to apply the right type for your skin concern.
Method:
Pour a few drops of toner onto a soft, clean cotton pad (ensure pad is not soaking wet); gently swipe across your face contours and neck area, avoiding delicate eye and lip areas.
Options:
Exfoliating Toners – usually contain a type of hydroxy acid (AHA – glycolic acid and BHA – salicylic acid). They remove dead skin cells on the top layer of the skin, minimizing flakiness and dullness. They significantly enhance cleansing, by clearing pores and reducing their visibility. Ideal for: Normal, combination, and oily skin types
Hydrating Toners
Gentlest of facial toners, containing humectants like hyaluronic acid or glycerin, to give your skin a quick boost of hydration and refreshment, ridding your skin any residual dirt. It is not necessarily to use cotton pads; simply press the liquid onto the skin and allow it to absorb. Ideal for: All skin types
Treatment Toners
Iintended to solve targeted skin problems. An anti-aging toner would contain antioxidants to neutralize wrinkle-causing free radicals. Ideal for: All skin types (to target specific skin concerns like excess oil, enlarged pores, scarring, or sensitivity)
Step 3: SERUM
Anti-aging skincare routine serums are highly concentrated, nutrient-dense treatments that address specific concerns or deliver specific benefits and should be applied as close to the skin as possible. They ensure that none of the environmental stressors accumulate as fine lines and creases on your skin, and work to reverse aging, hydrate, exfoliate, fight acne, rejuvenate, and renew your skin.
Method:
Apply with clean fingers, by gently patting onto skin, ensuring coverage of your entire face; allowing serum to fully absorb into your skin before applying next product.
Options:
Acne-Fighting Serums – used to eliminate acne breakouts proactively – before they form. Formulated with small molecules that absorb deep into the skin to deliver potent active ingredients that aid in fading acne scars, gently removing any buildup of dead skin cells, unclogging, and minimizing pores, absorbing excess oil, and reducing any discoloration or irritation. Ideal for: Oily skin
Anti-Aging Serums – used for their anti-aging benefits, able to treat the most common signs of aging, as well as slow down the process. They target sagging, creases, fine lines, and wrinkles, to firm and plump the skin, by promoting increased cell turnover, aid in cell repair and cell renewal, and smoothing out skin texture and appearance. Ideal for: Dry skin
Exfoliating Serums – works to even out and tone complexion, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, and correct discoloration and hyperpigmentation from natural aging and sun damage. As we age, our skin becomes drastically inefficient at removing dead skin cells, as well as producing adequate collagen and elastin. This dead skin cell buildup leads to dull, dehydrated, fractured skin and hinders the efficiency of your other facial products because they aren’t being absorbed properly. These serums ensure that your skin is functioning normally and optimally. Ideal for: Dry skin
Hydrating Serums – works in unison with your moisturizer to amplify the hydrating effects,
penetrating deep into your pores to deliver an extra layer of hydration. Your moisturizer should be applied after your serum as it helps lock in these beneficial ingredients. Ideal for: All skin types
Reparative or Renewing Serums – works by stimulating the skin’s natural repair functions so your skin can heal at its core, fading away acne scarring and sun damage, while promoting the growth of skin cells such as collagen and elastin. They help your epidermis maintain optimal moisture and oil levels to keep skin hydrated, supple, and smooth, and also offer protection against harmful free radicals caused by daily aggressors. Ideal for: All skin types
Skin Brightening Serums – used for their ability to brighten dull skin, by smoothing your complexion, fading any age or sunspots, evening skin tone, and diminishing hyperpigmentation, leaving your skin with a natural, radiant glow. Ideal for: All skin types
Did you know that your hands show signs of aging too? They are exposed to the sun and elements daily and are often neglected. You may also spread any remaining serum to the back of your hands to aid in the reduction of damage.
Step 3: SPOT TREATMENT (OPTIONAL)
Anti-aging skincare routine acne spot treatments should be applied as close to the skin as possible for maximum benefits. As acne spot treatments differ in active ingredients, consult the product packaging or your skin expert for the best way to apply it.
Acne spot treatments may dry out your skin, so always apply only on spots where it’s required.
Steps 3 & 4: EXFOLIATION & MASKS
EXFOLIANTS:
Anti-aging skincare routine Exfoliants work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells that can cause skin to appear thick and dull, to reveal a fresh, glowing layer of new skin. It also helps to dislodge ingrown hairs from beneath the upper layers of skin.
Method:
After cleansing and toning as part of your evening routine, and with clean hands, apply a thin layer of exfoliant over face and neck; leave on skin for a few minutes; then gently massage over skin, using light pressure to exfoliate the skin of dead skin cells. Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear and gently pat dry with a clean towel and follow with next steps in your routine.
Options:
Anti-aging skincare routine Chemical exfoliants – including alpha-hydroxy acids (aka AHA: glycolic acid, lactic acid, citric acid) and hydroxy acids (salicylic acid) – are excellent for inducing cell turnover, increasing collagen formation, and improving dullness. They work to dissolve dead skin cells and impurities that have settled on your skin. Glycolic and lactic acid in AHAs are ideal for: Dry skin, while Salicylic acid in BHAs are ideal for: Oily skin
Physical exfoliation is manually scrubbing away dead skin cells, excess oil, and buildup with a face scrub, textured cloth, mitt or sponge. Ideal for: All skin types, though sensitive skin to proceed with caution.
FACE MASKS:
A face mask is a fantastic tool to include in your evening skincare routine as it delivered essential vitamins and nutrients to your skin. They reveal fresh, clear skin and leave your complexion looking polished and although relaxing, may dry out your skin if overused. Again, skincare masks are dependent on your skin type and specially formulated to target specific skin concerns.
Method:
With clean hands, apply the mask to face, avoiding eye area; leave on for a few minutes (refer to packaging for time); then rinse thoroughly with warm water and gently pat dry with a clean towel and follow with appropriate moisturizer
Options:
Brightening Masks – contain powerful brightening ingredients like arbutin, bearberry extract, niacinamide and vitamin C that help improve uneven skin tone and leave skin looking smooth and radiant. Ideal for: Dry skin
Bubble Masks – usually have a gel texture that transforms into a bubbling foam once applied to the face. The foaming effect has no substantial benefit for your skin and the ingredients that make the mask foam may irritate skin.
Clay or Charcoal Masks – these help to absorb excess oils from your skin’s surface. Charcoal has the unique ability to gently draw out dirt from congested pores. A well formulated mask will leave skin shine-free, but not uncomfortably dry or tight. Ideal for Oily and combination skin
Peel Off Masks – gently removes a thin layer of dead skin cells and surface dirt from the pores, which leaves skin feeling smooth. They don’t have the ability to penetrate pores and extract blackheads or the impurities out of them. To lessen blackheads and unclog pores, it’s best to use a BHA exfoliant.
Sheet Masks – are usually made from a form of cloth or paper, saturated with effective ingredients. There are lots of different sheet masks to suit different skin types depending on the ingredients they contain.
Sleep Masks – are commonly hydrating masks are left on overnight to provide skin with additional hydration and nourishment. Leaving a mask on for a longer period allows the ingredients more time to work. Ideal for: Dry skin
Cautionary notes:
When selecting a mask, it’s safest to avoid ones containing irritating ingredients like alcohol, mint, menthol, eucalyptus, camphor, and fragrances (natural and synthetic).
Exfoliants and Masks tend to dry out skin if overused, that is why these are recommended to be used no more than 1 – 3 times weekly.
Step 4: EYE CREAM (Step 6 in EVENING ROUTINE)
The skin around and under your eyes is exceptionally thin and delicate and easily susceptible to dryness. Additionally, fluid may accumulate in these areas, causing the appearance of puffiness and dark circles. This area has such unique requirements and is normally the first to indicate signs of aging or alert you about changes, be they hormonal, seasonal, or dietary. In this case, a specialized (eye) cream can help keep such concerns at bay.
Eye creams are filled with nutrients that your skin needs and are quite beneficial for your skin. Regular and consistent use, over time, will keep the eyelid skin elastic and improve or prevent against some fine lines or collagen loss.
Eye creams:
- Are highly recommended for mature skin
- Are thicker in consistency (a little of the product goes a long way)
- Are absorbed into the skin easily
- Are specially formulated for application to the sensitive your undereye skin
- Help with fine lines, puffiness, darkness, and loss of moisture
- May be used by men as well
Finding the correct eye cream for your skin type can be a tricky affair but once found, can diminish the most common concerns, and dramatically improving your appearance.
Method:
Apply a small amount to finger and tap gently around the entire eye area, including eyelid, until fully absorbed. However, applications instructions may vary from product to product, so, ensure to read the product label for application instructions.
Options:
For dryness – opt for a cream that contains ingredients like:
- Flower wax
- Hyaluronic acid
- Jojoba oil
- Shea butter
For fine lines & wrinkles – opt for a cream that contains ingredients like:
- Glycerin
- Co-enzyme Q10
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin E
They will shrink your skin and will allow your wrinkles to appear smoother and smaller over time.
For Puffiness – opt for a cream that contains ingredients like:
- Ginseng
- Hyaluronic acid
- Peptides
- Vitamin C
Puffiness is commonly associated with sleep deprivation, but may also occur due to allergies, crying, as well as excessive alcohol consumption. Try incorporating a cooling pad or cooling cushions to reduce swelling and a roll-on applicator, which will encourage drainage.
For Dark Circles – opt for a cream that contains ingredients like:
- Black or chamomile tea
- Caffeine
- Light-reflecting mica
- Peptides
Dark circles, unfortunately, may be hereditary but may also be caused by sleep deprivation, allergies, as well as excessive sun exposure.
Step 5: Moisturizer (Step 7 in EVENING ROUTINE)
Moisturizer is extremely important, and sunscreen should not be used as a substitute for moisturizer. These two products serve vastly different purposes and are not interchangeable.
Moisturizers hydrate your skin, leaving it feeling soft to the touch and locks in all other previously applied products.
Method:
Press a thin layer of moisturizer with clean fingers, onto the face and neck areas; spread into the skin using a swirling (upwards and outwards) motions until fully absorbed; wait for the moisturizer to dry before applying makeup.
Options:
Emollient moisturizers are thicker, richer creams and balms, that feel lighter and penetrate faster than most occlusives. Emollient ingredients are lipids that typically target fine lines and wrinkles, by filling in the tiny cracks resulting in supple, softened skin, regardless of the weather. Ideal for: Dry and combination skin
Humectant moisturizers contain ingredients that attract water and retain it in your skin. It absorbs quickly due to its thin texture, so may not clog pores and in humid environments, humectant moisturizers can be even more effective. Cautionary note – be mindful of the weather and your skin’s moisture levels. If you’re feeling excessively dry, you may need to consider a heavier moisturizer. Ideal for: Dry and oily skin
Occlusive moisturizers are the deepest hydrating option for dehydrated complexions, and work to seal in moisture with its thicker, creamier consistency and occlusive ingredients, as well as repair damage of the skin barrier. Occlusives should be avoided for acne-prone skin, as it can clog pores even more. Instead, opt for a light, oil-free, non-comedogenic lotion best suited for irritable or breakout-prone skin.
Ideal for: Dry and sensitive skin
If you’re using a spot treatment, you may need to bypass those areas when applying your moisturizer to ensure the ingredients in it won’t interfere with the active ingredients in your spot treatment.
Step 6: PHYSICAL SUNSCREEN
Daily sun protection is as important as drinking water and should be the final step in your daytime skincare routine. Sunscreen prevents skin discoloration, signs of aging, and decreases the development of skin cancers. Opt for a sunscreen that offers SPF 30 or higher.
Method:
Apply a small amount onto your face, neck, and décolletage areas, ensuring complete coverage.
Options:
Physical sunscreen: a natural mineral is used to block UV rays; works immediately; locks in moisture and reflects the heat. We recommend the use of a physical sunscreen as it is a natural source, provided it is a pure and high-grade mineral sunblock.
Chemical sunscreen: must first be absorbed into the skin to be effective, so applying after your moisturizer will delay and hinder that; if you apply a chemical sunscreen before your moisturizer, then your moisturizer will not work as well. Chemical is ‘chemical’ and we would never recommend a chemical sunscreen. However, if this is the preference, we cannot influence your otherwise but can advise you to opt for a formula that offers moisturizing benefits, to ensure your daily hydration needs are met, while protecting your skin.
TIPS & TRICKS
1. Remember to stay hydrated by drinking sufficient water!
2. A prerequisite for your morning skincare routine is a good night’s sleep. Sleep deprivation not only negatively impacts your productivity, but it also harms your skin, increasing signs of aging and diminishing skin barrier functions.
3. Sleeping on your side or stomach may cause compression lines on your face and may eventually result in the formation of creases and wrinkles. Consider changing the way your sleep as sleeping on your back is better for your skin!
4. Cotton pillowcases draw the moisture from your skin as you sleep. So, remember to wash pillowcases at least weekly or why not try satin pillowcases, which help keep your skin supple and allow your pores to breathe?
5. To ensure that your products have the best chance at delivering the most effective results, remember to apply them in the correct order.
6. Never wear makeup to bed as this may lead to clogged pores and may potentially result in unnecessary breakouts. Remember to wash makeup brushes and sponges at least weekly.
7. Remember to extend your skincare routine to your neck and décolleté areas as neglect allows visible signs of aging to appear.
8. Remember to double cleanse as part of your evening skincare routine. When you wash your face in two steps, you’re able to remove makeup and impurities in a thorough way.
9. Always use products as directed and when in doubt, follow the instructions as listed on the product’s packaging.
10. Invest in a good derma roller and include it in your daily skincare routine. A derma roller penetrates into your skin’s topmost layers to encourage collagen production, making your skin supple and radiant. It provides you with a clean and healthy canvas to work on!
We hope that this article has helped you. If you would like to learn more about why an Anti-Aging skincare routine is so important, set up a consultation at Urban Body Laser today! Our friendly and qualified team would be happy to answer any questions you may have and help you find the best routine and products for you. Contact us at info@urbanbodylaser.com, live chat or at (604) 229-2836.
We proudly invite you to browse our online store to view our incredible product range at https://urbanbody.myshopify.com! Our collection of R3 Derma Health products contains the highest concentration of active and natural ingredients, best suited for those individuals who desire faster results.
