Skincare: Maintaining Youthful Looking Skin

October 4th, 2016 | Posted in: Beauty Tips, Skincare |

There may be no way that you can permanently stop the clock on your aging skin, but how you treat your body can help slow down the aging process. Here are some tips on how you can maintain your youthful, healthy skin at home and a quick look at the cosmetic procedures that can help you turn back the clock.

Skincare Steps You Can Take at Home

There are plenty of steps you can take at home and in your day-to-day life to look after your skin.

1. Sunscreen—wearing sunscreen is the single easiest way to look younger for life. Look for a formula that offers broad-spectrum protection to guard against UVA and UVB rays.
2. Clean your makeup brushes—brushes and sponges collect dirt and bacteria that can cause breakouts.
3. Eat mixed nuts—they’re full of high quality oils and fatty acids that aid in skin repair and rejuvenation.
4. Start using serums—look for one with antioxidants (the skin’s major defense against free radicals and stress) and pentapeptides (a must-have in boosting collagen).
5. Sanitize your smartphone—the glass touch screens on mobile devices are so good at spreading viruses that sharing them may be almost as bad as sneezing in someone’s face. In fact, your smartphone can be more germ-infested than a toilet in a public restroom.
6. Apply your products in proper order—the order in which you apply your products is more important than the products themselves. Reach for those with the most active ingredients as soon as you wash and pat skin dry.
7. Be mindful of dairy—dairy products, including organic ones, contain cow hormones that stimulate your oil glands and your pores, which can lead to acne.
8. Start using retinol—it helps with skin turnover and boosts collagen production to keep skin firm and youthful.
9. Get lots of sleep­—sleep deprivation lowers circulation, which is why you look pale and washed out if you only get a few hours of sleep.
10. Exfoliate—to clear out the dirt, oil, dead skin cells, and keratin that blocks the pores, exfoliate regularly with daily applications of salicylic acid and glycolic acid.
11. Red grapes—resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant found in red grape skin, can help prevent lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin.
12. Don’t neglect your neck and chest—use the same products that you would on your face, but start slowly (every other day) when applying active ingredients like retinols or acids since they may cause some initial irritation.
13. Remove your makeup before bed—leaving makeup and dirt on skin doesn’t just clog pores, it can also cause excessive dryness and even skin dandruff.
14. Use soy milk—the natural anti-inflammatory reduces swelling while soy proteins hydrate skin to soften the look of crow’s feet.
15. Be mindful of hot showers—the heat strips essential oils and creates a mild burn. Blood vessels respond by dilating in an effort to cool the skin, causing flushing and ruddiness.
16. Drink more water—water helps clear the toxins that cause inflammation and blemishes. It also assists in transporting nutrients and oxygen to skin cells, and preventing dehydration, which can cause premature aging.
17. Eat foods with antioxidants—antioxidants are the best resources your body has to fight disease and aging by reducing damage and inflammation. Some of the best sources of antioxidants include: blueberries, pomegranates, acai berries, goji berries, spinach, raspberries, nuts, seeds, purple grapes, dark chocolate (70% or higher of cocoa content), and organic green tea.
18. Own a plant—indoor pollution levels can be higher than outdoor levels. A plant in your home or by your desk at work will act as an air filter.
19. Get lots of vitamin C—a diet rich in vitamin C leads to fewer wrinkles.
20. Avoid sugar—it leads to damaged collagen and elastin, which causes wrinkles.
21. Exercise—it increases the circulation of oxygen and nutrients and purges toxins through sweat, which leads to clearer, firmer skin.

Cosmetic Procedures

Some cosmetic options include:

1. Microdermabrasion—uses fine powder or a tipped wand to remove the upper layers of skin and encourage new skin growth.
2. Laser skin resurfacing—uses high-intensity light to zap and improve the look of wrinkles and scars by tightening skin.
3. Chemical peels—used to address mild acne scars, age spots, dull skin texture, skin discoloration, or wrinkles around the eyes or mouth; chemical peels remove the top layers of skin and encourage the growth of new, smoother, more evenly colored skin.
4. Botox—relaxes tiny facial muscles, smoothing out the appearance of lines or wrinkles.
5. Filler injections—injections containing hyaluronic acid can fill in lines and wrinkles, while adding volume to the skin.
6. Cosmetic surgery—lifting the skin on the face, neck, eyelids, and forehead can give a tighter appearance.

Promoting Healthy Skin with Dr. Chiu

While home skincare remedies can do a lot to help you maintain healthy, young looking skin, they can’t do it all. A combination of cosmetic procedures and at-home care can easily help you get the desired effect that you’re looking for.

Book a consultation with Dr. Gabriel Chiu so that he can help you maintain your healthy skin for many years to come.