3 Tips for An Anti-Aging Skin Care Regimen

By: Jessica Sheheen

I will never forget glancing in the mirror one morning in my early thirties and saying out loud, “when did these lines in my forehead get so bad? And what is this brown spot on my temple? Why does my skin look so dull?” I panicked for a few minutes and then I took to Google to research what I was going to do about it! By the end of the day, I was confused, and quite frankly, frustrated by the plethora of information I’d found. I ended up stopping at the local CVS and picking up some St. Ives Apricot Scrub and my old trusty Oil of Olay moisturizer, and stopping for the day. At least I was doing something, right? Fast forward 10 years-IF I only knew back then what I know now!

With so much anti-aging information out there, finding a starting point can be overwhelming. The thought of trying to decide which treatment or serum or cream is best suited for a specific concern, which one is most effective, how much it costs, does it really work, and on and on, prevents many people from acting. If this sounds familiar, I want to share some tips to help you get started.

Aging gracefully is an investment, but it does not have to break the bank. Here are the top 3 things I recommend in an anti-aging skin care regimen:

1. Broad Spectrum Sunscreen every day, regardless of whether you are indoors or outdoors. UVA AND UVB protection are key to preventing photodamage (sun damage) as well as cancer. Be sure to select a sunscreen that is at least 30 SPF and consider using a hybrid sunscreen/moisturizer. We Love iS Clinical’s Extreme Protect SPF 40.

2. Tretinoin, aka Vitamin A. Using tretinoin nightly, has many benefits, and what’s even better? It’s safe, effective, and affordable. Benefits include brightening skin tone, reducing fine lines, diminishing pore size, exfoliating dead skin, and accelerating skin cell turnover. A 45-gram tube of tretinoin will last six months or longer.

Expert tip: Tretinoin can also be applied to the backs of the hands to keep them looking youthful and smooth. Incorporate this into your bedtime routine.

3. Cleanse your skin gently and always avoid scrubbing (the St. Ives Apricot Scrub I mentioned previously—yep—BIG No No). Scrubbing the skin can cause irritation and damage to the moisture barrier, which causes accelerated aging. Avoid face washes that foam, contain fragrance, parabens, and/or alcohol. Look for cleansers that also incorporate toning ingredients. We recommend iS Clinical’s Cleansing Complex. This mild face wash contains bio-nutrients, antioxidants, and mild resurfacing ingredients that will not strip the skin of essential natural oils.

In addition to a good skin care regimen, there are many other things we can do to slow the signs of aging. Get plenty of rest, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun, stay hydrated, exercise and if you smoke, talk to your doctor about stopping. There are also in the office, non-surgical treatments that can help reverse the signs of aging.