16. Stay out of hot water. A steamy shower may feel great, but it's one of the worst things you can do for your skin. Not only does the heat strip essential oils, but it creates a mild burn. Blood vessels respond by dilating in an effort to cool the skin, causing flushing and ruddiness. "When you're in your twenties, you can take a hot shower, be red & swollen and recover in an hour, but in your thirties, it may take 2 hours," says Alexiades-Armenakas. "By your forties, your skin just doesn't have the ability to shrink back to its original state so you stay ruddy all the time."
17. Don't wait to moisturize. Most creams and lotions have key ingredients that create a protective barrier on the surface of the skin to lock in moisture, but because skin cools itself by evaporating water, you only have a few minutes before that hydration is gone forever. Slather on a moisturizer with dimethicone, a form of silicone, while your face is still damp. Alexiades-Armenakas' research shows that it locks in moisture for up to 24 hours, plumping and improving the appearance of fine lines as skin drinks up the moisture (like the difference between a raisin and a grape). Try NIA24 Skin Strengthening Complex.
18. Be extra gentle when defuzzing your face. Waxing and tweezing can cause scarring or spots, especially for women with darker skin. Prep your skin before hair removal by washing the area with an antibacterial wash, suggests Cook-Bolden. And to avoid discoloration, make sure to have an aftercare plan that includes anti-inflammatory ingredients to quickly calm skin and help it heal. Cook-Bolden recommends a dab of Avène Cicalfate Restorative Cream immediately after hair removal, and for a few days afterward. "Investing in this type of product will save you money in the long run since preventing discoloration costs a lot less than trying to get rid of it."
19. Snack on watermelon. Adding a lycopene-rich food, such as this juicy pink treat, "helps reduce damage and redness caused from sun exposure, prevents future wrinkling and possibly even lowers skin cancer risk," says Elizabeth Somer, nutritionist and author of Eat Your Way to Sexy. Aim for one cup each day by tossing it in salads, salsas, and smoothies. Or try her recipe for refreshing ice cubes: Purée watermelon, sweeten with concentrated apple juice, pour into an ice tray, and freeze. Then add cubes to water or club soda for a refreshing, skin-saving mocktail.
20. Exfoliate… without scrubbing. "Over time, the natural enzymes in your skin work less effectively at removing dead skin cells, so they hang on and prevent your skin from reflecting light," says Wechsler. The result? You look ashy and gray. Speed up your skin's cellular turnover and smooth its surface with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) like glycolic or lactic acid. But beware: Although lots of products include AHAs, the concentration is often too low to do much. "Look at the label to see how much it contains and pick one that's around 8%. Anything more is too much." Expect some initial stinging at first; it should subside as your skin gets used to it.
21. Slip on your sunglasses. As if you need another reason to buy a new pair of sunglasses, turns out they provide more protection against undereye wrinkling and aging than sunscreen. "While your eyes are equipped to handle sunlight, the area around them is comprised of the thinnest skin, where most of the signs of aging are," says Amiry. "Every time you squint from bright light, you're creating lines from that repeat movement." To keep the wrinkles away, choose a pair of polarized glasses that's wide enough to fully cover the eye area.
22. Drink an extra glass of water. "Water helps clear the toxins that cause inflammation and blemishes," explains Eliaz. "It also assists in transporting nutrients and oxygen to skin cells, and preventing dehydration, which can cause premature aging." It can even make skin appear fuller since the hyaluronic acid that naturally exists in skin will pull in and hold the water for a wrinkle-plumping effect, according to Day. Both recommend at least 8 glasses of water each day, more if you're active or live in a warm climate. To add a little flavor, try a skin-soothing tea like chamomile or mint.
23. Pour yourself a bowl of Cheerios for breakfast. If your skin has a case of the blahs, a lack of zinc may be to blame. "People who are trying to lose weight or eating a lot of processed foods might not be getting enough zinc to keep their skin glowing," says Wechsler. And since zinc helps repair damaged tissues and heal wounds, it also helps clear acne and other irritating skin conditions. A cup of Cheerios has 25 percent of the daily recommended value of the powerhouse nutrient, which will get you well on your way to a clear complexion.
24. Be patient with your products. We're all in a hurry to see results, but putting on the brakes can ensure that the results you get are positive. When you're starting a new product, use it every other day, and never try a few new buys at once. "Even if you just got a new skincare system, introduce one product every three to four days at the least," says Cook-Bolden. "You'll rarely experience dryness, irritation, and burning. And if you do, you'll know right away who the culprit is." Give any new potion at least 12 weeks (and up to 6 months) to see if it's really improving your skin before calling it quits.
25. Put down the French fries. Research shows that a diet high in fats and carbohydrates causes more wrinkles. "Creamy cheeses and red meats are actually known as aging fats because of what they do to our skin," says Wechsler. To keep your cells revved up and rejuvenated, stick to lean protein like fish, white meat poultry, tofu, beans, and lentils.
26. Don't forget your veggies. Look for an anti-aging cream that has plant-derived antioxidants such as mushroom or soy. Data from Alexiades-Armenakas' lab shows that the level of antioxidant-free radical scavenging (i.e. the little warriors that fight off all of the bad stuff that causes premature aging) with plant-derived antioxidants is off the charts. "Plants have anti-cancer properties when we eat them, which means they survive the digestive process," she says. "Think of what that that means for their long-lasting powerful benefits when applied directly to the skin." Try Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Advanced Face Serum.
27. Eat your broccoli. Move over, oranges. "Just a half cup of raw broccoli is loaded with 65 percent of your daily value of vitamin C," says Morgan. Research shows that vitamin C-rich foods not only mop up the free radicals that cause wrinkles and sagging, but can help remove the DNA damage they form. While you're reaping the wound-healing and skin-protecting benefits of eating more vitamin C, try smoothing some on your skin as well. In one study, women who treated sun-damaged skin with a vitamin C cream for 6 months saw significant improvement in fine lines and discoloration.
28. Keep your hands off your face. "Picking—even lightly—can permanently damage skin," says Amiry. "I actually have patients whose skin cleared up with no medications, just because they stopped touching it." Every time you press against a pimple, it causes inflammation and distress to the skin. At the same time, bacteria is pushed deep inside the pore, and the oil glands burst, causing even more trauma. The result? More acne, plus discoloration and scarring. If you're really hooked on popping, leave it to the pros and schedule regular monthly extractions with an aesthetician who knows how to do them safely and gently.
29. Whip up a berry tasty treat for your skin. A powerful (cheap!) anti-aging potion is lurking right in your fridge. Raspberries are loaded with ellagic acid, an antioxidant that research shows can prevent wrinkles when applied to the skin. "It protects the collagen that keeps skin plump and beautiful from being worn down by the sun," says Wu. Add in honey, a natural humectant that holds water against the skin for maximum moisture, and you've got a recipe for gorgeous, dewey skin. Mash up a handful of raspberries with a spoonful of honey, and apply the mask to clean skin for 15-20 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
30. Make your sunscreen work harder for you. Antioxidants like vitamin C offer an extra layer of protection again environmental damage and toxins, diverting them before they can damage your cells. "That's why applying them as part of your morning routine boosts the efficacy of your sunscreen," explains Amiry. "It's important to know that sunscreens are chemicals that you are applying to your skin and they absorb into your body. So, use a lighter sunscreen daily such as SPF 15 along with vitamin C and a higher sunscreen (about 30) every two hours if you are outdoors for a long period of time."
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario