Here’s a common question we often get from readers: Is it too late to start a skin care routine? The short answer is no. Let us explain.
It’s easy to feel like you may have missed the boat if you still haven’t developed a skin care routine, but the truth is that it’s never too late to start a regimen. By starting a routine now—even if your skin is starting to show signs of aging—you can absolutely target specific issues and turn things around.
Today we’re focusing on issues such as fine lines, hyperpigmentation, chronic dry skin, and drooping or sagging. We’ll explain why these things happen, what ingredients to look for to combat each issue, and provide product recommendations to help. You’ve got this!
Hyperpigmentation and sun spots
If you’ve looked in the mirror and wondered why your skin texture and color looked a little uneven, the answer is two-fold: The Clock and Mr. Sunshine. Sun spots (also called age spots) can be especially surprising to see on your own face, and may make you feel like you’re doomed. Dermatologists are still trying to figure out exactly why they appear, but we know it’s caused by increased melanin and that there’s a correlation between time and extended, unprotected exposure to the sun.
Fortunately, it’s possible to lighten hyperpigmentation and age spots. Ingredients that target these issues include alpha and beta hydroxy acids (AHA, BHA), retinol, vitamin C, vitamin A (tretinoin), and hydroquinone. We recommend the Skinfood Yuja Water C Whitening Ampoule and the Kocostar Lemon Sliced Mask (which lets you place a patch over the offending areas). And remember: always wear sunscreen! Our favorite is the Neogen Day-Light Protection Sun Screen.
Fine lines and wrinkles
Liken your skin to a paperclip. There are only so many times you can bend that paperclip back and forth before that metal breaks. Similarly, there’s a finite number of times you can bend your skin by smiling, laughing or frowning, before it breaks down, as well. Once it does—boom! A line appears!
The way to target fine lines is to plump them up with moisture and to slough off dead skin cells that make the lines appear deeper. One of our most popular items is the Missha Time Revolution Night Repair New Science Activator Ampoule, which repairs, hydrates, and improves elasticity. And a great gentle exfoliator is the Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Green Tea, which will help prevent more signs of aging.
Drooping and sagging
As we age, our skin becomes less efficient at producing collagen, ceramides, and enough moisture to make our skin appear full and plump. The key, then, is to restore that moisture and those building blocks that were so plentiful in our youth. You do that by applying products that expedite collagen production and replace what your body is no longer producing well.
Ingredients to look for include collagen, ceramides, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. We recommend the Etude House Moistfull Collagen Cream, the CosRx Honey Ceramide Eye Cream, and the CosRx Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream. Another good ingredient to look for is snail mucin, which may sound icky, but is a stellar ingredient when it comes to improving the skin’s elasticity. See for yourself with the Benton Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream.
Chronically dry skin
Perpetually dry skin becomes more common as we age simply because our skin stops producing as much moisture. To combat this, make sure you’re using products intended for adult skin versus teenage skin. It’s a rookie mistake to continue using the products from your high school years well into adulthood, because the skin changes drastically in that time and products that once worked well can suddenly cause issues. The bottom line: Products for teen skin tend to be more aggressive and are heavy on the oil-zapping, since teens usually produce too much oil.
Adults? We have the opposite problem. For that reason, you should have multiple levels of moisture in your routine by using moisturizing products for every step. That includes moisturizing cleansers and toners, as well as thicker creams, oils, and serums following your cleansing.
All the products we mentioned in the “Fine lines and drooping” section will work well for this. For even more moisture, we also recommend the Skinfood Royal Honey Propolis Essence and the Skinfood Premium Avocado Rich Essential Oil.
+ What do you think? Is it too late to start a skin care routine in some cases? Let us know below!
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