A Guide to Anti-Aging Skin Care Routine

Just yesterday, you were ROFL-ing around, and your face just bounced back to its former self. Today, however, the relentlessly harsh light above your bathroom mirror showed something new. That smile line stuck around for the first time ever, and you can feel the trap door above a spiral of despair creaking ever more audibly. When did this happen? Is this how it all starts, and are you past your prime? Is it time you should start using anti-aging skincare?

There is no need to holler to the scribe for your last will and testament. Aging skin is a part of the contract of living, and fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging will catch up with us all in the end (yes, even Cher), regardless of how much time, energy, effort, money, blood, sweat, and tears you throw at these. Still, you can sure slow the bastards down. So when to start an anti-aging skin care routine, and should you wait till things start going south (literally…. thanks a lot, gravity)? 

We'd be wise to listen to the advice of those with far more lines collected on their faces - an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. Ideally, an anti-aging skincare routine should initially act as a prevention and delay the onset of the first signs of aging. So, we've gathered some tips on selecting and using anti-aging skincare products, key anti-aging ingredients, and effective routines to help you navigate this landscape of lines.

What is Anti-Aging Skin Care?

As the name suggests, anti-aging skin care is skincare designed for the specific purpose of preventing and reducing visible signs of aging through the topical application of beneficial active ingredients. Good anti-aging skin care products use ingredients proven to hit the biggest problems of aging skin - collagen loss, drying out, and accumulation of environmental damage, such as UV exposure and pollution - that result in visible wrinkles, sagging skin, and dullness. It’s about targeting, negating, and slowing down the skin’s natural aging process in a non-invasive way, ideally before the signs of aging advance.

If you were to pick an expert's brain on this topic, they would recommend we start introducing anti-aging skincare in our mid-20s to early 30s, as soon as collagen production starts to slow down and you start to notice fine lines, uneven skin tone, and loss of elasticity.

Psychos have no frownies?

If we were to have a conversation with someone with no facial expressions or lines at all, our frownless, smileless mask of a face would make others feel highly uncomfortable. The eerie feeling results from a lack of non-verbal communication that carries most of our interactions as a means to understand one another deeply. We need our lines and creases to tell a story of an emotional life inside, and we trust people who display them more. There is this idea (unproven observation) circling around that psychopaths (most of whom are not criminal offenders) will look younger than they are, stay youthful for longer, and that you will rarely see a wrinkled forehead on one.

Although no one took a serious scientific look at the validity of this claim, it seems logical that they would have fewer lines and wrinkles as they lack a lot of the micro-expressions, especially in the upper half of their face where it is more difficult to fake or copy emotions, and where many have a flat affectation as a baseline. Throughout human evolutionary history, it was crucial to understand the other’s intentions and answer the most important social question, “friend or foe?” - as our survival depended on it.

So, as you can see, running towards a wax-figure-like, immobilized face should never be the goal of anti-aging treatments. We should aim to stay vital and slow down the (unavoidable) natural aging process as much as we can through natural interventions, lifestyle changes, anti-aging skincare, and emotional and mental hygiene.

The most common signs of aging skin

Static wrinkles

It’s normal to have wrinkles while smiling, laughing, or doing any repetitive muscle movements. Even babies have those. But, if you notice that these lines persist even while your face is in a neutral expression, then they’re called static lines. They are a result of repeated creases from dynamic lines combined with the gradual loss of skin elasticity as we age. We don’t know about that your character becomes your destiny, but your frequent facial expressions sure do tattoo themselves onto your face permanently, so rethink worry and anger. Now you might be tempted to never smile or raise an eyebrow in intrigued curiosity again to keep your face smooth and line-free, but what kind of life would that be?

Loss of plumpness

Wouldn’t it be disturbing to see a newborn or a toddler with chiseled cheekbones? We all come here chubby and round with a lot more “baby fat” in our faces and an androgynous body that will both start to change once we hit puberty. As we age, our face loses its plumpness, making us a perfect mixture of fresh, youthfulness and chiseled mature features in our 20s. That’s the good news. The bad news is that once the process starts, it doesn’t stop and we will continue to lose volume and acquire a more sunken appearance over time.

Skin thinning

Pinch your skin a bit. There is some thickness and substance there. As we age, our skin gets thinner as well due to the loss of collagen, which means you will probably start to see more capillaries, veins, and become more susceptible to bruising.

Skin sagging

Over time, you might discover that your skin isn’t as firm and lifted as it used to be, and again, the main culprit is the loss of collagen, resulting in the diminished capability to fight against the relentless pull of gravity. You’ll mostly notice drooping in the jowls and corners of the mouth, as well as a deepening and elongating of the nasolabial fold (the line connecting the bed of your nose and corners of your mouth).

Spots

Age spots or liver spots are small discolorations that occur on your skin and may be visible earlier in people with lighter skin. Luckily, they are simple both to treat and to prevent! Age spots are one of the reasons why we preach using SPF so vigorously in your skincare routine, as well as limiting your UV exposure. For those of you who already have some age spots, a simple lightening cream should take care of the issue, and for more advanced cases, maybe a chemical peel or a laser treatment.

Dry skin

As we grow older oil glands get lazier and produce less sebum. It is good news for those with oily skin but bad news in general since sebum also forms a protective layer on the skin and serves as a barrier. That means that people with already dry skin might just get even drier skin, but all skin types should invest in a good moisturizer because even oily skin can be dehydrated and worsen due to the need to compensate for the dryness. So, if you remember only one single thing from this, let it be investing in a good moisturizer to prevent and ameliorate the visibility of existing signs of aging.

The Best Anti-Aging Ingredients

Standing in a store or a pharmacy in front of a wall of anti-aging skin care products can be an overwhelming experience without a guide to help you find what you need. Paralysis of choice is a likely outcome where we walk out empty-handed and confused, or on the other side of the spectrum, we overspend and get a lot of random products that will never be fully used up and will lie forgotten and unloved in our bathroom drawers. This is a waste of time, money, and resources, and combining incompatible products or incorrect layering can make your skin look worse. So the next time you’re looking for good anti-aging items, look for confirmed clean skincare brands and products high in these top anti-aging ingredients:

Retinoids

Chemically related to Vitamin A, retinoids have the superpower of promoting skin cell turnover that skincare, medicine, and dermatology love. Skincare usually contains the milder over-the-counter forms of retinoids, such as the well-known retinol. At the same time, severe acne and conditions like psoriasis and intense hyperpigmentation might need some prescription retinoids.

A retinoid-rich anti-aging skin care will boost collagen production while helping you shed those dead-weight skin cells faster and replacing them with new, fresh cells. All of this will result in visible improvements in skin tone and texture, reduced wrinkles, less visible pores, scarring, and hyperpigmentation. But be sure to start slow as retinoids can be a bit irritating at first if you've never used them, and if you're going outside soon after use, wear an SPF as your skin will be more sensitive to UV damage.

Vitamin C

A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C benefits include inhibiting melanin overproduction and brightening dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and sunspots. It also successfully fights free radical damage from UV exposure and urban pollution while playing a vital role in collagen synthesis, making lines and wrinkles less visible. ideal for rosacea and sunburn, vitamin C has an anti-inflammatory function that calms irritation and redness while supporting healing and making skin more even and radiant.

If you're gonna be using Vit C as a part of your morning skincare routine, wear SPF, and when choosing your Vitamin-C product, look for items in opaque or dark packaging (or both) as Vitamin C  is fragile and breaks down when exposed to light and air.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a well-tolerated anti-aging ingredient with a fantastic capability to draw in environmental moisture. It is naturally present in the body, primarily in connective tissues, joints, eyes, and skin. A HA molecule can hold up to 1000 its weight in water, profoundly hydrating skin for a plump and firmer look, youthful freshness, and smoother texture. Less visible lines and wrinkles and a stronger skin barrier that protects us from outside pathogens, elements, irritants, and pollutants are also good news.

Hyaluronic acid is hydrating and soothing benefits also calm inflammation and redness, making it an excellent skincare routine addition for even the most sensitive skin. If you're on the fringe about some of the more potentially irritating anti-aging ingredients, this is the one for you.

Peptides

Peptides are basically tiny building blocks of proteins made out of short amino acid chains that support collagen production and skin repair, which can really help damaged or sensitive skin. The improved skin barrier function can also stabilize the skin's moisture level by preventing moisture loss to maintain longer hydration. The skin will also look smoother and firmer due to the stimulation of collagen and elastin production. Peptides support collagen by signaling cells to produce more, by delivering necessary building blocks into the skin, by preventing the breakdown of existing collagen, and by relaxing muscles and, therefore creasing skin less.

It would be a good idea to enhance the peptide kick by combining it with vitamin C and hyaluronic acid. It is very safe even for sensitive skin, and it's ok to use peptide-laced skincare in the morning and evening.

Natural and Organic Anti-Aging Ingredients

Not all of us are interested in commercial skincare, and some enjoy a purist approach of using raw and natural ingredients in holistic skincare regimens. For those who prefer completely natural anti-aging skin care or fully organic skincare ingredients, we recommend green tea extract, rosehip oil, and aloe vera. These are potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatories, often gentler on the skin, making them suitable for sensitive skin types and persons who might adversely react to some synthetic reactions.

Professional vs. At-home Anti-Aging Treatment?

Professional Treatments

If you have the time and resources to get everything done professionally regularly, do it. Salons, clinics, and in-office anti-aging skin care treatments usually use stronger ingredients and complex devices operated by professionally trained aestheticians. Chemical peels, laser therapy, microccurent, and microneedling are the top choices among the non-invasive and semi-invasive options for their ability to revitalize the skin visibly. These treatments boost collagen, reduce wrinkles, and improve skin texture, giving faster and more dramatic results than at-home treatments.

At-Home Treatments

Life can get really busy, and the luxury of taking hours to make an appointment, drive to it, and be there for a while may not be available. And let’s be clear: good and effective treatments do not come cheap, so you had better be situated for this one. At-home anti-aging devices may seem expensive at first glance, but you will be using them for years if you take good care of them. So, it will save you money in the long run. The most accessible and effective antiaging devices now include microdermabrasion kits, easy-to-use microcurrent such as BEAR™ 2 device, and LED light therapy, and the downside is that the results may take longer to show as at-home devices are typically of a lesser intensity to prevent injury when used by an untrained hand.

A Simple Morning & Evening Anti-Aging Routine

You can view an anti-aging skincare routine as a sort of daily ritual you enjoy (feeling joy and being content will also make you look younger). These few minutes at the beginning and the end of your day should be the most relaxing time, preparing you to head out into the world calm and centered and unwinding you from a day of to-do’s (try calling it a “ta-da!” list, it makes a difference), obligations and chores.  We’ll make this clean and basic. This is what your morning and evening skincare routine should include and in what order:

Morning: Cleanser, antioxidant serum (Vitamin C), moisturizer and sunscreen.

Evening: Cleanser, retinol or peptide serum, moisturizer, and eye cream.

Ideally, you’d add weekly treatments like exfoliation and deep hydration masks, depending on your primary skin concerns. If you have the resources and already have some fairly visible signs of aging or have been conveniently ignoring the talk on prevention, consider occasional professional treatments like chemical peels for deeper skin rejuvenation. For the at-home skincare enthusiast, introduce an anti-aging device into your daily routine, for example, a microcurrent facial and a conductive anti-aging serum which will take about 2-3 minutes.

Tips on Choosing Anti-Aging Products

This goes without saying - Don’t copy your friends' routine. Just because it works for them is not a guarantee it will work for you, especially if you are not of a similar age or the same skin type. Different skin types will need specialized approaches, so always pay attention to the skin type your product was designed for. Oily skin can break out if using comedogenic skincare for very dry skin, while very dry skin can get parched and flaky with light gel moisturizers designed for very oily skin. Similarly, harsher cleansers that would help problematic, acne-prone skin could damage very sensitive or dry skin.  

Dry Skin: Look for rich creams, serums, and oils packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides. If your skin is very dry, you basically can’t go overboard with thick, protective, and hydrating creams, as the dryness will be the reason why your skin shows lines and wrinkles more readily.

Oily Skin: Use lightweight, oil-free products that won’t clog pores, and water-based serums are your friends for more intensive, concentrated anti-aging skincare. Avoid heavy occlusive items, and we’d not recommend the daily use of face oils (excluding on spot treatments for imperfections such as Tea Tree oil).

Sensitive Skin: Often dry, but possible in all skin types, sensitive skin may be sensitive to ingredients or to mechanical manipulation such as washing, massaging, or exfoliating.  Those with sensitive skin should look for gentle, pH-neutral anti-aging skin care laced with soothing ingredients like aloe vera or chamomile, or you can even try out skincare that is appropriate for delicate baby skin. A lot of commercial skincare might lead to redness or irritation, so if you choose to try something, test it somewhere on your body before you use it on your facial skin.

Conclusion

Time waits for no (wo)man and doesn’t care for your protest of the changing reflection in the mirror. It will keep ticking on, and we can despair or do something about it. Proactive as we are, we’d advise not wasting time on resentment, sadness, and grudges but learning about how to keep your skin looking fresh and youthful. An anti-aging skincare routine is a must and works best if you start before the first signs of aging rear their wrinkly heads. If you’re in your mid-30s and haven’t got an anti-aging skincare routine, it’s time to set one up. Taking care of your skin now will make a huge difference in the decades down the line. Layer the right ingredients, treatments, routines, and anti-aging devices according to your skin type, and try to keep the interventions non-invasive for as long as you can. There will be time to contemplate the invasive and dangerous scalpels once you’re not satisfied with the results of non-invasive treatments anymore.

Aging is a natural and inevitable biological process that we can never entirely circumvent, but we can try and Hodor this inevitability through an anti-aging lifestyle, skincare, dietary habits, physical exercise, and mindfully choosing our physical and social surroundings and taking care of our minds and hearts. Remember - It’s always better (and easier) to prevent than to treat. Stay curious, beautiful, and fresh, and enjoy living in your skin.