Ever wondered what the secret is to eternal youth? It’s not an elixir, and neither is it a beauty-boosting superfood. This well-kept secret to achieving ageless beauty is an ancient five-step skincare regimen that — if practiced daily — can grant you healthy, radiant skin that glows from within. Ready to evolve your morning and nightly skincare routine? Keep reading to learn about the proven formula for younger-looking skin along with product recommendations that will double up as your go-to arsenal in your skincare kit.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get Younger-Looking Skin
1. Cleanse Your Skin
Wash your skin thoroughly with a gentle cleanser in the morning and at night to remove dirt, impurities, and makeup. Avoid using natural soaps with high pH levels or products containing sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) that is harsh on the skin. Instead, build your anti-aging skincare regimen with a must-have product like the Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. Its creamy, low-pH formula features a blend of niacinamide (vitamin B3), panthenol (vitamin B5), and hydrating glycerin, which aid in defending against skin sensitivities including dryness, itchiness, and tightness.
Recommended: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($16.97)
2. Exfoliate Your Skin
The next step is to exfoliate. As we age, our skin slows down its self-replenishing mechanisms, making it harder for dead cells to be replaced with new ones. Regularly exfoliating your skin helps remove oil, dirt, and dead cells, renewing your skin and giving it a healthy complexion. The top-rated exfoliants for maturing skin include alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid and lactic acid, which are powerful in fading uneven pigmentation.
Those with oily skin can look for exfoliants with beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) like salicylic acid, malic acid, and citric acid. Drunk Elephant’s T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial takes it to the next level with a combination of both AHAs and BHAs including glycolic, tartaric, lactic, citric, and salicylic acids that improve the texture of your skin and give it a youthful radiance by minimizing fine lines, wrinkles, and pores. Remember, always scrub your skin gently as rough movements can irritate your skin and accelerate aging.
Recommended: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial ($105)
3. Treat with Anti-Aging Serum
This step is the most crucial as it has long-lasting benefits to counter aging skin. Serums are crafted using a high concentration of active ingredients like vitamin A derivatives AKA retinoids, which include retinol, tretinoin, and tazarotene, as well as vitamin C derivatives, which include L-ascorbic acid and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. Not only do these ingredients release antioxidants, but they also increase collagen in your skin. Plus, formulas with vitamin C are known to combat discolouration and dullness, leading to a smoother-looking skin tone. Adding Olay Regenerist Retinol24 MAX Night Serum to your beauty routine will help reduce uneven skin textures, minimize fine lines and wrinkles, and firm up your skin.
Recommended: Olay Regenerist Retinol24 MAX Night Serum ($34.99)
4. Moisturize Your Skin
We’ll keep the needs of your moisturizer simple — all you require is a cream with hyaluronic acid. Any moisturizer with this magical formula features skin-replenishing properties that help strengthen your skin by locking in moisture. Look towards The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors cream with hyaluronic acid that utilizes a wide array of naturally-occurring ingredients in your skin such as amino acids, fatty acids, triglycerides, ceramides, phospholipids, glycerine, saccharides, and more. This essential AM/PM cream protects the top layer of your skin and keeps it hydrated for long hours without feeling greasy. You can also dab a little amount under your eyes to prevent puffy eyes and dark circles.
Recommended: The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + Hyaluronic Acid ($15.70)
5. Apply Sunscreen
This last step is pivotal in ensuring your skin receives its well-deserved look of ageless beauty. Despite the notion that your body needs a dose of vitamin D, stepping outdoors on a sunny day without wearing any sunscreen can cause your skin to develop dark spots, wrinkles, and freckles, and hyperpigmentation. What’s more, constant exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays (as well as blue light rays emitted from digital screens) can speed up the skin’s aging process. Stay safe by wearing sunscreen every day after slathering on your moisturizer. The higher the SPF, the better. Products like Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Sunscreen SPF 60 provide protection against UVA and UVB rays that are known to cause wrinkles and sunspots. The best part? It’s wearable under your makeup.
Recommended: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Sunscreen SPF 60 ($17.99)
Shweta Gandhi | Contributing Writer
