The simple things you can do to take years…and years…and years off your face.
SHRINK YOUR PORES
Your pores expand as gunk accumulates in them—and the older you get, the more likely they are to stay expanded. Put them on a diet by switching to a cleanser with salicylic acid, which dissolves the oil in the pores. It also helps slough away dead skin that can lead to clogging. Salicylic Cleansing Gel is the best choice for oily and acne skin.
SLATHER ON THE SUNSCREEN
By now you probably know that you need a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least an SPF 30, that you have to slather a tablespoon’s worth of the stuff on your face and a shot glass–size dollop on your body…and that it’s necessary to reapply every two hours if you’re outdoors, including any time spent in your car. Now you just need to do it—every single day. Try EILEEN MAI® Vitamin C Moisturizer SPF 30, a non-greasy, broad spectrum UVA/UVB, contains 7% Vitamin C for maximum antioxidant effects.
GET MORE BEAUTY SLEEP
If you go to bed 15 minutes earlier, progressively, for four nights running, you’ll establish a routine where you get an extra hour of dark circle-zapping rest. For your best shot at the necessary eight hours, quit the coffee after 3 P.M. and avoid exercising in the three hours before bedtime. Log off in plenty of time, too—your face is more important than Facebook. And stop hitting the snooze button the next morning—fragmented sleeping just makes you groggier.
PILE ON THE ANTIOXIDANTS
They are among your best weapons against pollution and sun. The most potent are green tea, pomegranate, vitamin C, idebenone, and Coenzyme Q10. Whichever antioxidant is in your arsenal, arm yourself every morning for all-day protection.
REMEMBER THE RETINOL
Retinol rules—it’s the only thing that’s been proven to reduce fine lines over the long-term. But like even the best long-term relationships, it isn’t 100 percent perfect. It can increase sun sensitivity (that’s why it’s best applied at night) and it makes some women peel, flake, redden, and itch. So you should take things slow: At first, dab it on every other night or twice a week, or dilute it with plain moisturizer, until you know your skin can handle it. You can try EILEEN MAI® Skin Smoothing Serum Retinol. If your skin is sensitive, use EILEEN MAI® All-in-One Younger Skin Serum instead.
HANDS OFF YOUR EYES
You are too thin—at least around the eyes. Don’t rub, poke, or otherwise fiddle with the skin there. Every time you do, you risk breaking delicate blood vessels, which leads to darkening, dulling, and thickening of the surrounding skin. When choosing an eye cream, look for gentle anti-aging ingredients like peptides. EILEEN MAI® has two peptide-containing products for the eyes: Peptides-Acai Berry Eye crème and Vitamin C-Peptides Eye Gel.
DON’T DRINK, DON’T SMOKE
What do you do? Take care of your body to take care of your skin, that’s what. Smoking is an infamous wrinkle factory that destroys collagen and elastin. (But you knew that.) Less well known is that more than one glass of alcohol increases inflammation in the bloodstream, which can hasten sagging over time. Eating too much sugar is also a vice for your skin (not to mention your waistline), it may affect the body’s ability to repair damaged collagen.
CLEAN UP YOUR ACTIONS
Remember the little things. They can lead to big trouble—like premature aging.
• Stop squinting (sunglasses help). And if you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, make sure your prescription is up to date.
• Avoid sipping through a straw. It contributes to lines around the mouth.
• Break the habit of resting your chin on your hand. (It stretches the skin.)
• Switch to a smooth satin pillowcase. The creases in cotton eventually make their mark on your face.
BRIGHTEN UP
As we age, cell turnover slows and dead skin cells pile up all over our face. Eventually these malingerers reflect the light at odd angles and rob your face of radiance. It isn’t pretty. Whisk them away twice a week with an at-home gentle physical scrub or glycolic acid peel. EILEEN MAI® Pumpkin Enzyme Peel with 5% glycolic acid can be used at home with EILEEN MAI® Clear & Bright Facial Toner. Particularly, salons and spa can choose stronger Peels.
DON’T FORGET YOUR NECK AND HANDS
They are the body parts most likely to betray the age that’s on your passport even when your face doesn’t. Get them on the same daily maintenance program as your face, with sunscreen every morning, retinol at night, and exfoliate twice a week.
Gently wash your hands with crystal powder 1-2 times /week with
EILEEN MAI® Micro-Dermabrasion and use EILEEN MAI®Vitamin C Antioxidant Cream Hand Crème for your hands at any time to keep your hands soft and moisturized.
