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-prone 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.
You should try Vitamin C Moisturizer SPF 30 , a non-greasy, odorless, broad spectrum UVA/UVB moisturizer with high concentration of super antioxidant Vitamin C, is suitable for all skin types.
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 idebenone, green tea, pomegranate and Coenzyme Q10. Whichever antioxidant is in your arsenal, arm yourself every morning for all-day protection. “I really like the idea of using two different ones, either on alternating nights or one in the morning and one in the evening,” says David H. McDaniel, assistant professor of clinical dermatology and plastic surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, who specializes in antioxidants. “The antioxidant actions are somewhat different, so getting some of both makes sense.”
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. Try EILEEN MAI Retinol Skin Smoothing Serum. If your skin is too sensitive, try to use 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 introduced 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. Pumpkin Enzyme Peel can be used at home with Clear & Bright Facial Toner. Particularly, salons and spa can choose stronger formula, such as our Pro Pumpkin Enzyme Peel.
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 Micro-Dermabrasion and use Vitamin C Antioxidant Hand Crème for your hands at any time.
