The Years Take Their Toll
As we age, our blood no longer circulates as quickly or as well, and our skin dehydrates; the production of collagen slows and our skin becomes less elastic. Years of exposure to the sun and harsh elements helps create lines, wrinkles, spots, and broken blood vessels; hormones production decreases with time and skin becomes thinner and duller, and pores enlarge. The pull of gravity causes aging skin to droop around the mouth and eyes, and the chin begins to sag. We produce fewer melanocytes as we grow older, which means our skin pigmentation changes, and skin color fades or becomes blotchy. Our bodies become less flexible and we become stiff and less active.
Start Anti Aging Treatments from the Inside
A balanced diet helps us receive the nutrition necessary for good health, which is reflected in thicker, shinier hair, clearer, healthier skin, and increased energy, all of which helps us look and feel younger. Choose foods from all the food groups to ensure that you are receiving at least minimum amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals necessary for good health. We have an increased need for particular nutritional elements as we age and at various stages in life, and when we have specific health concerns. We also know that soil in which fruits and vegetables are grown is often depleted in nutrients, and more nutrients are lost in food processing, handling, and cooking. Fortunately, this doesn't mean you have to find a plot of land and grow your own produce, nor do you have to chew your way through raw food every day, and, yes, you can treat yourself to fast food and processed food now and then. The solution is to take anti aging supplements.
Your primary anti aging supplement should be a multivitamin, and you can add individual supplements as needed. Choose a multivitamin formulation suitable for your age and sex that includes an antioxidant or two, such as vitamins C and E, to protect your skin and vital organs from free radicals. B vitamins are important for healthy hair, skin, and gums; calcium and magnesium protect against osteoporosis; and vitamin A against cancer, stroke, and heart disease. Since collagen is the cellular glue in the fibers that support the outer layer of skin, as well as the main protein in bones, cartilage and connective tissue, adding a collagen supplement makes a lot of sense, too. For best results, take your supplements with meals as they work synergistically with other nutrients.
Don't forget the importance of water. Drink it - lots of it - at least eight glasses a day.
Exercise is one of the most important elements in your arsenal of daily anti aging treatments. Get out of that chair, tear yourself away from the television set and start moving. Walking is an easy and beneficial form of exercise, and doesn't require any special clothing or equipment. Go for it!
Cleanse and Moisturize Skin with Anti Aging Skin Care Products
Anti aging skin care products include cleansers and exfoliates that will help keep your skin scrupulously clean. Gently remove your eye makeup and then your face makeup with an oil-based cream or milk lotion before washing your face. Forget the harsh soaps and cleansers and the hot water. Use lukewarm water on your face and pat your skin dry rather than rub it. For extra-deep cleansing, use an exfoliate or a cleansing mask weekly, or if your skin is very sensitive, monthly.
After cleansing, use a toner or a skin firming product and then apply a moisturizer of which there are two types. One is the group of humecants such as glycerin, sorbitol, lactic acid, and urea, which attract and hold moisture; the other is the family of emollients such as petroleum jelly, lanolin, and mineral oil that form barriers to seal in moisture. Both are effective, and you will have to experiment to discover which type you prefer and works best for you. Use a light, easily absorbed moisturizer during the day, and apply a heavier moisturizer at night.
You can find cleansers, toners, and moisturizers designed for oily, dry, and combination skin. Over-active oil glands can cause acne to erupt at various ages, and your skin will become drier with age. Select skin care products suitable for your skin type.
As well as a toner and the essential moisturizer, you can find anti aging products designed specifically to lighten age spots, to protect the tender skin under the eyes, to treat dry lips, and to manage acne and blemishes. If you would like to reduce wrinkles, alpha hydroxy acids and Retin A are the modern miracle treatments and they can be prescribed by your doctor.
Whatever cleansing, moisturizing, or problem-solving skincare products you use, if you forget your sunscreen, it is all a waste of money and effort. Skin has no greater enemy than the sun - protect it well from those harmful rays. Use a sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15, and slap it on summer and winter, on sunny days and under heavy cloud cover. Those damaging rays can reach right through the clouds and find your unprotected skin. Don't forget to put sunscreen on your lips, too.
Choose Anti Aging Products When Buying Makeup
People use makeup to enhance their best features and to conceal flaws, such as blemishes and scars. If you wear makeup, choose products compatible with your anti aging treatments. There are cosmetics designed for people with blonde, brunette, red, or gray hair, and skin tones that range from very pale to black. Many are created specifically for oily, dry, and combination skin. Read labels and shop carefully to receive the benefits of these particular anti aging treatments. Their use will help you look younger and help protect your skin. There is makeup for long-term use and for emergency fix-ups. It is wonderful to have products on hand that will conceal under-eye dark circles or puffiness, as well as pimples and broken capillaries when these misfortunes strike.