We all plan to age gracefully, but if someone gives us a magic wrinkle eraser, who’s going to say no?!
That someone is Beauty and Style Contributor Holly Stone. After trying dozens of wrinkle creams and serums, she’s ready to reveal her favorites.
Skin Support System
Collagen and Elastin
Think of collagen as a mattress- the more you weaken the springs, the more it sags. Collagen when weakened causes the skin to sag. For an example of elastin, picture an elastic band. The more you stretch it, the less it snaps back. It begins to stretch and loose tautness. Weakened elastin is what forms a wrinkle. The more stretched the elastin, the deeper the wrinkle.
Water
Without water, the skin shrivels and looks wrinkly. Perfect example of this is a plum and a prune; same fruit with the only difference being the absence of water. This same effect happens to our skin when it lacks hydration.
Healthy cells
Healthy cellular turnover keeps the skin looking fresh and radiant. As we age, cells move slower and die more quickly. They need extra attention from us as we age to keep them performing in an optimal manner for youthful-looking skin.
Wrinkle Causers
1. Free radicals destroy everything they come into contact with. They kill healthy cells and wreak havoc in the body making it less efficient to defend against disease.
2. Diet-sugars can cause skin to become sallow and weakens skin support system. Healthy food gives nutrition to cells supporting their ultimate functions
3. Sun is an invisible form of radiation that penetrates skin and directly affects collagen and elastin.
4. Dehydration ages skin. Water plumps cells making skin healthy and firm.
5. Age, hormones and genetics cannot be controlled. Time advances naturally. Hormones affect each woman differently. In addition, genetics are just storytellers of who you were born to be. However, you can slow down the effects of these factors on our skin with proper attention and care for your skin.
Wrinkle Bodyguards
1. Antioxidants fight free radicals and stop them dead in their tracks. Vitamins and minerals are good sources of antioxidants. A good vitamin supplements is paramount in preserving wrinkle-free skin.
2. Exfoliation assists to remove the dead skin cells from the surface of the skin while encouraging healthy turnaround of the live cells.
3. Specifically green vegetables but also all veggies give the proper nutrition to keep skin healthy and young.
4. Low sugar intake reduces glycation from turning the skin yellow and destroying collagen and elastin.
5. Sun Protection is critical for youthful skin. The sun will age you faster than any other nemesis listed above. Wear a lotion with SPF daily even if you are only driving to work and back. The sun is powerful and has less chance of doing harm when your skin is blocked with sunscreen.
6. Water cleans cells, plumps skin and keeps body flushed of toxins. Drink plenty of water every day.
Wrinkle Erasers
Exfoliate
Remove dead skin cells to let the healthy ones rise to the surface more quickly. Dead skin cells reflect light in different directions making the skin appear dull. They also prohibit creams to penetrate the layers of the skin. Whether with a gentle scrub or a chemical peel, exfoliate the skin a minimum of 2 times per week for best results.
Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel System Specialty Treatment, Walmart, $24
Fill In Serum
If you already have wrinkles, there are technologically advanced serums that can blend in the lines to make them appear as if they are gone. This smoothing is a result of advanced peptides which when applied topically, mimic what the skin produces naturally. My favorite fill serum below also has an opalescent glow to make skin not only look super smooth, but deliciously radiant.
Estee Lauder Perfectionist [CP+] Serum, Nordstrom, $48
Plump Up Cream
Moisturization must be delivered 2 ways to be effective. First, moisture must be driven into the skin so the absorption will plump up the skin. Second, the cream must form a protective moisture barrier to prevent the natural loss of water from the skin. A cream that can perform both of these moisturizing features has ingredients to support each of these functions. And the L’Oreal cream below is the perfect winner.
L’Oreal Revitalift Skin Expertise RevitaLift Deep-Set Wrinkle Repair Night Lotion, Walgreens, $19.99
Urgent Care
Protection from the sun is the most urgent thing you can do to stop wrinkles in their tracks. I layer my sunscreen with SPF 15 under my foundation that also has SPF 15. You can never have too much sun protection.
Sephora Collection Flawless Moisturizing Lotion SPF 15, $22.00
Site Specific
If you are fortunate to have only a few wrinkles, opt for a site-specific wrinkle fighter. It will have the right active ingredients to address those areas like eyes and lips that tend to show wrinkle first due to their thinner skin. These types of areas will show most improvement in the reduction of wrinkles because the skin is thinner and therefore more responsive.
Clinique Turnaround Concentrate, Sephora, $45
Double Duty
Don’t just stop at an anti-wrinkle cream. Keep going with a foundation product that boasts wrinkle support as well-a BB cream. Several brands now have a BB Cream but I have found that for the price and the performance (this stuff REALLY works!), Garnier is the best in this category. With SPF and wrinkle support, you can’t go wrong with this multi-functional complexion product.
Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector Beauty Balm (B.B.) Cream, Target $12.49
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