Aging is one of those worries we all are trying to avoid. But the reality is that everyone goes through it, and it’s a natural, beautiful process that is a privilege to experience. Often, we’re afraid of looking older.
Apr 27, 2022 2:53:21 PM / by The Institute of Skin Science
Aging is one of those worries we all are trying to avoid. But the reality is that everyone goes through it, and it’s a natural, beautiful process that is a privilege to experience.
Often, we’re afraid of looking older. Wrinkle development and skin that lacks elasticity are two problems no one wants to confront. While there’s no secret potion, serum, or fountain of youth that will magically keep you young, there is a method to aging gracefully and keeping your skin looking healthy for years to come. This method has a lot to do with what you are doing right now.
Signs of Aging Skin
It’s no secret that everyone’s skin is different, so most people will have different reactions from one another when it comes to aging skin.
Nevertheless, these are the most common signs of aging:
Fine lines
Wrinkles
Dryness
Loss of elasticity
Irritation (A dry, itchy feeling)
Age spots
Blotchiness
Dullness
Something to note is that men and women age differently. When women start menopause, their hormones drop, which causes their sebaceous glands to produce less oil, which can cause excessive drying and contribute to adult acne. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, women will lose 30% of the collagen in their skin during the first five years of menopause. In comparison, men will lose their collagen at a much slower and steadier pace.
All of this is to say that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to everyone’s aging skin woes. If you’re looking for a customized skin care regimen that suits your skin needs, reach out to your esthetician to explore your options. In the meantime, continue reading this article to learn more about the aging process and what you can do to keep your skin in good health as you age.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Aging
There are two main categories of aging that your skin goes through. The first is intrinsic, which is simply the physiological, internal process of getting older, resulting in dry, thinning skin, fine lines, and loss of underlying fat in the face. While there’s no way to stop intrinsic aging completely, you can support a healthy aging process by getting adequate sleep, managing stress levels, and utilizing products that support cellular functions within the skin, like peptides, retinol, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and more.
Extrinsic aging is how your skin ages due to environmental factors like sun exposure, pollution, diet, etc. Most premature aging is due to extrinsic factors, especially UV exposure. Studies conclude that approximately 90% of aging skin is attributed to the sun. The sun’s UV rays cause proteins in our skin to decay, which can cause sunspots, loss of elasticity, and wrinkles.
There are products and treatments that can reverse some of the effects of extrinsic aging, but it’s more effective to get ahead of the game. Being proactive in your skincare practices now will pay off overall. Even if you’re already seeing signs of aging skin, remember it’s never too late to start!
Proactively Preventing Premature Aging
As mentioned before, there are a lot of external factors that will impact the way your skin ages. Let’s talk about each of those factors and what you can do now to prevent premature aging.
UV rays – As already stated, UV exposure, both from the sun and tanning beds, are the biggest culprit of aging skin and the development of skin cancer. So, make sure to wear SPF every day, and reapply regularly throughout the day, about every two hours. GlyMed offers a wide range of sunscreens that are highly effective in protecting us from the sun and other environmental factors.
Those of us who want that bronzed glow may opt for sunless tanning products rather than traditional methods.
Diet – Studies suggest that a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants can neutralize the free radicals in your skin and provide your skin with nutrients from the inside out. Conversely, diets that are high in sugar, alcohol, and refined carbohydrates can contribute to accelerated aging. You should also make a habit of drinking plenty of water each day to ensure your skin is hydrated from within.
Pollution – Pollution in the air can get into your skin when it’s not properly protected. These micropollutants can cause acne breakouts, dark spots, and other underlying damage. To protect your skin from pollution you must first make sure your skin barrier is healthy and use topical antioxidants like vitamins C and E, both of which you can find in GlyMed products such as the Daily Repair Mega Moisture Cream, Vitamin C Cream, Oxygen Treatment Cream, and Intense Peptide Recovery Complex, among other items.
Cosmetic Products – Regularly sleeping with your makeup on interrupts skin cell turnover overnight. Without regular cell turnover, your skin can become dull and fine lines and wrinkles are likely to develop. Take your makeup off each night and perform a regenerative skincare routine before bed. To ensure you remove all your makeup so you can get the most out of your treatments and moisturizers, we suggest a double-cleanse. Start with a creamy cleanser, like the Mega-Purifying Cleanser, then follow it with something more active, like the Gentle Facial Wash or Sal-X Purifying Cleanser.
Starting Your Age Management Regimen
You might be wondering when you should start adding anti-aging products into your home regimen. Some skincare experts might suggest you start as early as your 20’s to your early 30’s. Many people might think these products are only for those who already demonstrate signs of aging, but if we’ve learned anything about skincare recently, it’s that proactivity is king!
If you’re still experiencing hormonal acne troubles, we understand why you might be hesitant to add to or switch up your skincare goals. Thankfully, there are plenty of GlyMed products that can target both concerns, making them the perfect place to start.
Anti-Aging and Acne-Fighting Products:
Skin Restoring Fulvic Elixir
Treatment Cream
Living Cell Clarifier
Retinol Restart Rejuvenation Serum or Cream
CBD Micro Silver Miracle
Daily Lift Serum & Daily Smoothing Peel
Find a GlyMed Pro for a Tailored-to-You Regimen At GlyMed, our mission is to create the best products to treat any skin condition. We’re proud to be an industry leader when it comes to our age management products and we encourage you to see what professional, pharmaceutical-grade skincare can do for you!
Ready to take this next step in your skincare progress? Reach out to via email to support@glymedplusaustralia.com.au
Written by The Institute of Skin Science