Hydrate Skin to Prevent Wrinkles
The basics of any good skincare regimen are gentle moisturizing and cleansing as part of your daily routine, says dermatologist Dr. Sherrif Ibrahim. He recommends drinking plenty of water, in addition to adopting a topical skincare regimen with gentle cleansers and facial moisturizers, such as Cetaphil products, which are available at most drugstores. Dr. Ibrahim also recommends applying body lotion right after taking a hot shower or bath to lock in moisture before it evaporates from your skin as you try to cool off. If you are going to layer facial products, you should apply your sunscreen before applying makeup.
One key ingredient to look for when shopping for facial products is hyaluronic acid, which is naturally found in the skin but needs to be replenished as it is lost over time. This ingredient works to help skin feeling hydrated, acting like a sponge to moisturize dry skin. Neutrogena Hydro Boost, which contains a water gel, hydrating cleansing gel, and hydrating tint, as well as various cosmetic products, is an affordable option. La Roche-Posay also offers a variety of anti-wrinkle moisturizers and eye creams containing hyaluronic acid as an active ingredient.
Block Damaging Sun rays
Another area you’ll want to make sure not to neglect is protecting your skin against sun damage, something that you should be considering 365 days a year, and not just in the summer.
“Sun protection is the most important key to a good skincare routine and something to work on all year round, as it will protect you from skin damage, wrinkles, sagging skin, and, most importantly, skin cancer,” Dr. Ibrahim says. “It really doesn’t matter if you don’t lie out in the sun or your skin is only out in the sun for a few minutes a day; it all adds up on the meter of ultraviolet ray exposure.”
When shopping for sunscreen, you should look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen such as Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunscreen, which protects against UVA and UVB rays, with SPF 30 for the winter and SPF 50 for the summer, and contains physical blockers such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. If you have sensitive skin, steer clear of perfumes and dyes, as these can drive irritation and bad reactions, and stick to mineral sunscreen (such as Kiehls) and makeup products.
Dr. Ibrahim advises applying sunscreen at 2 grams per centimeter square, which is equal to about a golf ball-sized drop or shot glass full of sunscreen to cover the face and body.
“If you’re not putting that amount, the effective SPF is actually much lower; you have to really lather your sunscreen on and be generous, applying it at least 20 minutes before going outside,” he says. “One bottle of sunscreen should not last you a whole season; you should be shopping for sunscreen all year and, especially, all summer long.”
