You must get the day’s grime off your face to help your skin repair itself and prep for another day. Creating this habit will make taking on the other steps easier.
To slow the signs of aging and prevent skin cancer. Concerned about using chemicals on your skin? Then use zinc-based sunscreen…..there are so many good ones out there.
(After you wash your face!) such as a retinoid or AHA to encourage skin turnover while you sleep.
(Before your sunscreen) to protect your skin from the free radicals created by the sun and pollution that break down collagen.
I try to get everyone to do Step 1 and 2. Step 2 can be hard for people until they find the right sunscreen that agrees with their skin. You may have to try a few products, don’t get discouraged! Once you find your “go to” sunscreen, you will like putting it on every morning. I use sunscreens with at least 10% zinc and I like them to have a tint so it can double as light make up.
Once you are comfortable with that, we progress to step 3 and 4. These are even more confusing as there is so much conflicting information out there about acids, retinoids and exfoliation
When my patients are feeling intimidated, I simplify and encourage them to start slow. There are four key steps for taking care of your skin. Start at the first and see if you can get to the fourth.
Steps 3 and 4 Vitamin A (retinoids: retinol, tretinoin) has been studied for 30 years. It is the best thing we have to slow the ageing progress in a bottle outside of sunscreen. All dermatologists use it. It works but there are tricks to making it work for you without unwanted side effects.
Some people have thick oily skin and can use the strongest form available every day while others have thin skin that easily absorbs products and can only tolerate the weakest strength once a week. Either is just fine. Know your skin, buy a strength of retinol that matches your skin’s tolerance of new products (strong if you have tough skin, weak if you have sensitive skin) and then start using a very small amount twice a week followed by a moisturiser. This is a treatment, not a cream, you do not need very much. If that goes well, after two weeks work up to using it every other day to every day.
Advanced step: On the nights you are not using your retinol, use AHA acid, I like 10% glycolic acid, to help peel off any dry skin from the retinol and I always moisturise afterward to improve tolerance.
Antioxidant Serums: There are two basic types: The ones that have clinical studies to show they slow the ageing process and those that do not. The studied group of serums range in price from $150-$300. Those that have not been studied range in price from $30 to $300 and are available everywhere. If you can afford $150 on a serum, buy one with data behind it. If you cannot, then buy one under $75 with at least 10% vitamin C in it. These serums should be used every morning on naked skin to encourage penetration.
It is so hard to form new habits. Focus on finding a face wash you like and using it every night. This simple step is the most important because it helps you to build an evening ritual of self care that will allow you to do more for your skin when you are ready.