You can take 10 years off your face with 7 simple habits

Sure, you try to remember lather on that night cream before bed and you usually wash your face in the morning—but there’s a lot more that goes into looking and feeling younger than putting on some cream every couple of nights.

The natural process of aging typically motivates people to try and take great care of their skin so they can restore their youth and confidence—but sometimes it’s surprisingly simple things that you commit to doing on a regular basis that can really have the biggest impact.

If you’re committed to improving your skin and achieving that youthful, radiant glow there are simple tips you should follow to slow down skin aging and look younger in the process.

Below, we spoke to skincare professionals in order to round up some of the best ways to make your skin look instantly younger.

Use a gentle cleanser

According to Samantha Dench, Licensed Esthetician, everyone should consider switching to a gentle, balanced cleanser and never skip washing your face morning and evening.

“A good routine starts with a good cleanser! Many times I see women exfoliating twice a day or using a strong cleanser that is stripping away the oil and moisture, leaving the skin dry,” explains Dench. “If you are doing this, the skin has to overproduce oil to compensate for the lack of oil and moisture.”

Find a gentle creamy or foaming cleanser that is gentle enough to clean, but won’t strip.  According to Dench, a good indication if your cleanser is too strong is when your skin feels “squeaky-clean” and you immediately need moisturizer.  You skin is telling you it doesn’t like that particular cleanser.

Back off on exfoliation

Exfoliation is important, especially as we age, because our skin does need assistance with removing the surface layer of dead skin cell build-up.

The problem, according to Dench, is most women tend to over-exfoliate, and just like your cleanser, that causes stripping away of both oil and moisture.

“I recommend exfoliating twice a week and use a gentle enzyme-based exfoliant, like a fruit enzyme to slough off the dead skin cells.”

Never skip the serums!

“Many women are often confused about serums… Do I need a serum? What is the point of a serum? How do serums work? Those are questions I get asked all the time,” says Dench.

“Yes you do need a serum and I tell women to think about your serum like a worker bee.  The goal of your serum is to get it into the skin and target the skin’s specific concerns.”

Some serum ingredients to look for include Vitamin C for hyperpigmentation and evening out the skin tone; Peptides, which are amino acids that provide the skin with the proteins it needs to stay healthy and aid our skin in healing and repair; Vitamin A which aids in cell production and growth and is ideal for anti-aging (Vitamin A is also known as Retinoids or Tretinoins).

SPF always

According to Dench, sunscreen is something we MUST be wearing and reapplying on a daily basis. SPF is key to preventing the skin from aging. SPF protects the skin from the damaging UV rays.

“Many times we get what I call ‘accidental sun exposure’ because we run errands or take a quick walk on our lunch break without reapplying our SPF & overtime these small exposures lead up to skin damage and aging,” she explains.

“Look for a mineral-based sunscreen that is both UV and blue light protective because the light from our smartphones and computers are causing damage to the skin too and newer formulations are able to help protect our skin.”

Don’t forget to do a gut check!

“The skin is an organ, which means that if we are putting inflammatory foods in our body, it IS affecting our skin,” says Dench. “Foods such as gluten, dairy, sugar, corn, and soy all create inflammation in the gut and can lead to health problems or weight gain.”

If your skin is showing signs of inflammation, such as acne, rosacea, eczema or even melasma, it’s time to rethink about the foods you are eating. 

Eating proteins and vegetables and minimizing the amount of carbohydrates you’re consuming will lead to a healthy gut and over time show the results in your skin.

Drink plenty of water

According to Natalia Sadowski, Licensed Medical Aesthetician, Skincare Therapist, and Director of Aesthetics and Education for NB Naturals, making sure you drink enough water is key to making your skin look much, much younger and healthier.

“Not only will water keep your skin hydrated, but it will also keep your body systems in optimal shape, which will, in turn, keep your skin healthy,” she explains.

Get your sleep

“Insufficient sleep can take a serious toll on the skin, can reduce collagen production and can make a person look years older,” says Sadowski.

“The rule of thumb is to get at least 8 to 9 hours of shut-eye every night.”