A good skincare regimen can be very effective in combating the signs of premature skin aging. The sooner one begins a routine and uses it consistently, the more likely it is they can preserve the good, reverse the damage and prevent further insult to the skin.

At the Replenish Center, I utilize medical aesthetic procedures such as Botox, microneedling, fillers, thread lifts, vampire facelifts and others to quickly diminish signs of premature skin aging. These therapies, while immediately effective, can be expensive and they are not permanent. No matter how wonderful we can make you look, nothing beats having great skin. In fact, those that have a good skincare routine have the best combined outcome in the long run. They do not have to come back as often for procedures because the skincare is also helping slow and/or reverse the signs of premature skin aging.

Premature Skin aging does not refer to aging due to genetics, gravity and time. It’s estimated that 70-80 percent of premature skin aging is due to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. The majority of aging that we are seeing in our 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond happened back in our teens and 20s when we overexposed our skin to the sun, not knowing any better.

The signs of this type of damage are fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, dark circles around the eyes, dark spots and loss of volume due to diminishing collagen and elastin. It’s important to note that melanin plays a role in mitigating premature skin aging. Due to the protection melanin affords against UVA/UVB radiation, it may take longer for darker complexions to experience signs of premature skin aging. When those signs become apparent, darker complexions experience concerns of uneven skin tone and loss of volume: depressions under the eyes (tear troughs) or deep folds around the mouth (nasolabial folds), as opposed to the fine lines and wrinkles which become apparent sooner in caucasian skin.

It’s important for all complexions to use an SPF cream to protect against UV radiation. While melanin offers some protection, it is not 100% protective. Using a broad-spectrum SPF of 15 or 30 can protect against future skin damage for all skin tones.

The chosen skincare routine depends on the individuals’ unique signs of aging― what they want to prevent, what they want to reverse and what they want to maintain.

The basic components of a good skincare routine include a cleanser, toner, serum, different day and night moisturizer, and an eye cream. It’s also important to use products with quality ingredients which are allergy/dermatology tested:

~A good cleanser will remove makeup, dirt and impurities without over-drying or stripping the skins natural moisture. 

~Toners should deliver nutritive ingredients to the deeper layers of the skin, help minimize the size of pores and prepare the skin for the next step, the serum. 

~The serum is the powerhouse of most skincare lines. They are packed with peptides, vitamins and other key anti-aging ingredients to stimulate collagen production, even skin tone and target other specific skin concerns. 

~The function of a daytime moisturizer is to defend the skin against the potential insults your skin may encounter. 

~A night cream is geared towards reversing the damage caused by your daytime exposure. 

~An eye cream is specially formulated to protect the delicate skin surrounding the eyes, while combating dark circles and puffiness. 

Anti-aging skincare products are infused with peptides, vitamins, plant extracts to balance moisture, make even and also brighten the complexion, and may have retinol-like properties to help build collagen and elastin. 

While a great skincare line may give us an immediate effect of hydration and radiance, combating the signs of premature skin aging it is not ever a quick fix. The damage didn’t occur overnight and we shouldn’t expect to see great results immediately. However, with consistent use of a good anti-aging skin care routine, amazing results can occur.