One day you glance in the mirror under brighter lights than usual or you sit down at a make-up mirror and realize that wrinkles have appeared where there were none, discoloration where there was once an even complexion, and sagging where there was once firm Skin. It feels like it happens overnight sometimes. The realization inspires a moment of panic followed by the desire to do something to slow down the clock! For those who wish to take action without a trip to the doctor’s office, there are a few steps that can be taken to make a real difference, naturally.

1. Boost your antioxidant power

Antioxidants have become a key word touted on everything from skin care packaging to food items, and with good reason.  Antioxidants are substances that prevent oxidation or deterioration and thus, prevent free radicals. The term “free radical” is usually used to describe a damaged cell, one that is looking to repair itself by means of damaging another cell and taking what it needs to repair itself.  When free radicals damage another cell, they often damage the DNA within that cell leaving it susceptible to disease. Some environmental factors such as smoke, radiation, pollution, etc, accelerate the production of free radicals which in turn are responsible for the cell damage that we broadly categorize as “aging”. This is why an increase in antioxidants in our diets, often found in green tea and brightly colored fruits and berries, have been shown to slow down the aging process and prevent disease. By adding antioxidants to your Skin Care Routine, you can fight Free Radical Damage and prolong the health of your skin.  Some of the most effective antioxidants in terms of scavenging free radicals are Pomegranate, Green Tea, Vitamin E and Vitamin C, making them essential antioxidants to include in your skin care routine.

2. Use peptides

Peptides are short strings of amino acids that are the precursor to certain activities in the body.  For instance, when collagen is broken down the body produces a peptide to signal the break down of collagen and stimulate collagen production.  Scientists have been very clever in isolating these peptides. Clinical research has shown them to be very effective in repairing damaged skin and reducing signs of aging. There are peptides like Eyeliss and Haloxyl that are formulated specifically for the eye area to reduce swelling and discoloration by increasing microcirculation and lymphatic drainage and strengthening veins and capillaries around the eyes.  Others, like Matrixyl 3000 and Matrixyl Synthe’6 stimulate collagen and elastin production. They must be used regularly for a few months for the best results.

3. Protect yourself from the sun

Over time, sun exposure ages our skin by causing free radical damage and destroying collagen and elastin, which leads to wrinkles and sagging skin. Sun exposure also damages melanocytes, melanin (pigment) producing skin cells, causing them to function incorrectly and create blotches of pigment we call “age spots”.  Protection is the surest form of prevention so wearing a natural sunscreen that utilizes physical blockers like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide is important to prevent this damage when you are going to be out in the sun. You can also add oils that have SPF to your routine such as red raspberry seed oil, which has an SPF of between 28-50. Vitamin C, when used topically, increases the photo protective qualities of your sunscreen. Vitamin C not only heals sun damage by reducing free radical damage, it also increases the skin’s natural resistance to sun damage, particularly when combined with Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid, which further increase the photo protective qualities of Vitamin C.  Furthermore, Vitamin C reduces discoloration by breaking up melanin that accumulates under the skin leaving you with a brighter, more even complexion.

4. Exfoliate Regularly

 Even if you wash your face regularly, adding exfoliation to your skin care routine is an important step to achieving a brighter, more luminous and youthful complexion. Over time, dead skin and keratin build up on the surface of the skin dulling the complexion, clogging pores and preventing any skin care products that you are using from absorbing into the skin properly.  Exfoliating with alpha hydroxy acids which can also be hydrating (such as lactic acid), sloughs off dead, discolored skin leaving only the healthy skin below.

5. Moisturize

Moisturizing is vital to keeping your skin looking and feeling youthful. As we age, we produce less natural oils and the skin dries out more easily making fine lines and wrinkles more prominent. Hydrating the skin makes these fine lines and wrinkles much less noticeable, plus it keeps flaky, dry, itchy skin at bay.  Some of the most effective moisturizers use natural humectants such as sodium PCA, which holds several times its weight in water and binds it to the skin. Oils are also wonderful moisturizers, but be sure to choose oils that are good for the face.  Some oils that are particularly wonderful facial moisturizers are argan oil, pomegranate seed oil and hemp seed oil. Oils penetrate deep into the skin delivering moisture and sealing it in for a long lasting glow.