We can all think back to a time in our teens when we didn’t wear sunscreen, the moment that came back to bite us when we noticed our first wrinkle. Luckily, there are many different ways to care for and protect your skin as you celebrate each new birthday. Here are 5 essential skincare tips for youthful, radiant skin no matter the number on the cake:

Make Exfoliation Part of Your Skin Care Routine

Exfoliation is an important part of every person’s skin care routine, but this is especially true as you get older. Exfoliating helps to speed up your body’s process of shedding dead skin cells and revealing brighter, healthier looking skin. If you’ve never regularly exfoliated your skin, then start by exfoliating every week. Ideally, you’ll work your way up to exfoliating two or three times a week. You could also use a daily exfoliating cleanser that is gentle enough for everyday use. 

To avoid over-exfoliation, make sure to watch how your skin responds to exfoliation. If you notice redness, shininess, or irritation, scale back on how frequently you exfoliate until your skin heals. 

Keep Your Skin Moisturized

Dry skin is a common side effect of aging. Exfoliating can make a difference for dry or flaky skin, but keeping your skin well moisturized is your next step. To minimize dryness, look for a moisturizer with hydrating sodium hyaluronate or hyaluronic acid. Vitamin A can also make a difference for dryness. This vitamin makes your skin more elastic, too. For problem spots, such as loose skin or an overall less vibrant appearance, look for vitamin C. 

Be sure to moisturize your skin each morning and each evening before bed. This way, you can ensure that your skin is being constantly moisturized throughout the day and night.

Use the Right Skincare Products

You’ve probably heard a lot about retinols or retinoids. Creams containing retinol, or vitamin A, can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, minimize the look of fine lines, even out your skin tone, and generally improve the overall look of your skin. If you are still experiencing breakouts, then retinoids can even help you manage your acne. 

Serums and gels containing peptides can also make a difference for your skin. Peptides boost collagen production, which helps to give your skin a dewy, youthful appearance. Peptides also work well on skin that is sensitive or still adjusting to retinol. You can use peptides separately from retinol until your skin is ready, and then you can combine the two for a major wrinkle reduction regimen. 

In your teens and 20s, it made sense to choose lightweight, thin moisturizers in order to avoid breakouts. As you get older, breakouts often become less of a problem. If this is the case, you can look for heavier moisturizers, especially for your night time skin care routine. These moisturizers will keep your skin well-hydrated and promote healing as you sleep. 

Check In With a Dermatologist

There are other skin care products and treatments that you might choose to use outside of moisturizers and creams. Chemical peels are a common choice for aging skin, as are injectable procedures. 

Speak with your dermatologist about your skin care concerns. Your dermatologist can help you find the skin care treatment that is best for your specific problem. Visiting a dermatologist yearly is also important for skin cancer prevention. Your risk of skin cancer rises as you get older. Regular check-ups will allow you to identify any problems early. 

Photo by Alexandre Weiss from Pexels

Don’t Forget the Sunscreen

It’s never too late to start using a daily sunscreen. Regularly using sunblock will reduce your risk of skin cancer, but it will also improve the look of your skin today. In fact, a 2013 study found that starting a sunscreen regimen reduced signs of aging — even in people who started regularly using sunscreen for the first time in their 50s.  

Look for a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 for strong protection from the sun’s harmful rays. 

Caring for Your Skin with Sanseti

Sanseti has skin care products for all ages and skin types. Our signature cleanser, moisturizer, and peptides will help you to feel confident in your appearance. Explore our website for a closer look at the right products for your skin.