Many of you probably don’t know that I work full time in the skin health (aka skincare) industry. I have always obsessed over skincare; I grew up with acne; still get it, it’s the worst!! so it’s been pretty awesome having exposure to that business. I’ve been working with skincare and aesthetic professionals for over 6 years, so it’s pretty safe to say I do know a fair share about skincare, so I want to share it with you!
I will 100% put together an acne-related post because I know SO many people struggle with it, but we’re going to start with anti-aging!
I’ve used an abundance of products over the years, again mainly acne-related, but since I’m now I'm 30 and I’m not getting younger, anti-aging products have made their way into my daily routine. These are the 3 anti-aging products/ingredients that I cannot live without.
Vitamin C – I use a 20% Vitamin C serum every morning. Vitamin C is an amazing antioxidant; it protects and repairs free radical damage (free radicals – pollution, stress, sun, etc., cause aging). Vitamin C aids with collagen production, calms inflammation, & brightens the skin. It also helps to retain moisture (hydrated skin is younger and healthier looking) and it supports your UV protection aka your sunscreen.
Retinol – I use a 1.0 Retinol cream 3-4 times a week in the evening. Retinol is soo good for acne, pore size, wrinkles, skin texture, and tone! Retinol aids with cell turnover; damaged cells are replaced with healthy cells (the faster the cell turnover the better, think babies skin; so plump and even) and boosts collagen production (more collagen = fewer wrinkles).
Sun Protection– I use sun protection SPF 50 every day regardless if it’s rainy, snowing or sunny. Sun protection is SO key in any anti-aging routine; protect your investment! Continued sun exposure causes photoaging (premature wrinkling, along with brown spots, redness, sagging) on the skin. The sun damages the elastin fibers; collagen and elastin provide the structure of the skin, SO damaged elastin fibers = sagging skin and wrinkles. The sun also promotes inflammation – this triggers the skin to produce melanin (the colouring) in the skin as a reaction – think brown spots or redness/sensitivity – also no thanks!
Products pictured above: Colorescience Sunforgettables Brush-on Sunscreen SPF 50 (shade medium), Obagi Professional-C Serum 20%, Obagi 1.0 Retinol
Do you have any favourite anti-aging products? I would love to hear what you use!
Carling xx