Our skin ages with time from biological as well as environmental factors. Unfortunately, since there is no "Fountain of Youth" to bring our skin back from age 40 to 20, here are some simple ways to combat the signs of aging by just adding a fewsteps to your daily skincare routine.

1. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen - The sun causes up to 90% of the skin’s aging and damage – from deep wrinkles, to a leathery texture, and unsightly sun spots or even skin cancer.  By applying a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) SPF 15 from October through April, and SPF 30 from May through September daily, we are fighting most of the battle.  Sunscreens with a higher SPF provide minimally more protection and make you think you can stay in the sun longer.  The key is not the skin protection factor number, rather it is amount of sunscreen applied to exposed skin (approximately one ounce per area) and reapplication every 2 hours throughout the day. Make sure you include your neck, de‘collete‘ and hands, areas that we tend to neglect and show the first signs of aging. We recommend eZinc Protection Cream SPF 20, or Broad Spectrum Daytime Defense SPF 30.
2. Hydration – Water is a key component in aiding skin cells to resist damaging free radicals that lead to premature aging like fine lines and wrinkles.  Water is found not just in its original source, but in many of the foods we eat, such as tomatoes, watermelon, cucumbers and celery (ladies it takes more calories to chew and digest celery than the celery has itself!).  You are what you eat - one of those suggested 8 glasses of water a day may be replaced with a serving of raw fruits and/or vegetables for the same effect.  In addition, topical products that contain a humectant (draw water to the skin) or occlusive ingredients (prevent the skin from losing water) are recommended as part of a daily skincare regimen to maintain the skin’s healthy hydration levels. We recommend Hyaluronic Serum or Cucumber Spritz Hydrating Spray.
3. Exfoliate – Weekly gentle manual exfoliation, or daily chemical exfoliation with products that contain AHA or BHA ingredients improve skin tone and texture, stimulate collagen production, increase cell turnover and tighten the skin.  Results are practically instantaneous and when used as part of a home care regimen, exfoliation leads to smoother, healthier skin all year round. We recommend Skin Refine Gel or Retinol Supreme.
4. Your moisturizer – As in the winter, during the summer months, the skin can easily become dry and fragile due to summer heat and sun exposure. Choose a daily moisturizer that keeps your skin supple and pliable, with rich ingredients such as Shea Butter, Grape Seed, or Omega 6 EFA oils. You may think to save those moisturizers for the winter, but keep them within reach, as you may find they provide an added benefit during the hot summer months.
5. Other important anti-aging topical ingredients – Retinols, peptides, and hyaluronic acid all effect the skin’s health in different, yet significant ways. Retinols positively affect the cells in the lower layers of the dermis, the source of new cell growth, and increase collagen production and firmness. Peptides are the building blocks of the protein, collagen, an essential component of the skin. They boost collagen and elastin production, stimulate the synthesis of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) such as hyaluronic acid, a key element of our connective tissue, and encourage natural antioxidant activity. Hyaluronic acid is a GAG, it hold 3000 times its weight in H20 and is a powerful hydrating tool. We recommend Drop of Essence Hydration Drops, Elite eEGF Cream, C-Peptide Complex and ChronoPeptide A.

These tips, in addition to exercise, good nutrition, refraining from excessive drinking (alcohol dehydrates you) and smoking (create damaging free radicals, in addition to causing cancer) can make all the difference in the world in terms of slowing the skin’s aging process.