The Secrets to Aging Beautifully

When it comes to anti-aging skincare, it’s easy to feel somewhat conflicted. We don’t want to look like we’re permanently in our teens, but we do want our skin to look as gorgeous as possible throughout our lives. That’s why we say that the focus of skincare is less about anti-aging and more about aging beautifully. And after years in the beauty industry, we definitely know a thing or two about that—and we’ve learned that maintaining gorgeous skin, no matter your age, really boils down to a few simple things.

So we’ve compiled a list of the 5 most essential secrets for aging beautifully. No matter your age, consider this a gift from our skin to yours—and your future self will thank you.

1. Stay out of the sun!
If dermatologists and makeup artists only have one piece of advice to share with the world, this is it: use sunscreen and limit your sun exposure. Not only is skin cancer a very real concern, but UV damage can seriously accelerate visible signs of aging: we’re talking dark spots, sagging skin, redness, premature wrinkles and dehydration. No thank you.

A great sunscreen worn underneath your moisturizer in the morning (and reapplied at regular intervals throughout the day) is a brilliant way to keep your skin looking gorgeous, both today and ten years from now. You can also be sure to cover up, and limit your time in the sun wherever possible. A tan isn’t worth the wrinkles later on in life!

2. Keep your skin hydrated.
Dehydration is a killer when it comes to how your skin looks, feels and behaves: it gets dry and dull, it has that awful sunken appearance, and issues like dark circles and fine lines suddenly seem a million times more pronounced. That’s why it’s so important to keep your skin properly hydrated, and the good news is that it’s really easy to do: drink plenty of water, use a serum in the evening like the L’Oreal RevitaLift™ Triple Power™ Concentrated Serum, and moisturize first thing in the morning and at night. Not only does this keep your skin plumped, reducing the way fine lines look, it also keeps it healthy—meaning less chance of wrinkles and discoloration further down the road.

3. Volume REALLY matters.
Most women worry about wrinkles as they age, but that’s not the only aging issue we face: our skin also starts to lose volume, especially around the cheeks, eyes and jawline. While some of this is hereditary, you can combat the effects by incorporating hyaluronic acid into your skincare routine. Consider the L’Oreal Revitalift™ Daily Volumizing™ Concentrated Serum with hyaluronic acid. This amazing ingredient plumps and smooths the surface of your skin and, over time, restores fullness and volume to the areas of your face that need it most.

4. You are what you eat (and drink).
We mentioned making sure that you drink lots of water to maintain your skin’s hydration—it’s also totally essential for making sure your skin stays volumized, too. The average adult woman living in a temperate climate needs between 8 and 10 glasses of water a day to keep her body functioning at its peak—and you should drink more if you work out a lot or if you live in a very hot, dry place. And the first place you’ll see the results of your rehydration efforts? That’s right: your skin. Drinking water will help your complexion look absolutely radiant.

You can also boost these effects by getting plenty of healthy fats in your diet. Your body needs healthy, polyunsaturated fats (like Omega-3s) for your skin’s natural oil barrier—which, in turn, helps prevent dehydration and volume loss. And the only way you can get these essential fats is through your diet, so make sure you’re eating lots of foods like salmon, olive oil, nuts (especially walnuts!) and eggs.

5. Get enough sleep.
Our lives are busy, and 8 hours of shut-eye is often the first thing sacrificed on the altar of productivity. But research shows that not getting enough sleep could be one of the worst things you can do for your skin. Your body responds to sleep deprivation like it does to other types of stress: by releasing cortisol, the bully of the hormone world. Cortisol damages collagen near the surface of the skin, which causes sagging and premature wrinkles—it can also affect how much oil your skin produces, leading to enlarged pores and breakouts. No thank you! Make sure you make it a point to get at least 7 hours of sleep every night; if not for your emotional well-being, then for your complexion’s sake!

Read more: http://stylecaster.com/beauty/how-to-age-well/#ixzz5FDKXzGhI