Healing Skin Habits

Aging Skin

If your skin is: Aging
What makes it worse: While experts agree that the passage of time does a number on the skin, they also say that most of the blame lands on certain lifestyle habits, such as smoking and sun bathing. Smoking, for instance, constricts your blood vessels and therefore doesn't allow enough oxygen to reach the skin's surface, resulting in dull-looking skin. As for sun bathing, ultraviolet radiation destroys the collagen and elastin reserves in the skin, leading to wrinkling and uneven pigmentation.

1. Morning:
If you aren't already, start using sun protection every morning (at least SPF 15), preferably one that also offers antioxidants and other anti-aging helpers.
Try: L'Oreal Dermo Expertise Advanced RevitaLift Complete Lotion with SPF 15, $16.59: Pro Retinol A (a vitamin A derivative that helps boost collagen) and Pro-Elastyl (which helps stop the breakdown of elastin) help improve the look of aging skin, while sunscreen protects it.

2. Evening:
Add a concentrated anti-aging treatment to your before-bed routine for a terrific cluster of anti-aging benefits.
Try: Olay Definity Deep Penetrating Foaming Moisturizer, $27.99: The unique texture feels like an airy foam but penetrates as deeply as a heavier cream. It treats not only wrinkles but also mottled or uneven pigmentation.

3. Once a week:
Deeper exfoliation, such as an at-home peel or microdermabrasion, helps remove leathery, clogged outer skin and speeds up cell turnover.
Try: RoC Resurfacing Facial Peel Kit, $26: This two-step peel can be used as often as twice a week. The polishing beads in the peel should be left on for 7 to 10 minutes, followed by the Post-Peel Nourisher to soothe and moisturize.

Get enough sleep! Sounds simple enough, but with many of us clocking just six hours of shut-eye a night, our skin is showing its effects. More slumber equals a fresher complexion, not to mention less undereye puffiness and fewer dark circles.