Forget
praying for younger-looking skin. These rules—handed down by the top
dermatologists in the country—are guaranteed to deliver brighter skin
and fewer lines.
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| Photo : WWD
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1. Wear sunscreen—and not just at the beach.
Rain or shine, "liberally applying a
broad-spectrum sunscreen
that contains both UVA and UVB protection every day is the single most
important thing you can do to prevent sun damage and skin cancer," says
New York City dermatologist Doris Day. We love
Neutrogena Pure & Free Liquid Sunblock SPF 50 (for normal skin),
Kate Somerville Protect SPF 55 Serum Sunscreen (for oily skin), and
Clarins UV Plus HP Day Screen SPF 40 (for sensitive skin).
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| Photo: Courtesy of amazon.com
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2. Quit smoking.
In addition to causing cancer and bad breath, smoking cigarettes
"destroys collagen and elastin and decreases levels of estrogen, which
is necessary to keep skin firm," says New York City dermatologist
Fredric Brandt.
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| Photo: Condé Nast Digital Studio
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It's the best way to slow down the clock with a cream. "
Retinoids
minimize the appearance of existing age spots and fine lines and
prevent new ones from forming," says New York City dermatologist Heidi
Waldorf. Try
Dermadoctor Poetry in Lotion Intensive Retinol.
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| Photo: Condé Nast Digital Studio |
4. Stay hydrated.
No, Diet Coke doesn't count. "The more hydrated your skin, the better
your wrinkles will look," says Montclair, New Jersey, dermatologist
Jeanine Downie. "Drink lots of water, cut back on coffee and soda, and
moisturize regularly." Try
L'Oréal Paris Youth Code Day/Night Cream (for normal to dry skin) or
Philosophy On a Clear Day Oil-Free Moisturizer (for oily skin).
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| Photo: Condé Nast Digital Studio |
5. Sleep well.
The expression "beauty rest" actually has some science behind it. "Not
only does your skin require downtime to repair itself, but sagging skin
and puffiness around the eyes make wrinkles look much worse," says Great
Neck, New York, dermatologist Jeanette Graf.
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| Photo: Courtesy of amazon.com |
6. Maintain a healthy weight.
Not surprisingly, yo-yo dieting isn't great for your skin. "Skin loses
elasticity over time," Waldorf says. "The more your weight fluctuates,
the harder it is to snap back into shape."
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| Photo: Patrick Demarchelier
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7. Eat right.
"Your skin receives nutrients not only from creams and treatments, but
also from the food you eat," Waldorf says. "The more balanced your diet,
the younger you'll look. And if you're not taking a
multivitamin,
start now." To keep skin happy, eat more fatty fish (such as salmon),
dark green vegetables (like broccoli and spinach), almonds, and walnuts.
Drink lots of
antioxidant green tea. And lay off the refined sugar and booze—both cause aging inflammatory reactions in the skin.
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| Photo: Condé Nast Digital Studio |
8. Get moving.
"Exercise increases blood flow to the skin and promotes a glowing,
healthy-looking complexion," Downie says. "Working out for just 30
minutes four or five days a week can make a huge difference."
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| Photo: Condé Nast Digital Studio |
9. Try to relax.
The mind-body connection is a powerful one. "Do whatever you need to do
to decompress," Waldorf says. "Stress causes cells to age faster, which
absolutely shows on the skin."
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| Photo: Condé Nast Digital Studio |
10. Don't pick.
10. Don't pick.
You got the same advice when you were a teenager. "Sun damage causes
dark spots as you age, but so does picking at your blemishes," Waldorf
says. "And since the skin takes a lot longer to repair itself as you
age, the spots won't disappear right away." To clear up an outbreak, try
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo, which contains
benzoyl peroxide
to kill acne-causing bacteria, and lipo-hydroxy-acid to help keep pores
clear. If—against doctors' advice—you did pop that zit, use
Clean & Clear Advantage Popped Pimple Relief Drying Paste, an overnight treatment that will help it heal.
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