Step One: Cleanse
Whether it be morning or night, the first step in your skincare routine should always be to cleanse the skin to start with a fresh base devoid of dirt or buildup. Worden suggests using a gentle cleanser which will not cause irritation, and notes that double cleansing can be useful for removing impurities. You should be cleansing your face daily in order to remove excess oil and prevent breakouts from appearing, even in adulthood.
Step Two: Antioxidants
After your face has been properly cleansed, Worden recommends using antioxidants to protect your complexion from signs of aging. “Vitamins C and E both fight free radical damage,” she explains. Vitamin C serum is particularly useful for anti-aging purposes as it promotes collagen production while simultaneously protecting from sun damage. Antioxidants can be used both day and night, and interact well with all other skincare products in your routine.
Step Three: Moisturize
With antioxidants having been applied, moisturizer will help to lock in these serums and eliminate the appearance of a dry, cracked complexion which can make you look even older than you are. “As you get older you produce less oil so you need to apply moisturizer and keep your skin hydrated so you won't develop as many wrinkles,” Worden adds. Especially in the winter it’s important to moisturize both day and night to keep your skin from appearing dull.
Step Four: Retinol
Only to be used in the evening, retinol is one of the most essential components in your skincare routine for anti-aging as it can help to promote collagen production in the skin. Collagen is a naturally occurring protein made by the body, but as you grow older you begin to create less and less. With this, it’s important to integrate a retinol serum into your routine to boost collagen in the skin which will help to limit sagging, fine lines and wrinkles. Worden notes that retinol also helps to improve cell turnover and hyperpigmentation, creating a more balanced and even complexion. But be careful, retinol can also make your skin more sensitive to sun damage.
Step Five: SPF
Arguably the most important step of all, SPF every morning will protect your skin from sun damage which is one of the largest factors that causes premature aging. “Wearing SPF is protecting you from skin cancer and is a sure way to fight wrinkles and early signs of aging,” notes Worden. Now it’s easier than ever to integrate SPF into your daily routine as there are a number of moisturizer options which include this as an ingredient in the formula. Especially if you’re using retinol in your daily routine, you should also be using SPF to keep sun damage at bay and eliminate the risk of developing wrinkles early in life while making them less severe even as you do age.