Though people associate wrinkles with getting older, much of the damage to your skin that causes wrinkles occurs before you're 18, says Santa Monica, California-based dermatologist Ava Shamban in "Women's Health" magazine. So if you're hoping to stay wrinkle-free, the time to start protecting your skin is well before you notice those first telltale lines and wrinkles, says Shamban. The sooner you start to protect against wrinkles, the longer you can hold them off, says New Orleans dermatologist Patricia K. Farris in "Cosmopolitan" magazine.
Step 1
Apply 3/4 tsp. of a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face and neck every day to protect your skin from sun damage -- the No. 1 cause of wrinkles. Opt for a sunscreen that contains mexoryl, titanium dioxide or Parsol, because these ingredients help block both UVA and UVB rays to protect your skin, recommends Leslie Baumann, dermatologist at the University of Miami, in "Women's Health." Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15 for everyday, and increase to at least SPF 45 if you're spending time outdoors.
Step 2
Wash your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser that contains glycolic acid or salicylic acid. These mild chemical exfoliants gently scrub away the surface layer of dead skin cells to reveal younger-looking skin beneath, encouraging cell turnover to prevent wrinkles, explains Baumann.
Step 3
Use a daytime moisturizer with antioxidants every morning. If you have dry skin, your rate of developing wrinkles is more than doubled, says Greg Hillebrand, a researcher for P&G Beauty and Science, in "Elle" magazine. Antioxidants, including idebenone, green tea and vitamin C, help prevent wrinkles by fighting free radicals that can destroy protective collagen and elastin in the skin, explains Farris.
Step 4
Use retinol cream every night to repair damaged collagen and stimulate production of new collagen, recommends Baumann. Though it's often recommended for reducing the appearance of existing wrinkles, retinol can also prevent wrinkles from forming in the first place.
Tips and Warnings
- Avoid cleansers that contain soap -- they can affect your skin's pH level and make it more alkaline, increasing your risk for developing wrinkles, cautions Hillebrand. Only use retinol at night since it can increase your skin's sensitivity to sunlight.
Things You'll Need
- Sunscreen
- Cleanser
- Moisturizer with antioxidants
- Retinol
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