6 Surprising Reasons You Should Use Anti-Ageing Products in Your 20s

It's all about the baby face.

21 March, 2018
6 Reasons To Start Using Anti-Ageing Products in Your 20s

Some of life's problems can be solved as you see them: a rip in your hem, overgrown roots, smudged eyeliner​. Aging skin, unfortunately, is not one of these things. But here's why that's good news: Start on prevention in your 20s and you can look younger than your peers — and even help ward off wrinkles in the long run. "If you [have] an anti-inflammatory diet, get moderate exercise, and use the right topical [products], you can look 20 years younger by 55," says dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, MD. And if that's not enough to send you hoarding products with "anti-aging" on the label, here are six surprising reasons to begin a preventative regimen right now.

1. Fine lines are easier to prevent. "It takes far less money, time, and energy to prevent a wrinkle than to correct one," says Dr. Perricone, who has patients as young as their early 20s with fine lines and wrinkles. "If you're correcting a wrinkle — which is scarring in the skin — it can take a long time to see progress." Your best topical weapons are a daily sunscreen with at least SPF 30, and antioxidants that counteract free radicals in environmental aggressors like the sun and pollution.

2. You can't see them at first. Even though it looks like they appeared overnight, wrinkles are an accumulation of microscopic scars formed during sun exposure. They're just too small to see — until they aren't. "Our skin's natural antioxidant reserve can fight sun damage [to a degree]," says Dr. Perricone. But eating foods rich in antioxidants like berries and using products with vitamins A and C will make the difference." 

3. You'll look awake. It's your work hard, party hard decade and, let's face it, sometimes there just isn't enough concealer in the world to hide the previous night's debauchery. "When you're tired, your skin is a monitor of what's going on inside of you, such as stress," says Dr. Perricone. "Plus, you lose some natural [radiance] and skin will droop." Counteract it with moisturizers, which can help plump up skin, plus anti-inflammatory foods such as green leafy vegetables like spinach and kale, olive oil, and fruits like strawberries and blueberries to improve the skin's condition. Additionally, a little illuminating benefit from your moisturizer can lend the illusion of a well-rested glow. A brightening eye cream can help mask dark under eye circles instantly, thanks to light-reflecting particles within. And over time, antioxidants work to improve the appearance of dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines.

4. Anti-agers are also good for acne. The same ingredients that keep skin smooth and even-toned can also keep breakouts at bay. Exfoliating ingredients whisk away dry spots and lackluster skin, as well as buildup in pores. For serums and creams, "anti-inflammatory ingredients like vitamin C help reduce acne," says Dr. Perricone. "Just make sure the products are also noncomedogenic [so they don't irritate the skin]". 

5. ...And pore size. While you can't shrink the size of your pores, you can help decrease the appearance of them with an antioxidant-packed exfoliating product, which de-gunks large pores and helps make them look tighter (read: smaller-looking) and skin more radiant. 

6. You'll prevent skin cancer, too. Caring for your skin also has way more important benefits than just the desire to keep your complexion youthful. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one in five Americans develop skin cancer in their lifetime. "I've had to treat women as young as their 20s for skin cancer," says Dr. Perricone. "There are genetic factors, but smart sun exposure is key." A full face of protection requires about a tablespoon of sunscreen, or a little less than a single shot glass. 

Credit: Cosmopolitan
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