In this day and age, a youthful look is a desirable look. So desirable, in fact, that some women will go to any extreme to look younger, even resorting to surgery. Today, in part one of our three-part Turn Back the Hands of Time Series, you’ll discover anti-aging secrets that most plastic surgeons don’t want you to know.
Despite the demand for young, smooth skin, aging is a natural part of life. In this article, our intent is to help you look your best as you age.
Let’s start with the basics: collagen. This essential structural protein produced in our bodies creates form and elasticity in our skin. As time passes, collagen production slows and we start to see fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and sagging skin. If you’re like most women, these are baleful words indeed. However, have no fear: the answer to slowing and reversing skin damage is here.
Before we reveal the first ingredient, let’s look at the cause and description of aging skin:
Vitamin C. You’ve likely heard about Vitamin C before, but trust us: this is not your typical Vitamin C supplement plan. Read on…
According to Dr. Shirley Madhere and Dr. Leif Rogers:
Vitamin C is nearly a miracle drug when understood and used correctly.
Vitamin C is in our skin when we are young. It is a powerful antioxidant, a well-known brightening agent, and critical in collagen synthesis. As we age, we lose Vitamin C. Because of this and other factors like smoking, sun damage and buildup of toxins, we end up with drier, thinner skin with wrinkles and age spots. According to the doctors, the secret to halting this cycle of skin damage is supplying Vitamin C back into the skin with topical treatments. Yes--topical treatments that you can even do at home.
This will vary with each individual. Some people see results as early as 2-3 weeks, while for others it may take 6-8 weeks. The maximum effect should occur at about 6 months.
You may have tried improving your skin with Vitamin C before—and we’re betting it didn’t work.
Most people hear that they should use or take vitamin C for its phenomenal properties. Most often, they run down to the drugstore and buy some Vitamin C capsules off the counter. They go home and start taking their new Vitamin C capsule, only to give up 30 days later because they never saw any change.
They didn’t get results because they did not understand it or use it correctly.
Vitamin C is not a stable ingredient and requires certain conditions to remain active and effective. It must be kept in a cool place in an opaque container. It must contain ascorbic acid and must have a 3-10% Vitamin C concentrate.
You can take Vitamin C orally, but to get the best results you will want to apply it topically. Topical application has 20 times more absorption than taking it orally.
When should you apply your product with Vitamin C? Dr. Leif Rogers suggests that you apply it in the morning and, for better absorption, AFTER you exfoliate.
When exfoliating, you should use a gentle exfoliant like our Keelyn Grace Microdermabrasion Facial Exfoliant. This will ensure that you do not damage your skin, but remove dead cells, debris, and oils, resulting in absorbtion optimization and smooth, colorful radiance.
Perhaps that's why people like Dr. Oz were all aflutter when they spoke of pentapeptides like those in our Keelyn Grace Anti-Aging Moisturizer. Pentapeptides stimulate your deeper skin to produce collagen. Thus, Dr. Oz and his guest dermatologist Dr. Lori Brightman revealed that you can use peptides to enhance collagen to give your skin a fresh, plump appearance.
The doctors had one last product that they called a “must-have” in this fight against the effects of aging in your skin.
Phytoceramides. (It’s okay if you have to sound this one out—we certainly did.) Fortunately, the docs broke it down into layman’s terms. Ceramides, like Vitamin C and collagen, are natural in our skin. But as we age—you guessed it— we start to lose them. Phytoceramides are plant-based supplements that replenish the Ceramides to our skin. Ceramides hydrate your skin from the inside out, diminishing the appearance of wrinkles. For best results, you should take 350 ml per day. A 30-day supply is only approximately $10 and can be found at most health food stores. If you have a gluten sensitivity, look for the variety derived from rice or sweet potatoes.
