A proper daily skin care routine is a must for everyone that wants to preserve their appearance and look their best, even for those undergoing surgical or nonsurgical rejuvenation procedures. As the skin ages it starts to thin and loose tone and elasticity. There are also surface changes such as flaking, redness, pigment changes and wrinkling. These changes are largely due to loss of collagen and elastin as well as an alteration or breakdown in the normal growth pattern of skin from the deep to the surface layer. Finally the water tight barrier provided by the upper layers of skin starts to break down as we age, eventually resulting in a negative balance of water content in the skin. This is called dehydration and can result in dryness, cracking, dull skin tone and wrinkles.
Application of a good moisturizer before bed and then under makeup during the day adds a layer of protection to the skin surface and also stops the evaporation of water. Application of sun screen helps reduce the rate of collagen breakdown in the skin and should always be part of your daily regimen. For the same reason, sun exposure for the purpose of tanning, or the use of tanning beds should always be avoided.
If you add nothing more to this above skin care regimen then Vitamin C and Retin-A you will have great looking skin. Retin-A is a form of Vitamin A. It helps the skin renew itself by stimulating collagen growth and regulating the skin cycle. Long term, this results in skin with improved tone and texture, reduced fine lines and sunspots. Vit C serum also stimulates the growth of collagen, protects the skin against free radicals that can damage collagen, and blocks an enzyme that can cause melasma and other pigment changes.
Use of these basic products combined with a healthy diet, good hydration and avoidance of damaging radiation and nicotine will give you glowing, more youthful skin.