How to Get the Most Out of Your Anti-Aging Skin-Care Products

While there’s no fountain of youth, our skin-care regimens can have a meaningful and lasting effect on our appearance. But it’s not one-size-fits-all. We all have different concerns about the health of our skin. How, then, should you go about finding the right anti-aging skin-care products for you? Read on.

Start with a target

Start by focusing on the one thing that bothers you the most about your skin. Maybe it’s dark spots or wrinkles. Then look for a product that specifically addresses that concern. The products that claim to work on multiple fronts simply don’t—at least, not effectively.

So, narrow your search to products that do that one thing. And then filter it even further by narrowing your parameters to products formulated for your skin type. Your sunscreen, moisturizer, and anti-aging skin-care products will work best when they’re formulated for your skin type (oily skin, sensitive skin, etc.).

From there, start with a single product. It’s easy to think more is better, but using several anti-aging products at the same time can irritate your skin. And when that happens, the signs of aging will become even more noticeable. It’s also natural to think that the more expensive a product is, the more effective it’s likely to be. But proven products come in all price ranges.

Stick with it

Once you have your anti-aging skin-care product in hand, the most important thing you can do to maximize its results is be consistent with its use. Follow the directions—some products contain active ingredients that can cause problems if you apply more than directed, such as clogged pores, blotchy skin, or excessively dry skin. And give the product time to work. A moisturizer can plump up fine lines in a few days, but most products take at least six weeks to work, and sometimes it can take up to three months.

The exception is if the product causes stinging, burning, or tingling. These sensations mean that the product’s irritating your skin, and irritated skin looks older. It’s a good idea to test all skin-care products before applying them to your hands and face, even the hypoallergenic ones.

To test a product, apply a small amount to your inner forearm twice a day for a few days. If you don’t experience any redness, itching, or any other sort of reaction, the product’s safe to apply to your face and elsewhere.

Once you start to see results, keep using the product as you have been. All too often, people think, Job done, and move on from the product. But, if you want to continue seeing those results, you need to stick with it.

But before you add anything, do this

A parting note—and maybe I should have led with this: Ask any board-certified dermatologist and they will tell you that sunscreen and moisturizer are the two most-effective anti-aging products you can buy. Using them every day can make a noticeable difference.

In fact, moisturizer is so effective that it’s the secret ingredient in many anti-aging products. Moisturizer traps water in your skin, and that extra moisture can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and brighten your complexion. A broad-spectrum, SPF-30 (or higher), water-resistant sunscreen also reduces the signs of premature aging on your skin, along with allowing your skin to repair and renew itself and reducing your risk for getting skin cancer.

So, moisturizer and sunscreen should be the foundation of your skin-care regimen, regardless of your goals.