The 5 minute anti-aging skin routine.

• August 23, 2020

We all want fresh skin and a glowing face. Yes. But it takes so much time and money. Right? Wrong.

Especially these days we have no time to be stuck in our bathroom applying creams for 20 minutes. We are volunteering, we are renovating, we are home-schooling the kids, we can’t afford to lose any unnecessary time. And yet, we still have to look our best and it is our duty to take care of our skin.

So when we Dr. Costi recommends a 5 minute skin care routine that effectively manages pollution, fine lines and wrinkles, we say YES please!

“I think when a routine gets too complicated, you give up before seeing results and that’s how it becomes ineffective. It just doesn’t fit your lifestyle requirements and that’s why your skin ultimately suffers” Dr. Costi says. “Right now the last thing we need is a complicated and expensive skin care”.

The good news? There is a way that you can condense your anti-aging skin care routine. Based on the latest research, you only need 3 products: sunscreen, retinol, and antioxidants.

When to start using them?

The aging process starts very early.  At age 30, we start to lose fat off our face, which results in the shadows that make us look older. At this age we also start losing collagen and elastin, which are the building blocks of the skin that keep it looking youthful and wrinkle free.

To avoid this breakdown, we use sunscreen. Opt for sunscreens that are mineral based like zinc and titanium, and remember that it is very important to protect from UV radiation (sunglasses and hats are also good for protection).

In our 40s, we need to consider AHA/BHA glycolic acid wash a few times per week to help clear the slower skin cell turnover that results in duller looking skin.

How do they work?

Antioxidants make sunscreen work better, and fight the breakdown of the building blocks of the skin. Retinol helps to build back up the building blocks of the skin—collagen and elastin.

The best antioxidant to consider is Vitamin C, which fights free radical damage. When you apply vitamin C serums topically, it is to fight oxidative stress from sun and pollution. This prevents collagen and elastin breakdown, the building blocks of healthy youthful skin. Vitamin C is also a skin lightener, so it helps prevent and treat sunspots. It also helps sunscreen to work more effectively.

Why is retinol so important?

Very few things applied topically to the skin can signal the body to make more collagen, and more collagen is the goal of any anti-aging routine. That’s where Retinol comes in, as the principal way to do this topically.

The 5 minute anti-aging skin-care routine.

Morning:

1. Wash with a gentle soap.

2. Use an antioxidant.

3. Moisturize.

4. To finish use sunscreen (a mineral, SPF 30, and broad spectrum sunscreen).

Night:

1. Wash with a gentle soap.

2. Use a small amount of retinol a few times per week. To get your skin used to it, start with one to two times a week, then every two weeks add a day if you’re tolerating it. Dr. Costi can recommend the right product for your skin type.

3. Moisturize on top of the retinol.

Extra tip: Which moisturizer to use?

Our favorite moisturizers contain hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. Hyaluronic acid is the most moisturizing ingredient that can be applied to the skin (it pulls in 1000 times its weight in water). Niacinamide is vitamin B3 that helps also fight oxidative stress. It is a mild lightener to help with sunspots, and is an anti-inflammatory agent recommended for sensitive skin.

And there you have it! It was as easy as 1,2,3- as fast as 5 minutes to be beautiful, to let your beauty shine. Invest these 5 minutes in your skin, because it will last you a lifetime!

You can ask Dr. Costi at any time to recommend the products that will best suit your skin type and your lifestyle.