The Truth About Maintaining Your Youth

Everyone is looking for that ‘magic bullet’- the ONE thing that’s going to turn back the years and preserve your youth. While there are many interventions that can help, there is no one magical fountain of youth waiting out there for you to discover (I know...bummer).

Maintaining youth in terms of how you LOOK and FEEL takes more than one product or treatment. It all really comes down to leading a healthy lifestyle - with a little help here and there from your aesthetic provider!

Here are my tips for achieving a radiant glow, and looking and feeling young for years to come.

Daily Sun Protectant Use

I really can’t emphasize this one enough! If you do ONE thing for your skin - it’s making sure you apply a sun protectant daily.

Repeated sun exposure and skin damage is a huge culprit of aging. It causes discoloration and damages essential skin proteins like keratin, elastin, and collagen. This leads to loss of elasticity and creates fine lines and wrinkles. Not to mention it increases the risk of melanoma - a deadly skin cancer.

My favorite skincare line, ZO Skin Health, has several great sun protectant options. Apply daily, even if you’re inside most of the day, or it’s cloudy, or the middle of winter! The sun’s rays - particularly UVA rays - penetrate windows and cloud cover. Small doses over the course of years adds up.

ZO Skin Health makes a sunscreen for everyone. Contact me to find out which is best for you!

Botox as a Preventative Strategy

I’ve been open about sharing how I started botox in my twenties. A tox can definitely help once you already have lines that have set in, but best case scenario is to start it BEFORE the signs of aging begin to show!

Tox’s work by temporarily freezing the facial muscles that repetitively contract, which over time causes wrinkles to form. If you keep them from contracting - you prevent the wrinkles from forming in the first place! It’s a great preventative strategy.

Although botox has become more popular and mainstream, I still hear about misconceptions. If you get your tox from an experienced, credentied injector (like me!) your face will not look overdone, frozen, or expressionless. What you will get is a youthful, refreshed appearance.

I offer several options at my med spa - Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jueveau.

Staying Hydrated Matters For Good Skin – and Overall Health!

And when I talk about hydration, I don’t mean that third cup of coffee. Drinking enough water is so important for your skin and overall health. It’s honestly such a simple concept but most people do not take in enough water over the course of the day (I’m guilty too!)

Studies show that drinking more water has a positive effect on skin health. It helps flush out toxins, increases blood flow, and keeps your skin hydrated and elastic. A good rule of thumb is to aim for 64 oz per day. Carry a water bottle with you to make it easier.

Pack Your Diet with Anti-Aging Foods

Photo Cred: FB @Health Digest. www.1mbeautytips.com

Nourishing your body from the inside results in a healthy, outward glow. Foods that keep you feeling young are high in antioxidants and vitamins - which means fruit and veggies.

You already know a diet with plenty of vegetables is so important, but it can be hard especially if you don’t particularly like them. I personally prefer juicing. It makes it easier to get a lot of veggies in. Juicing is great because it extracts all the nutrients and vitamins from the veggies and fruit - making it very easy for your body to absorb.

Fish are great too because they contain omega -3 fatty acid, which helps preserve your collagen and keeps your skin firm. Do your best to increase fiber and healthy fats (think nuts and avocados) and decrease sugary and processed food.

Make Time for Exercise

The benefits of routine exercise are endless. From losing weight, increasing strength and endurance, and disease prevention - exercise is a must for a youthful life!

You can also enjoy the benefits of better sleep, improved mood, and increased energy.

When it comes to your skin, exercise promotes blood circulation - delivering more nutrients to your skin cells. This efficiency also better detoxifies your system, giving you a healthy glow.

Exercise doesn’t have to be something you hate. Find something you enjoy and you’ll stick with it! There is so much you can do - even from the comfort of your own home.

Smoking - The Aging Fast Track

Most people correlate smoking with lung disease, but this bad habit wreaks havoc on the rest of your body too. Smoking dramatically fast-forwards the aging process - leaving you with premature wrinkles, uneven skin tone, bad teeth, and a dull complexion. If you want to look and feel young for years to come, smoking isn’t going to help you get there.

Good Skincare Habits and Products

Adopting good skin care habits and sticking to them is an important foundation for great skin.

Washing your face before bed is a must. Makeup, dirt, and environmental pollutants accumulate on your face during the day. You don’t want them getting into your pores all night!

I highly recommend you invest in medical grade skincare products, like ZO Skin Health. These products are more potent and effective than what you’ll find on Amazon or in CVS.

Also, when evaluating your skincare products, make sure retinol and vitamin c are included. These are powerful skin ingredients that pack a punch when it comes to building collagen, reducing wrinkles, and fading pigmentation.

Routine Peels and Microneedling

Chemical peels exfoliate your skin and boost collagen product. They help minimize the appearance of wrinkles, discoloration, and even out tone and texture. I recommend doing these on a monthly basis for best results.

Microneedling also helps boost collagen production, and corrects texture and tone concerns. This one is best to schedule on a quarterly basis.

Both will leave you with a radiant glow, and are awesome, minimally-invasive treatments to incorporate into your beauty regime.

Schedule Time for Yourself to De-Stress

Stress does no favors for your skin. We all get stressed time to time, but chronic stress can take a toll on your health and your appearance. Don’t wait until you're full of stress and anxiety to do something about it. Be proactive - you can’t pour from an empty cup! Think about the things that help you relax and schedule these into your week. It might be getting your nails done, a nice bath, or getting a massage. Even if it’s binge watching Netflix or your favorite reality tv show, these guilty pleasures are a great way to relax and focus on something fun.

Book an appointment with me at Polished Med Spa! I’d love to partner with you to strategize on how to best help you look and feel your best!

XO, Lauren