Do You Look Younger - Or OLDER Than You Really Are?

How old are you? Let’s face it. Anti-aging for all ages.

Posted by Dana Ramos, author of the best-selling book: The Skin Regime; Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin. 

It’s considered impolite to ask, “How old are you?” You don’t have to tell us, but the face you see in the mirror is what we see, and that is usually pretty telling right there…or is it? Do you look younger or older than you actually are? Are you happy with the age your skin reveals?

Honestly, I don’t feel our age matters; what’s important is feeling and looking the best we can for whatever age we are. Having a few wrinkles is natural and I don’t want to erase all of mine—women in their fifties who strive for zero lines or crinkles around their eyes often look, well, a bit plastic.

Yes, I’m in my fifties, but most everyone tells me my skin looks much much younger. The photo I’m posting with this blog entry is only a couple of years old—maybe you’ll agree with what “they” say. FYI: I reveal my skincare story of the past 35 years in the first chapter of my book, The Skin Regime; Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin. You can read that chapter FREE, on the website HERE.

Now that I have shamelessly complimented myself and plugged my book, let me assure you that you, too, can have better/younger-looking skin if you start to take care of it the right way. And you do not need to spend a lot of time and money. Yes, Botox and laser treatments are wonderful and a big help, but there is a lot—and I do mean a LOT—that you can do yourself, relatively inexpensively, and in your home. I wrote The Skin Regime to spread the truth about at-home skincare, and Platinum Skincare is also dedicated to these exact same goals (which is one reason why we get along so well!)

For this article, I’m focusing strictly on “anti-aging,” and achieving great skin quality; we’re not getting into other issues such as dryness or acne today, but you can get tones of other skin info in other blog articles and info pages here on the Platinum Skincare website.

So, let’s get started with the basics of anti-aging. The sooner you start, the sooner your skin will look better. (Hey 14-year-old!—take the earbuds out for a sec and pay attention—we have some good advice for you, too!)

If you are under age 30: You are probably not thinking much about anti-aging, and the younger you are, the less you’re concerned about the eventual appearance of wrinkles. Perhaps you’re thinking about summer around the corner and getting a nice tan. Please, I beg you: Don’t do that. You need a good sunscreen (like the face-friendly Cotz products) even if you are in your teens. You might not know that sun exposure stores up forever in your skin: It never goes away and sunbathing is the single most damaging thing you can do to your skin. All the beach days you do in your teens and twenties WILL show up as fine lines, age spots, premature wrinkling—and a higher risk of skin cancer—by the time you hit age 30. Do not think, “Oh, I’ll stop sunbathing when I hit age 25 or so, and that’ll be fine.” No: The deposits you make in your “sun exposure bank” will be spent on your skin whether you want it or not.

As you approach age 30, you might notice your skin doesn’t glow the way it used to so read on and consider adding Glycolic Acid Lotion, to your night-time routine; that should be your first step toward restoring a youthful glow.

If you are over 30: You are likely thinking more about skincare and preventing lines and discoloration, or already battling those problems. You CAN reverse sun damage with proper skincare, particularly by using retinoids and their non-prescription, more gentle cousins, Retinols. These vitamin-A derived products are usually the first things dermatologists reach for when new patients come to them seeking treatment because they are good for a host of skin issues: Mild acne, fine lines and wrinkles, reversing sun damage, evening out skin tone, and even lowering the risk of developing skin cancer. What is also awesome about Retinol is that you don’t need a prescription; I have recently switched from Retin-A to Retinol because it is less expensive, more gentle, and remarkably effective.

It takes a few weeks for your skin to adapt to retinoids and retinols; experiencing some mild irritation and/or peeling and flaking is common, so start with a lower-percentage preparation and apply every 2-3 days or so until you build up tolerance. In a just a few weeks, you’ll notice that your skin is changing in wonderful way; it is worth getting through the adaptation period.

Even if you have sensitive skin or mild rosacea, you can benefit greatly from at-home treatments. Other widely-used and recommended products for sensitive and normal skin include fruit-derivative acid lotions that contain Glycolic Acid. Starting with mild preparations is a must if you are new to glycolic products, too. Using them for a few weeks before introducing Retinol into your routine is a good idea: You’ll get nice exfoliation in a gentle way, you’ll begin to see and feel changes, and you’ll gain confidence in exploring even more products to improve your skin.

After using Glycolic Acid Lotion for a few weeks, you’ll be ready to step up to an at-home peel: Do not be afraid of the name “peel,”—it does not mean you will burn and peel off chunks of skin. In fact, by starting with a mild peel, you may only have very mild tingling and no noticeable flaking, even though the benefits are definitely happening on a cellular level. I suggest starting with either the 1-4-All Peel, which is layerable, meaning you can apply one layer for a very mild peel— each additional layer increases the strength, giving you perfect control over the product. If you have sensitive skin, you should also consider starting with a very mild peel, like the Mandelic or Lactic Acid peels.

After a few weeks of using lotions and/or peels, then add in the Retinol and watch your skin transform wonderfully in just a couple of months. Just be sure to protect your new, glowing skin with sunscreen; you surely don’t want to ruin it!

If you have mature skin: I have to be honest: You can get wonderful skin by using the retinols and glycolic lotions and peels, but there is nothing—nothing—in a bottle that can lift skin or get rid of deep wrinkles. Don’t fall for false advertising with bogus claims—it is money down the drain. To lift sagging skin or remove deep wrinkles, you need to see a good cosmetic dermatologist or a plastic surgeon to discuss lasers, injectable fillers, and Botox—or the possibility of a facelift. In the meantime, keep using your peels and lotions, and consider some other great products that can provide temporary tightening and smoothing for some lines and wrinkles, such as Platinum's ReLixSyn, which is a long-term botox alternative product that gradually builds in your skin to minimize wrinkles. Another great Platinum alternative is the Lucky Potion No 9 instant tightening serum. Apply the tiniest amount of this serum and your skin will tense for several hours. Great for a night out with friends!

For all ages: Explore some of the anti-aging products on this page for more information on what is available to hold back the clock on your skin—or your can chat, call, or email Platinum for more personalized advice.

Where can I buy Dana's Book?

The Skin Regime; Boot Camp for Beautiful Skin, available as a Kindle download or Buy paperback to buy your paperback copy from Platinum Skin Care. You can also read the first chapter--FREE--by click here to read 1st chapter.

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