Men may look better with age, but there’s a fine line between aged and . . . elderly. (Maybe less a fine line than a bunch of deep, gnarly wrinkles.)
And while we can’t stop time, modern technology has made it a whole lot easier to slow it down. Skin care will be your best defence here: Get a firm handle on the creams and serums you need and you’ll look like the optimal version of you at any age.
What’s the single best way to care for your skin? Wear sunscreen. Every day. No matter what.
“While the sun may be strongest during the summer, we are actually exposed to UV-light damage every day,” says New York City dermatologist Joshua Zeichner. In addition to, you know, being responsible for up to 90 percent of skin cancers, UV-light exposure can speed up signs of aging.
Zeichner advises choosing a sunscreen that has “an SPF of at least 30 and is labeled as broad spectrum.” Save yourself a step and use a daily moisturiser with SPF included, especially in the winter months when skin is driest.
DANGER ZONES
Some telltale signs that your skin may not be holding up under pressure:
Eye Bags Sagging, darkness, and creases under the eyes are often the first signs of aging. (A culprit can be dehydration.)
Crow’s-feet fine lines at the outer corners of the eyes, also known as “smile lines.” These are probably worth it.
Jowls Sagging at the jawline, especially on either side of the chin, which can be caused by the loss of facial fat.
The Elevens Vertical creases on the inner edges of the eyebrows (above the nose). This often comes from furrowing your brow, so: relax.
Nasolabial Folds Creases from the outer corners of the nose to the corners of the mouth, caused by loss of volume in the cheeks.
So here are the five steps to saving face. A good anti-aging regimen is not about using a lot of stuff; it’s about using the right stuff, smartly, to keep your skin healthy on its own.
1. EXFOLIATOR
A good exfoliant removes dead skin cells from your face, making you look brighter and cleaner. (Think of how much better your wood fl oors look after you Swiffer.) Chemical exfoliants work better and can be gentler than scrubs, so use a product containing alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) or beta hydroxy acid (BHA) once or twice a week.
Esquire recommends: Biologique Recherche Lotion P50. This one’s been around for decades and is still considered a holy-grail product by skin-care nuts. The tingle lets you know it’s working.
2. VITAMIN C SERUM
Antioxidants are a crucial antiaging ingredient, and vitamin C is their king. Regular use can brighten skin tone, reduce dark spots, and lessen the appearance of fine lines. Esquire recommends: Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Serum The combination of vitamins C and E here is like a one-two punch in the face of aging.
3. MOISTURISER WITH SPF
Fact: Hydrated skin looks younger. A moisturiser not only keeps your skin more youthful-looking; it also serves as your first line of defense against the harsh outside world. One with sunscreen will also protect against ultraviolet rays. Esquire recommends: Paula’s Choice Resist Skin Restoring Moisturizer with SPF 50. This moisturiser contains a high dose of SPF but still won’t leave a film on your face.
4. EYE CREAM
If you look tired, your eyes are usually to blame. Using an eye cream minimises dark circles and bags in that thin-skinned zone. Even better, it will keep that third cocktail you had last night under wraps. Esquire recommends: Kiehl’s Eye Fuel. The caffeine in this formula is like a cup of coffee for your face, leaving you looking bright-eyed in no time.
5. RETINOL
Also known as vitamin A, retinol can soften fine lines and wrinkles, brighten dark spots, and even fade acne scars by prompting cell turnover. (It can also make skin more sensitive to light, so apply it at night.) Esquire recommends: The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% In Squalane. Gentle but effective, this retinol is mixed with squalane, a natural oil with crazy moisturising properties.