MEN HIT the jackpot when it comes to aging.
Compared with women, we have a thicker epidermis with more oil glands, which means our skin is durable. Then, when wrinkles do emerge, they supposedly give us rugged-ness and wisdom. All that said, at some point you may have that oh shit, I look old moment when you look in the mirror. And maybe that’s for the better.
“Getting older is a blessing we take for granted,” says Paul Jarrod Frank, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist and the author of The Pro-Aging Playbook. “Anti-aging makes it seem like getting older is a bad thing. Pro-aging is about perspective. Aging can be a good thing, particularly if you know how to do it right.”
That means giving your skin what it needs now to avoid intensive treatments or surgeries later. Think of this approach as an exercise routine for your integumentary system (that’s your hair, skin, nails, and glands): Good habits help you stay healthy in the long run.
Here are the best products, tips, and treatments to help you look the best possible version of [insert your age here] by dealing with only the necessary amount of hassle.
Stress, after all, ages you.
The Best Skin Savers for Your 20s
If you use one product, use retinol.
This derivative of vitamin A aids in regulating cell turn-over, which targets almost every skin issue. “Not only does it help start the process of saving collagen and helping control acne breakouts and keep your skin even, but it also sets you up for preventing wrinkles in the future,” says dermatologist and Men’s Health advisor Corey L. Hartman, M.D.
OUR PICK: La Roche-Posay Effaclar 0.1% Adapalene Gel
If you seek on treatment, try radio-frequency microneedling.
This dermatologist-provided process combines heat with tiny needles that create micro-injuries in your skin. We know this soundss cary, but it’s beneficial. Microneedling helps your skin regenerate, says Dr.Hartman. The treatment is especially effective at removing acne scars if you’re coming off years of teenage pimple popping.
Dr. Frank’s Pro-Aging Tip: “Anytime you can introduce a habit in your 20s, you have a much better chance of having it stick. Choose one thing: a good moisturizer, daily sunscreen. It doesn’t matter what it is; it’s about forming a good habit.”
The Best Skin Savers for Your 30s
If you use one product, use an antioxidant.
“Collagen production takes a nosedive in your 30s, and the effects of the sun start to be apparent,”says Dr. Hartman. Applying an antioxidant-rich serum or cream in the morning protects you. A product with vitamin C, vitamin E, and/or niacinamide helps prevent sagging, sun damage, and pigment issues.
OUR PICK: Paula’s Choice RESIST Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum
Paula’s Choice
If you seek one treatment, try: botox.
“A touch of a neuromodulator like Botox in your 30s can help prevent fine lines and wrinkles, like crow’s-feet, from getting etched in,” says Dr. Hart-man. Small amounts of Botox won’t completely block wrinkles, but they will prevent them from setting in deep. If you’re ready, ask your dermatologist for a consultation.
Dr. Frank’s Pro-Aging Tip: “Alcohol consumption is the worst thing for the aging process. As much as I love a martini, if you want to age better, cut down on booze in your 30s.”
The Best Skin Savers in Your 40s
If you use one product, use hyaluronic acid.
Hormonal changes in this decade can affect your skin’s oil production, which can make it look drier and less than healthy. “Add in more moisturizing products to fortify your skin with hydration,” says Dr.Hartman. “Hyaluronicacid will add water content. Then use a moisturizer to seal it in.”
OUR PICK: Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum
If you seek one treatment, try filler.
“A little filler in the tear troughs and cheek can go a long way in making somebody look more rested and rejuvenated,”says dermatologist Evan Rieder, M.D. Even just a little bit can make you look like you had a great night’s sleep. Find a dermatologist or plastic surgeon with specific experience working with men.
Dr. Frank’s Pro-Aging Tip: “People always underestimate the amount of sleep that they need. Sleep regulates all of the biological functions of production in the body, including collagen and other vital hormones for healthy aging.”
The Best Skin Savers in Your 50s
If you use one product, use a heavy-duty moisturizer.
Collagen and oil production continue to decrease as you get older, and “this is when a lot of sun damage really starts to settle,” says Dr. Hartman.“Use a moisturizer with ceramides and peptides to help.”
OUR PICK: The Inkey List Peptide Moisturizer
The Inkey List
If you seek one treatment, try spot-fading.
“Age 50 and beyond is when we start looking at correction of pigment from sun damage,” says Dr. Hartman. Intense pulsed light and Broad-Band Light treatments from your dermatologist help erase brown and red spots and broken capillaries.
Dr. Frank’s Pro-Aging Tip: “Hormones like testosterone and progesterone decrease in our bodies overtime, and this can affect our skin through loss of collagen, thinness of the skin, and poor healing. Exercise is one of the primary boosters of these natural hormones.”
The Single Best Skin Saver for any Decade
That would be sunscreen.
Sun damage is a factor in all skin aging no matter your age or skin tone. “Any sort of sun exposure can turn into skin cancer down the line, but it can also turn into sun-spots and degenerate collagen, which is how you get wrinkly skin,” says Dr. Rieder.
Use a broad-spectrum, high-SPF (at least 30) sunscreen every day as your last skin-care step. And it’s never too late to start using it.
OUR PICK: Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen
Supergoop
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