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If you just lived your whole life without thinking about your skin care regimen, it's never too late to join this initiative and make meaningful changes to positively impact the health of your skin.
Unfortunately, neglecting your skin has consequences, and the longer you neglect to take care of its needs, the more work you have to put in to reverse the damage. Don't be careful sunscreenIf you can't remember to take off your makeup at night, or your skin hasn't seen a drop of moisture in its entire life, you'll eventually start to notice the effects of neglect and abuse.
Dr. Shari Sperling, Board Certified Dermatologist Sperling Dermatology V New York And New Jerseytold HuffPost that problems including acneblemishes, dryness, dermatitis and signs of aging can result from neglect, including falling asleep without washing your face. This can lead to clogged pores and acne, and compromise the skin's natural repair process, which in turn can cause premature aging. Alarmingly, she also mentioned that you could even risk eye irritation or infection if you don't remove your eye makeup.
Additionally, Dr. Brendan Camp, Board Certified Dermatologist MDCS Dermatology in New York noted that regular skin care is a healthy habit, akin to working out: “Practicing healthy habits for your skin can prevent and treat signs of premature aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots, as well as conditions such as acne.” Like Sperling, he also stressed the importance of washing your face, adding that “by not washing your face, you're not removing excess oil, debris and pollutants that can irritate your skin or cause inflammation.”
Ideally, Camp recommends developing healthy skin habits early in life, encouraging teenagers to develop a basic regimen that includes cleansing, treating and moisturizing, and people in their 20s starting to incorporate anti-aging measures into their daily routine.
And while issues like sun exposure can't be eliminated at a cellular level, that doesn't mean you can't start a skin care routine later in life. “It's never too late to start taking care of your skin,” Camp explained. “Skin has different needs at every stage of life. Whether you come into play early or late, simple changes in how you treat your skin can impact your physical as well as mental health.”
It's good to know that all is not lost and it's always worth helping restore your skin to its former glory. You can even start with small steps once you get into your skin care comfort zone. Sperling said that “it doesn't have to be anything complicated, but properly cleansing and moisturizing your skin and using SPF daily can make a difference.” But if you're looking to add a few more powerful and restorative elements, she recommended ingredients like retinol (which can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while stimulating collagen production and helping even out skin tone) and vitamin C (an antioxidant that protects skin from oxidative damage and can help improve texture and tone).
Below, I've compiled Camp and Sterling's skincare reset recommendations, and they include everything from cleansers and moisturizers to serums and masks. They are available at a variety of prices and are full of the healing ingredients mentioned and more. Choose one for yourself and pamper your skin the way it deserves.
