It sounds like it’s too good to be true, but reversing years of sun damage and aging from your appearance is a reality. Thanks to major advancements in the aesthetic industry within the last two decades, we have more options than we can count for tightening our skin, banishing our age spots and crepiness, lifting our sags and even trimming our fat bulges — all without surgery!
But despite our advancements and everything we know about aging gracefully, we still see too many people who are making the same anti-aging “mistakes,” so to speak. We don’t mean to say that aging is a mistake — it’s an incredible privilege! Aging is beautiful! But if you’re hoping to slow the signs of aging, here are the top blunders we see and tips for overcoming them:
#1 Anti-Aging Mistake: Waiting too long to get treatments.
Every age group can benefit from our skin treatments. However, it’s much easier to slow the signs of aging than to reverse them. This is why we always say, “The sooner you start caring for your skin, the better!”
By caring for your skin, we mean “exercising” it with clinically proven aesthetic treatments that stimulate its natural healing response (i.e., Halo™, BBL® HERO™, MOXI™, Vivace™ Micro Needle RF, Ultherapy®, EMTONE®). When your skin is in healing mode, it generates new collagen and elastin, which are the building blocks for supple, healthy-looking skin. So, you really can’t go wrong with any skin renewing treatment, and the more you do, the stronger and suppler your skin will be!
In addition to professional skin renewing treatments, incorporating medical-grade skin care products into your routine is also paramount. We proudly carry research-based skin care lines which are formulated to boost the results of your professional treatments while also helping you maintain your results for the long-term. For example, Alastin® Skincare is formulated to work in tandem with your treatments, helping to clear out old collagen and debris and paving the way for new collagen and elastin growth with patented TriHex™ technology. Alastin has a product for everything, including enhancing fat reduction and skin tightening after your CoolSculpting® or EMSCULPT® NEO treatments (TransFORM) and preparing skin and speeding healing after skin treatments (Regenerating Skin Nectar). There are also products for speeding healing and boosting results after injectables (INhance Post-Injection Serum) and surgical treatments (ReFORM & RePAIR Complex), smoothing crepey neck skin (Restorative Neck Complex), replenishing intense hydration (HA IMMERSE Serum™) and much more!
#2 Anti-Aging Mistake: Wearing sunblock only during summer months and only if outside.
Reality check: The sun’s harmful UV rays are reaching your skin 365 days a year, rain or shine, summer or winter, indoors or outdoors. This means you can get sun damage from the sun coming through the window in the dead of winter or while you’re sitting in the car or at your work desk. The sun is also hitting you on your 10-second walk from the car to the grocery store, while pumping gas, you name it. These little hits of sun add up, causing lines and wrinkles, age spots and more.
Your best line of defense: Applying sunblock every day of the year as a part of your daily beauty regimen. But not just any sunscreen will do. For your best complexion at any age, you’ll need to stick with the winners: medical-grade, physical sunscreen formulas (not chemicals!). Physical (mineral-based) sunscreen is far superior to chemical sunscreen because it literally blocks the sun from even penetrating your skin with toxic-free zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, allow UV rays to penetrate before “neutralizing” them from within. Even worse, they use chemicals which get absorbed into your body, and who needs more questionable chemicals in their life?
The winners in the sunscreen world are medical-grade, mineral-based, research-backed formulations by Alastin®, SkinMedica®, Senté® and Revision®. Each one of these lines has concocted multitasking sunscreen formulas that you’ll look forward to slathering on your face every morning! These physical sunscreens are formulated to not only block UV rays but also revitalize your skin with antioxidants and nourishing peptides so your skin looks better and better. One of our all-time favorites is Alastin’s HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 36, which is a tinted formula packed with antioxidants that’s suitable for most skin tones and gives you a dewy glow. Alastin also offers a perfect non-tinted formula with TriHex technology (SilkSHIELD All Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30) which leaves your skin feeling soft, matte and light! Of course, we can’t forget SkinMedica and Revision for their acclaimed sunscreens. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all your options, don’t worry! We can help you pick the best formula for you during your consultation.
#3 Anti-Aging Mistake: Not addressing ALL of your skin.
Healthy skin starts from the inside, at a cellular level. Your body’s largest living organ, your skin, is affected by all aspects of your life. What you eat, how much you sleep, whether or not you exercise: all these factors feed into the look and feel of your skin and how fast you are showing signs of aging. You can do all the Halo treatments in the world, for example, but the benefits won’t last if you’re still sunbathing. What this means is that if you want to slow or reverse signs of aging, you’ll need to address your skin health both inside and out. This means getting professional skin renewing treatments with us while also applying daily sunscreen and following a balanced, healthy lifestyle.
The other aspect worth mentioning is treating more than just your face. Many people routinely treat their facial skin to professional treatments while ignoring their neck and chest. We see this all the time. Unfortunately, over time, your facial skin looks amazing while your neck and chest look much older. By the way, neck skin typically ages faster simply due to the fact that it’s much thinner. You can combat this tendency by treating both your face and your neck/chest. Trust us, you will start noticing the benefits sooner than you think!
Are you ready to achieve your best complexion? You are in the right place, and we truly can’t wait to help you! Get started on your most radiant skin yet by calling us at 703.737.0197 or requesting a consultation online today.