Any time is a great time to start taking better care of your skin

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You might be the type of person who’s had a skin care regimen since you were a teenager. Or you might be the type of person who washes your face with soap and calls it a day. Either way, there is room for improvement in your skin care regimen – and as with any type of self improvement, the best time to do it is now.

It’s never too late to take care of your skin

Regardless of your age, you can (and should) take great care of your skin. After all, the skin is the body’s largest organ; and skin health is an important part of your overall health. And the good news is that taking great care of your skin doesn’t have to be time consuming or costly.

An appropriate cleanser, a great moisturizer, and a daily sunscreen are a great way to begin your skin care journey.

Start by visiting your dermatologist

An annual visit to the dermatologist is an important part of taking care of your skin. If you haven’t seen a derm lately, make an appointment ASAP. A dermatologist will give you a complete skin exam in order to determine your overall skin health and to address any skin concerns you may have. A dermatology appointment also provides a baseline; at your next visit, any changes in your skin can be evaluated and attended to. And your dermatologist can tell you if your skin care regimen is appropriate; if it’s not, she can make recommendations. And if you don’t have a skin care routine at all, your derm can make recommendations.

Start small

An appropriate cleanser, a great moisturizer, and a daily sunscreen are a great way to begin your skin care journey. If you’re removing all the dirt and impurities from your skin, and providing your skin with moisture and hydration, that’s at least half the battle. It’s not necessary to invest a lot of time and money into products to get your routine started. But once you see what a difference a good cleanser and moisturizer can make, you’ll be more likely to stick with a routine – and even expand on that routine.

Make skin care a habit

Committing to cleansing and moisturizing and applying a daily sunscreen is a great start – and a great way to get into the skin care habit. After a few weeks, you can begin trying additional products; serums, eye creams, exfoliants, and anti-aging products are just a few of the additional products you may want to add to your routine.

Yes, you can start using anti-aging products at a more “advanced” age

A common misconception is that, if you haven’t started an anti-aging regimen by your 30s or 40s, it’s too late. Advances in skin care have made anti-aging formulations very effective at keeping your skin smooth and supple. Skin care is not “magic,” but it can help mitigate – or even reverse – wrinkles and other skin damage. So, while it’s always a good idea to start an anti-wrinkle routine in your 20s or 30s, it’s never too late to see benefits from taking care of your skin.

Do your research

You should be the expert on your own skin. While a dermatologist is very important, you are the one who lives with – and in – your skin on a daily basis. You are the one who will first notice any changes or problems, so it’s important to keep a close eye on your own skin. In addition to that, you are the expert on your preferences; and you should know if there are certain ingredients or formulations that are irritating – or simply undesirable – to you. You can find plenty of skin care information online, but be wary; as with most subjects, you shouldn’t believe everything you read. Research what you can, then use your best judgment. Skin care can be confusing, but it’s not rocket science. You should be able to find great products that will work well for your skin, at a reasonable price. Start there, and continue to add to and revise your routine as you need to.

Ask the experts

If you find a brand that has a good reputation and you feel comfortable with, reach out to them. At Reviva, we welcome calls from clients – or potential clients – who are questioning which products will work best for them. A good company will listen to your concerns and make the best recommendations based on the available information. Again, a dermatologist is the best place to start – but if you find a brand you like, you can still get your term’s input on the products you’ve selected, in order to be sure you’ve made a good choice. The bottom line is that it’s absolutely never too late to start taking better care of your skin – no matter your age.