Ushering in the New Year with Great Skin

As we usher in the New Year, we also tend to usher in new expectations!  For some of us, it could be tackling our physical fitness, our financial world or committing to self-care. Even if you don't plan to recreate a portion of yourself, the universal hope is that we will all survive another year, healthy and happy. 

As wonderful as it is to celebrate 2023, I find myself wanting to protect the skin on my face from showing just how many New Year's I have enjoyed. That, put me on a quest to find the most important ingredients for effective skincare.

The truth is chronological aging has a minimal affect on how we age. Aging has more to do with environmental factors and stresses: including sun exposure, smoking, stress, diet, pollution, lighting, sugar consumption and many more. Anti-aging skincare promises to give you a line of defense and also repair previous damage. Ingredients such as Vitamin C and Retinol are more than just buzz words. These ingredients act to protect the skin (Vitamin C) as an anti-oxidant but also repair the skin's brightness and texture. What varies is the concentration levels and the delivery system. A serum contains smaller molecule that can penetrate deeper into the skin, thus, more reparative. A moisturizer contains larger molecules that sit closer to the surface and help to strengthen the moisture barrier (protecting the skin). That in mind, a good skincare routine takes all of the facets into consideration.

Always start with a good cleanser. In 2023, the best cleansers also include some form of exfoliation, after all, we need to remove the dead skin so that the skincare can penetrate. Forms of chemical exfoliation are being included into cleansers. These forms tend to be more gentle than a mechanical exfoliator that can create mini-tears in the skin. I chose the Anti-Aging Cleanser from Clinical Aesthetics. This is a multi-acid cleanser that contains a stabilizer so the skin never becomes irritated, your skin is left pH balanced, feeling soft, hydrated and prepped for active ingredients. 

Next, use a Serum! Serums have the most reparative ability of any product. This product should also contain a form of Hyaloronic Acid to ensure you skin remains hydrated. I chose the Clinical Aesthetics Vita A+ Anti-Aging Complex. This product is a concentration of multiple vitamins that act to repair and protect the skin. The 1% Retinol works to repair previous damage to the skin. The addition of Lactic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Malic and Tartaric Acids ensure that your skin texture and clarity will improve. After a few days, I noticed my skin felt softer and smoother. Overtime, I can expect this product to help with Collagen production.

Now it's time for your moisturizer. This product's purpose is to protect your skin from the environment, increase your moisture barrier and  ingredients that help with repairing the skin. I chose Clinical Aesthetics Brightening Stem Cell Creme. Containing Hyaloronic Acid, this creme immediately made my skin fell more hydrated.  The Rosemary Leaf Extract works as an antioxidant while the liposomoal delivery complex are known to enhance the vitality of your skin and decrease the appearance of wrinkles. 

I am not sure if I will keep my resolution to work out long enough to see the results but I am glad I committed to this new skin care regimen. It's easy and quick to apply and I am seeing results I love with my skin. Maybe I will take more selfies this year......