Sarah Mahoney has published a nice summary of skin care tips on Women’s Health magazine.

Mahoney compares Skin care to retirement 401(k) plan. Patience is important as skin care treatments applied today will take time for results to be apparent. However, the same way you can compare your fitness results in terms of weight and endurance to those that do not stay fit, eventually you will hear the comments from friends; “You look the same”, or “you have not aged a bit”. Here is Mahoney’s guide to an easy skin care routine for preventing the signs of aging.

Step 1: Skin Cleanser

The first step is to start with clean skin. It makes the rest of the skin-care treatments more effective. You can try a gentle cleanser that leaves protective oils and moisture behind (Mahoney recommends Dove Beauty Bar and Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar.) The article quoted Francesca J. Fusco, M.D; “For an extra boost, use a product made with alpha-hydroxy acids, or AHAs, to exfoliate the dead cells, help plump up your skin, and give a healthy glow,”. AHAs make the outermost layer of skin stronger and more resistant to irritation.

Step 2: Anti-Aging Serum

What is a serum? Does it sound like something straight from chemistry lab? These potent anti aging treatment formulas have concentrated power in small doses. The best anti-aging contain antioxidants (look for vitamins C and E and green tea) or peptides (amino-acid chains believed to bolster the skin’s collagen production), according to Diane Berson, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Blend a few drops onto freshly cleansed skin—it absorbs better when pores are wide open.

Step 3: Moisturizer

Ever wondered what causes the look of dry skin? Mahoney explaines that when skin cells become dehydrated, they shrivel up, making skin look older, dull in tone and texture, and even wrinkled. That is why your hands can look older during winter. The dry skin exacerbates wrinkle folds and deepens the skin creases. The same thing can happen to facial skin. Yohini Appa, Ph.D., a researcher at Neutrogena added, “free radicals can penetrate more easily through dry skin to attack the layers of collagen and elastin.” This is the fast track to saggy skin. Look for a lightweight formula that has an SPF of at least 25 and contains petrolatum or glycerin, the gold standards for moisture retention.

Step 4: Sunscreen

It is well known that the sun is a serious threat to any effort to slow the aging process. UV rays cause skin damage, hyperpigmentation, and cell breakdown. The sun screen tip is very important. Mahoney mentions that your best defense is to be thorough with your sunscreen. Use a sunscreen moisturizer or buy a foundation with SPF, especially if you will be out for more than an hour or so. When shopping online for cosmetics, look for sunscreen products that contain ingredients Parsol 1789 or Mexoryl. Both ingredients both block deep-penetrating UVA rays effectively. And reapply often.

Step 5: Retinoid

Anti-aging ingredients aren’t immediate people-pleasers; they need time to do their good deeds. Take, for example, retinoids. These vitamin A-derivatives—prescription-strength are sold as Retin-A and Renova; the similar but less powerful over-the-counter version is retinol—smooth away fine lines and wrinkles, help even out skin tone, and may even reverse the effects of UV exposure. However, they can make skin more sensitive to UV light, so doctors recommend applying a night cream before bed. That way, the retinoids are active while your body is repairing itself during sleep.

Step 6: Sleep

Getting plenty of shut-eye is as good for your complexion as it is for your body. When medical researchers at Cornell University deprived eleven women of sleep for just one night, it was enough to deplete their skin’s defenses. To make the most of your sleep, the general recommendation is to try to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Also, consider using a humidifier to keep your skin moist and help your nighttime treatment sink into your pores if you live in a dry climate.

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