// BEGIN editorial data var i = 0; var Health_Allure_SkinSaviors = new Array(); Health_Allure_SkinSaviors.ID = "Health_Allure_SkinSaviors"; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors.ID_WB = 30143788; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors.sPubDate = "4/14/2009 1:28:28 AM GMT"; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors.navsectionID = "3034510" Health_Allure_SkinSaviors.appFmt = 9; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors.itemsPerPage = 1; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors.appWidth = 624; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors.appHeader = "The 10 commandments of anti-aging"; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors.appFooter = "— By Cara Birnbaum, Allure
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We don’t have to tell you what aging looks like. Fine lines, not-so-fine lines, enlarged pores, hyperpigmentation ... you get the idea. Although much of aging is completely natural, most of us would prefer to hang on to the best characteristics our skin used to have. Youthful skin is springy, resilient, radiant, and wrinkle-free — and there are now plenty of proven ways to delay the clock. (And no, they don’t require surgery.) Follow these commandments from top dermatologists, and you will look younger — this is actually guaranteed. "; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i++] = new Array("","Add water ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/Today%20show/Today%20Health/2007/December/6_HabitsInteractive/Skincare.standard.jpg","","Image: Woman applying face cream", "", "", "", "", "right", "Chris Ryan", "Getty Images/OJO Images", "298", "224", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i-1].body = "

Moisturizer isn’t just a vehicle for other anti-aging ingredients — hydrating the skin overnight has benefits of its own. “Letting your skin get parched creates oxidative stress, which makes you generate damaging free radicals,” explains Fredric Brandt, a dermatologist in New York City and Coral Gables, Florida. “Besides looking like you have more fine lines, if you don’t moisturize you’re not letting your skin repair itself — which will just lead to more damage.” He suggests wearing a cream with shea butter, petrolatum, or, if you’re acne-prone, silicone to help the skin hold on to water. (We like L’Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Face Cream, Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Moisturizing Treatment, and MD Skincare Hydra-Pure Intense Moisture Cream.) Just put it on last in your regimen — after all anti-aging products — so it doesn’t block the absorption of those ingredients. "; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i++] = new Array("","Obsess over your pores ... a little ","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/g-hlth-081003-face-235p.htease.jpg","","Image: Woman looking in mirro", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "Getty Images stock", "104", "148", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i-1].body = "
As dirt and oil accumulate over time, your pores expand to accommodate them — and eventually stay expanded. Francesca Fusco, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, recommends the weekly use of pore strips — “they really do work” — as well as daily cleansing with a salicylic acid wash (we like Bioré Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser). As Brandt explains it, salicylic acid is ideal because it “dissolves the oil in the pores” and clears away any dead skin that can lead to clogging. "; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i++] = new Array("","Feed your face","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/080710/080710-brill-hlt-blueberries.htease.jpg","","Image: Blueberries ", "", "", "", "", "right", "Jonathan Ernst", "Reuters file", "109", "148", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i-1].body = "

Avoiding fat is so 1980s — for your diet and for your skin. The good fats found in avocados, fish oil, flaxseed, and evening primrose oil all contain high levels of lineolic acid, which is “really important for helping your skin make moisture-retaining ceramides,” according to Leslie Baumann, director of the University of Miami Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute. And packing your diet with foods high in antioxidants — fruits and vegetables such as blueberries and carrots — is just as important as slathering them directly on your skin. "; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i++] = new Array("","Increase your turnover","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/080807-perfect-skin-vmed4p.standard.jpg","","Image: skin", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "Business Wire stock", "298", "214", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i-1].body = "
As people age, the natural turnover of their cells slows down, and the dead skin cells that don’t slough off on their own “reflect the light at odd angles and rob your face of radiance,” says Doris Day, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at New York University Medical Center. At-home glycolic acid peels can whisk away these malingerers in minutes — and can be used safely up to twice a week, depending on the sensitivity of your skin. “At-home peels are among the safest, easiest, and most cost-efficient ways to brighten the skin,” says Fusco. And if that isn’t enough incentive, consider this: Removing the dead cells will also improve the penetration of the active ingredients in your other skin products. "; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i++] = new Array("","Use vanity to your advantage","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/080710/080710-brill-hlt-red-wine.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Victor Fraile", "Reuters file", "110", "120", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i-1].body = "
We’re not going to lecture you — just read these facts and do with them what you will. Smoking destroys the collagen and elastin in the skin, and is stone-cold guaranteed to lead to more wrinkles, overall dullness, and dilated pores. Wine may be great for your heart, but more than one glass of alcohol increases the level of inflammatory agents in the bloodstream — “which can hasten sagging over time,” according to Brandt. And some scientists believe that eating too much sugar may affect the body’s ability to repair damaged collagen. "; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i++] = new Array("","Mind your environment","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "110", "148", "", "", "", "", ""); Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i-1].body = "
If Greenpeace made beauty ingredients, they would focus on antioxidants — which keep the skin’s collagen from being broken down by the sun, pollution, and other noxious elements in our environment. Idebenone (found in Prevage by Elizabeth Arden) and CoffeeBerry (in RevaléSkin and Priori products) are among the most potent. But Baumann has new respect for Coenzyme Q10, in Eucerin Q10 Anti-Wrinkle Sensitive Skin Lotion SPF 15. “It absorbs well, it’s cheaper than other antioxidants, and it’s also been shown to help skin cells repair damage better than other antioxidants,” she says. Whatever you choose, smooth it on in the morning for maximum protection all day long. "; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i++] = new Array("","Rely on retinol","","","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "Mahmud Hams/AFP-Getty images file", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i-1].body = "
There seems to be a promising new skin-care ingredient being trumpeted every time you walk past a Sephora. But there’s a reason dermatologists have been unanimously praising topical vitamin A for more than a decade: “Retinol is the only thing that’s been proven to reduce fine lines over the long term,” says Brandt. Howard Sobel, clinical attending physician of dermatology at Lenox Hill Hospital, likes to start his patients on mild nonprescription versions (we like Olay Pro X Deep Wrinkle Treatment or the powerful Neutrogena Dermatologics Retinol NX Concentrated Serum) and advises applying them at night. “Retinol makes you more sensitive to the sun,” he says. "; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i++] = new Array("","Don’t ignore your eyes","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Bylines/mugs/MSNBC%20Interactive/090407-wrinkles-333p.htease.jpg","","Image: Wrinkles around eye", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "Vibeke Olsen / Featurepics", "104", "148", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i-1].body = "
Not only is the skin around our eyes thinner than practically anywhere else on the body, it’s also a victim of a lot of abuse. First, resolve to stop rubbing your eyes. “Every time you do, you risk breaking delicate blood vessels, which leads to darkening, dulling, and thickening of the surrounding skin,” says Fusco. Then make sure you are consistent about applying an eye cream with an anti-aging ingredient that isn’t irritating to your skin. If retinol is too strong, consider peptides (try Philosophy When Hope Is Not Enough A.M. Firming Serum or Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum) or Baumann’s current favorite ingredient for the eye area, zinc (found in Relastin Eye Silk). “It’s been shown to increase elastin production, which can reduce crepiness,” she says. "; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i++] = new Array("","Get even","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/News/International/Asia/g-081031-hlt-face-230p.htease.jpg","","Image: Woman hiding face", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "Getty Images stock", "110", "148", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i-1].body = "
Wrinkles get all the attention, but studies have shown that it’s the people with mottled, uneven skin who are most likely to look old to others. Fortunately, a little hydroquinone can go a long way toward reversing hyperpigmentation. Two percent formulas, such as DDF Skincare Fade Gel, can lighten dark spots in as few as 12 weeks, and the 4 percent prescription versions start to work in about a month. (Baumann likes Tri-Luma, which also contains tretinoin to fight blotches, plus a gentle cortisone to prevent inflammation.) For allover blotchiness, rub a thin coat over the entire face at night; for isolated dark spots (this does not mean moles), just dot it on the affected areas. And be sure to be vigilant about sun protection: “All the hydroquinone in the world won’t matter if you’re continuing to get sun exposure,” says Day. Which reminds us ..."; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i++] = new Array("","Wear sunscreen","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo_StoryLevel/080602/080602-brill-hlt-sunscreen.htease.jpg","","Image: sunscreen", "", "", "", "", "right", "Liu Jin", "AFP - Getty Images file", "96", "148", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i-1].body = "
The best way to keep your skin from getting wrinkled, saggy, and speckled is sunscreen, SPF 30 at the minimum. Broad-spectrum formulas (meaning they shield against both UVA and UVB rays) with Mexoryl or Helioplex offer the longest-lasting protection. (We like La Roche-Posay Anthelios 40 and Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 55.) Apply a whole tablespoon to your face, and slather the equivalent of a shot glass on your body. For workdays, reapply before your commute home if the sun is still out — even if you’ll be in a car, Sobel says. And for days when you’ll be outside for an extended period of time, reapply every two hours. We know it’s a pain, but come on — you’ll get the last laugh instead of the first laugh lines. "; Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i++] = new Array("","Small changes ","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); Health_Allure_SkinSaviors[i-1].body = "
It’s always the little things — even in skin care. Here, the tiny habits that can add up to lines and wrinkles.

• Squinting. If you wear glasses or contacts, make sure your prescription is up-to-date, advises Day. And be sure to wear sunglasses outside on all but the cloudiest days of the year. “They’ll keep you from squinting, and with UV protective lenses, they’ll also protect the delicate skin around the eyes from incurring sun damage,” Brandt says.

• Resting your chin in your hand. Besides making you look bored and tired, this pose pulls and stretches the skin around your eyes, cheeks, and chin. “Over time, you lose elasticity and firmness,” Sobel says.

• Sleeping on a cotton pillowcase. It sounds like the most absurd of beauty myths, but dermatologists say that the creases in cotton gradually contribute to creases in your skin. Get your beauty sleep on a satin pillowcase instead.

• Sipping through a straw. Dentists say it will help protect teeth from stains. But dermatologists warn that it will also create fine lines around your mouth.
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Botox is currently the only way to relax stubborn wrinkles — but the FDA’s pending approval of Reloxin this year would bring a new, fast-acting option. Reloxin — sold in Europe for years under the name Dysport — is also made from botulinum type A and injected the way Botox is: around the eyes and in the forehead, chin, and neck. But while Botox takes up to a week to kick in, Reloxin’s results show in as few as two days. And according to Baumann, who participated in the clinical trials, “it looks like results last about five months,” versus Botox’s three to four months. But the biggest benefit of Reloxin’s approval may be for your wallet: Baumann is optimistic that competition between the two will cause a reduction in price (both are priced at about $400 a syringe.) "; // END editorial data