Best Anti Aging Skin Care

Lots of things change as we age, and we have to adapt to those changes whether we want to or not! Fortunately, the best anti aging skin care for women over 40 builds on methods most women already use, but the products change with time.

The foundation for the best anti aging skin care is also the foundation for good health in general: 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night, 6 to 8 glasses of water each day, and daily protection against sun damage using a sunscreen with a minimum protection factor of 15.

Then build on this foundation with the recommended practice of morning and night skin care that cleanses, tones and moisturizes. The difference for women over 40, however, is to switch to products that are meant for older skin.

For the best anti aging skin care, experts recommend changing to gentle cleansers that don't remove skin's natural oils, which helps to moisturize older, drier skin. Another tip is to massage the face - gently! - when cleansing, to make sure that dirt and makeup float up and out of pores.

Aging skin also needs gentler toners than previously, even as big a change as switching to a toner for sensitive skin. Over-40 women with drier skin may be tempted to stop using toner, but don't give in - toner restores the pH balance of the skin after it's cleansed.

Moisturizes containing Vitamins C and E, plus green or white tea, work wonderfully for older skin. That's because these ingredients are known as antioxidants, meaning they cancel out the effects of molecules called free radicals that occur after exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays and to pollution. Free radicals cause skin to age skin quicker, so the best anti-aging skin care makes sure to counteract their effects.

In addition to a daily facial regimen, many experts recommend additional restorative products containing silicone, such as a restorative serum or a night cream. Many dermatologists love silicone - often listed on labels as cyclopentasiloxane or dimethicone - because it keeps skin moist and silky looking.

Omega-3 supplements also are high on skin doctors' list of favorites for the best anti-aging skin care. Omega-3s boost the body's immune system, and help prevent and repair cell damage. Dermatologists also like their patients to make sure the get their daily dose of minerals, which function in cell processes of all kinds.

Older skin can suffer from rough patches all over as the process of cell renewal slows down. Many doctors recommend using products periodically to exfoliate and moisturize to reduce these areas of roughness. Products that also contain a form of Vitamin A exfoliate known retinyl palmitate give an added anti-aging boost. Speaking of exfoliators, skin care experts also recommend this practice as an anti aging method. Some women exfoliate weekly, some every other week and some just once a month, depending on their skin needs.

One of the best anti aging skin care products for women over 40 is one containing a retinoid, or a form of Vitamin A. This ingredient has been medically shown to support the production of skin cells, a process that slows with age. As the older skin cells slough off and new ones take their place, skin retains a more youthful look. Retinoids also reduce the skin pigment known as melanin, which creates the unsightly blotches called age spots. Finally, retinoids lessen the appearance of fine lines in aging skin. That's triple good news for any woman looking for improved skin.