12 Ways To Delay Aging

Growing old gracefully isn't a lost art―it's just a forgotten one.  Although good genes are helpful, much of aging is caused by environmental factors - things we have control over. 

Real Simple Magazine asked eight female dermatologists about their own at-home anti-aging routines. They all offer a sensible approach: Protect your skin, use the right skin-care ingredients, and get on with your life.

To help minimize damage and wrinkles, stay out of the sun and follow these tips:

1. Wear sunscreen every day. You've heard it before: Sun exposure is the number one cause of premature aging. Ultraviolet light from the sun―or a tanning bed―breaks down collagen and elastin, the substances that keep skin smooth and firm.  Obagi Sun Shiled 50 is an award-winning sunblock that helps protect the skin against UVA and UVB rays.
2. Apply sunscreen liberally. A too-thin layer of SPF (sun protection factor) 15 is equal to only about SPF 7. Use a shot glass-size amount to cover your body and a teaspoonful to cover your face.
3. Don't forget your legs. More cases of malignant melanomas are diagnosed on women's legs than on their faces.
4. Don't rely on SPF-enhanced makeup. Chances are you don't wear enough of it to defend your skin.
5. Choose sunglasses with UV protection. Good sunglasses help prevent cataracts, and they also keep you from squinting, which can, over time, break down the collagen around your eyes and cause crow's-feet.
6. Avoid smoky situations. If you smoke, quit. And nonsmokers should be aware that chronic exposure to secondhand smoke can damage skin. Smoke, like the sun, bombards you with free radicals that make skin sallow, break down its collagen, and slow its ability to heal. To fend off damage, use skincare products containing antioxidants, which neutralize free radicals. Excellent antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, and green tea. 
7. Be conscious of repetitive movements. Between smiling, frowning, and talking, your face makes thousands of movements a day. Over time, these repetitive motions lead to deeper lines. It would be unrealistic (not to mention Stepford-like) to stop showing your emotions, but some habits can be curbed. "We're not saying, 'Don't live; don't move,'" says Debra Jaliman, a New York City dermatologist. "But if you're constantly drinking through a straw, chewing gum, or smoking, you're breaking down the collagen around your mouth. And the wrinkles will come earlier."
8. Stop picking! It's hard to resist the urge to do a little at-home surgery on a pimple, but the mark it might leave is the most persuasive reason not to. As you age, acne scars often end up looking more like wrinkles.  
9. Use an anti-aging cream at night. Retinoids, which contain a vitamin A derivative, are still the gold standard. Many studies support retinoids, and they have withstood the test of time. Retinoids encourage the skin to renew itself, smoothing fine lines and helping to repair sun damage. They are found in prescription creams, such as Refissa by Obagi and Retin-A, and in lower concentrations in over-the-counter retinol creams, such as Retinol by Revision. Note: Retinoids can be irritating at first, so apply sparingly. They also leave skin vulnerable to sunburn. If your skin is extra-sensitive, try a milder cream containing kinetin, an ingredient found in plants that has been shown to smooth lines.
10. Try a weekly exfoliation treatment. Most professional antiaging treatments―including chemical peels and microdermabrasion―shed skin to clear up uneven pigmentation and encourage collagen growth. Now there are also effective treatments that are gentle enough to use at home, such as chemical exfoliators. There are also polishing creams that aim to achieve results similar to those of professional microdermabrasion, which manually sloughs off skin with superfine particles. Over time, your skin should respond by thickening slightly.
11. Cleanse with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). They help remove the top layer of dead skin cells to reveal a fresh layer underneath. Alpha hydroxy acids (such as glycolic acid) unclog pores and help your skin look smoother.  Dermalogica makes several good products for this purpose.  Note: If you have oily or acne-prone skin, try a cleanser with a beta hydroxy acid (BHA).
12. Remember the rest of your body. Everything you do for your face, you should also do for your neck, chest, and hands. Those are the primary spots that show aging. At the very least, moisturize: Hydrated skin looks plumper and smoother.