Regular visits to the esthetician or plastic surgeon for treatments still may not be an option for most, but celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau recently shared several tips on maintaining firm and smooth skin in the meantime.
Facial Patches
Facial patches, such as Frownies, are designed to adhere to the skin and block facial movements, slowly training the muscles to relax and make fewer movements. According to Rouleau, this weakens the muscles over time, preventing deep wrinkles. Some patches may also act as an occlusive, providing a sealed, hydrated environment to help soften lines. Although not an exact substitute for Botox, these patches are a needle-free alternative that can easily be used at home. They also may be able to extend the effects of previous Botox treatments.
Peptides
A well-known superstar skincare ingredient, peptides help cells produce collagen, which in turn aids the skin in retaining moisture and repairing itself, resulting in firmer skin. Rouleau’s personal favorite peptide is the well-researched palmitoyl tripeptide-38. Adding a peptide serum in the evening will help promote skin regeneration, and Rouleau also advises looking for peptides when choosing an eye cream.
Retinol
Derived from vitamin A, retinol is a popular and well-researched anti-aging ingredient that can significantly improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, brown spots, large pores, and skin texture with consistent use. The ingredient works by increasing both the rate of skin cell turnover and collagen production.
Sunscreen
According to Rouleau, the number-one culprit behind visibly aging skin is not time, genetics, nor smoking—rather, it’s exposure to the sun. The importance of wearing a generous layer of SPF at all times, rain or shine, cannot be underestimated.
Sleeping Habits
It has been suggested that the second most common cause of premature wrinkles is how the face is positioned on the pillow during sleep. For side sleepers like her, Rouleau recommends positioning the head so that the lower half of the face is off the pillow. To help maintain the position, Rouleau sleeps with an extra firm pillow.
Although wrinkles are a natural side effect of aging, there are still plenty of steps that can be taken to slow the process, even when stuck at home.
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