Hi there, it's me Annick:

Greetings from mother earth where we are living through a global pandemic. These are unprecedented times and unprecedented times call for unprecedented actions. You may find yourself quarantining, self-isolating or practicing social distancing as you should. Just like you, I am experiencing the same discomfort as we don’t know how long the storm will last. I realize your inbox may be flooded with emails from every organization you have interacted with, trust that this will not be your typical COVID-19 response message. This crisis has prompted me to express gratitude for my health and I use this extra time I have to care a little more for it.  I find myself splurging on skin-related activities from the comfort of my little home. So I thought it would be best to share some of my doings with you with the hope it will help soothe your anxiety and prompt you to care a little more for your skin.

That being said let us talk skin, the human body’s largest organ. Well, the skin is a protective barrier between the outside environment and the inside of the body. Yet, it is easy to forget to care for it in stressful times.  There are many ways to care for your skin from inside out like drinking plenty of water (8 glasses per day) and maintaining a healthy diet. My goal over the next four weeks is to give you the tools to care for it from the outside-in so that by the end of quarantine season you step out with a divine glow. We will start with moisturizers.

Moisturizers are essentials for a healthy skin regimen. They can either add moisture to the top layer of the skin (epidermis) or create a seal to retain your skin's natural moisture. Moisturizers can also have a smoothing and hydrating effect that makes fine wrinkles less noticeable. They are mostly needed during the cold months when you expose your skin to the dry heat indoors and wind chills outdoors. These environmental stressors affect your skin considerably, so it is important to you chose a moisturizer that serves your skin needs. There are three basics you need to consider when it comes to choosing the right moisturizer: your age, your skin needs and your skin type. Today, we will focus on age.

My golden rule for moisturizer is it must contain antioxidants. Antioxidants are just that: anti-oxidants. They are molecules that fight the oxidation of the skin caused by free radicals responsible for oxidizing the skin, therefore, causing it to be dull or age prematurely. So here is what to look for when choosing a moisturizer for your age:

• 20’s: Use an antioxidant moisturizer. The sooner you get on this, preferably before your thirties, the more the resistant your skin will be against those little free radicals. To put it simply, it is always best to prevent than correct.
• 30’s: Use an antioxidant and antiwrinkle moisturizer. The damages of free radicals begin to show in your thirties. You will see an increase of dullness. You may need a boost from your antiwrinkle moisturizer to restore the radiance and a retinol-based cream to boost collagen production. Your skin is still elastic enough to bounce back and maintain a plump-like look.
• 40’s: Use an antioxidant, antiwrinkle moisturizer with firming abilities because this is when your skin starts to sag.
• 50’s+: Use a moisturizer that tackles many things whether it is firming, lifting, evening out the skin tone. It should still contain enough antioxidants to protect the skin against free radicals and sun damage. If an all-in-one moisturizer is a little rare to find or above your budget, find one that works overtime to hydrate the skin and address any visible signs of aging. Your focus is now on repairing the skin rather than preventing it.

Remember, the skin will age inevitably. But there is the intrinsic aging (20%) that occurs naturally and the extrinsic aging caused by free radicals, sun exposure and environmental stresses and other stresses you can prevent (80%). Do your part, take a proactive approach and let the skin age organically.
Now that you know what to look for based on your age, next we will discuss moisturizing for your skin needs.