What Are Fine Lines & How To Reduce
Have you ever had a wrinkle show up out of nowhere? It’s happened to all of us. One day we’re enjoying glowing skin, and the next day there’s a tiny little line where smooth skin used to be.
Fine lines are a normal part of aging, but not everyone wants them around. We get it – these pesky fine lines can get in the way of a flawless complexion. Read on to learn more about fine lines and how to reduce them.
What Are Fine Lines?
Fine lines are the precursors to wrinkles. They typically aren’t as dramatic as wrinkles, and you might even have to look closely to see them at first. But, as you age, you’ll begin to notice them more and more.
These tiny wrinkles are caused by many things, including sun damage, dehydration, smoking, environmental toxins, and repetitive facial movements.
How Can I Prevent Fine Lines?
If it seems like just living everyday life can result in fine lines, then you’ve got it right.
Fortunately, you can take some preventative measures to make sure they don’t crop up quite as often.
Wear Sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen is the number one way to reduce your risk for fine lines. Since fine lines can directly result from sun damage, sunscreen helps target them at their source by protecting you from harmful UV rays that damage skin cells.
Make sure to pick a broad-spectrum sunscreen. These sunscreens will block not only UVB rays responsible for aging but they’ll also target UVA rays responsible for sun damage. Sunscreens are not required to be broad-spectrum, so it’s important to check your labels and make sure you’ve got the best product.
Stay Hydrated
Dry skin is much more susceptible to fine lines and other visible signs of aging. This is because dry skin is less elastic and has a harder time bouncing back from sun damage.
To help combat dry skin, make sure that you drink plenty of water throughout the day. You should also use a moisturizer that is right for your skin type after showering, washing your face, and being in the sun to help replenish your skin’s natural moisture.
Keep Your Environment Clean
Your environment plays a huge role in the formation fine lines. While you can’t change the whole environment, there are small changes you can make to best protect your skin.
You can help keep your skin young and healthy-looking by eating a healthy diet, exercising, and avoiding environmental pollutants like smoke and chemicals. Smoking can put you at a huge risk of developing fine lines, and it’s directly related to premature aging – so it’s best to quit while you’re ahead.
Products to Reduce Fine Lines
It’s best to prevent fine lines before they develop, but what if you already have some? Here are some of the best products you can use to reduce the appearance of your fine lines.
Retinol
Retinol is a subclass of retinoids and is derived from vitamin A. Like other retinoids, retinol is a proven solution for fine lines and wrinkles.
Retinol reduces fine lines by promoting natural collagen production and encouraging faster cell turnover. This means that your skin can bounce back from damage and sheds cells faster, thus making it hard for fine lines to take root.
We recommend our Retinol Reform serum. This award-winning serum combines encapsulated retinol with lactic acid for a long-acting formula that gives you the best of both worlds.
Lactic Acid
Lactic acid is a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that is derived from fermented milk. Lactic acid is a gentle chemical exfoliant that removes dead skin cells at the top layer of skin to reveal bright and smooth skin underneath.
Exfoliating regularly is important because if you don’t, dead skin cells can build up on the surface of your skin, making it hard for products and moisturizers to properly absorb into your skin. Clearing away dead skin cells can help reduce the appearance of fine lines by making way for healthy, new skin cells to form.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels employ high-strength AHAs and BHAs to polish away the top layer of your skin. Fine lines may be our most pronounced in that top layer of skin, so exfoliating it away is usually enough to turn the clock back a few years.
Although there are clinical-grade peels you can do with your dermatologist, you can also purchase plenty of over-the-counter peels. Just make sure not to use a chemical peel and another chemical exfoliator on the same night, or you might risk irritation.
Facial Wands
While there are quite a few devices out there that claim anti-aging benefits, facial wands are truly the best for reducing fine lines and wrinkles. These wands typically use targeted vibration therapy to smooth fine lines gently.
We recommend our Facial Sculpting Wand, which sends vibrations deep into your skin to help target fine lines at their source. Our wand is clinically proven to reduce fine lines in as little as seven uses, and you can even use it on sensitive skin.
Fine Line Skincare Routine
So, how do you put all of these products together? Creating a full skin-smoothing skincare routine from scratch can be a hassle. We want your skincare journey to be as easy as possible, so here’s our favorite routine for fine lines.
Step One: Cleanser
A clean face is sets the scene for the rest of your skincare routine — meaning that if you want to get the fullest effect from your products, then cleansing must be your first step.
Choose a gentle cleanser made for your skin type, and make sure not to rub or scrub at your face. We know it’s tempting, but abrasive movements can aggravate your skin and may make it more susceptible to signs of aging.
We also recommend using lukewarm water for this step. Hot water can dry out your skin, speeding up skin aging. Meanwhile, cold water can shock your skin and ultimately cause irritation.
Step Two: Chemical Peel or Retinol Serum
If you’re doing a chemical peel or a mask, this is where you’ll place it in your skincare routine. That way, your serum can better soak into your skin.
Be sure to follow the instructions on the package because each peel is different and improper use can lead to skin irritation and skin aging. As we said before, alternate nights between these and your serum to avoid irritating your skin.
Once your peel is complete, your next step is the serum. Gently massage your serum into your face and neck, allowing it to absorb before moisturizing for best results.
Research shows that using a wand in a routine that includes serum can strengthen its effects. If you’re interested in trying a skincare wand, use the wand prior to applying your serum to aid with product penetration.
Step Four: Moisturizer
The final step of your evening routine is moisturizer. You shouldn’t use just any moisturizer; instead, you should choose a moisturizer that works with your skin type and the rest of your skincare products.
We recommend using a deeply hydrating moisturizer like iS Clinical Reparative Moisture Emulsion if you’re prone to dryness.
We also recommend including an eye cream like our Intensive Eye Renewal Cream to fight away fine lines around your delicate eye area. Eye creams like this one are designed specifically for the delicate skin around that eye area.
Step Five: Sunscreen
Sunscreen should go after moisturizer and before makeup in your morning routine. You should apply sunscreen every morning before you leave for the day and reapply every two hours or as directed on the package.
Shani recommends Supergoop Play, which is a moisturizer and SPF in one. It is formulated so as not to cause congestion or pore-clogging, even for oily skin.
Put it All Together
Fine lines are a normal part of life as you age – but you don’t have to keep them if you don’t want them. You can take preventative measures like wearing sunscreen and staying hydrated, and you can incorporate anti-aging products like retinol and facial wands into your skincare routine to fight the lines.
Make sure to follow our blog for more Shani Skin Tips, and check us out on social media or follow @shanidarden for daily skin tips!
Sources:
Wrinkles and Aging Skin | Cleveland Clinic