With passing time, as the skin ages, it tends to lose its moisture, natural oils, and nutrients. The skin's ability to heal and rejuvenate decreases and there is a decrease in collagen - the protein that gives your skin elasticity - leading to wrinkles, fine lines, and eventually even sagging. 

While the march of time is inexorable, its aging effects on your body and skin can be slowed, and to a certain extent, even reversed. 

Ideally, you should start taking action as soon as you spot the earliest signs of aging, or even before you observe any signs (which is called 'pre-juvenation'). But even if you're in your late 30s, or 40s, or even 50s and beyond, it's never too late to start taking measures, and diminish the signs of aging. 

So, if you want a skin that looks youthful and radiant, the time is now to employ a solid Anti-aging skincare routine, and follow it diligently.  

Employ the following steps for a softer, firmer, smoother skin -  

Follow the Basics

Chances are, you are already aware of the importance of cleansing and moisturising. Moisturise your face every morning and evening. Moisturising keeps your skin hydrated, giving it a youthful, supple appearance. 

Before moisturising, ensure that you cleanse first. Splash your face with lukewarm water, and use a gentle face wash or cleanser. This helps remove dirt, excess oils, make-up, and other impurities from your skin. If not properly cleansed, these impurities may get trapped in your pores, causing acne and infections. 

elline Switzerland's Micellar Gel Cleanser with mineral-rich Swiss glacial water is an ideal way to start and end your daily beauty routine. Its innovative micelle structure removes dirt and make-up without straining the skin. It also moisturises and refreshes the skin, and its active ingredient Pentavitin® enhances natural skin protection, leaving a smooth protective film.

Protect from the Sun

The harmful UV rays in sunlight break down the collagen in your skin, this causes premature wrinkles, age spots, even Sunburns, and skin cancer. Photoaging is one of the major causes of premature aging, and sunscreen is arguably the most important and crucial step in any anti-aging skincare regime. 

• Avoid the Sun as much as possible. 
• Cover up - wear gloves, hats, sunglasses and other protective wear when you do head out into the Sun. 
• Use sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher whenever you head out into the Sun. 
• Avoid tanning indoors as well.

Exfoliate

Use a scrub or exfoliator once a week to remove the layer of dead skin cells. If not removed, these dead cells give a dull and aged appearance. 

However, remember not to overdo it, as excess use of exfoliators can severely dry your skin, causing harm instead of good. 

Use serum

Serums are skincare products that have a high concentration of active ingredients like Vitamin C, Retinol (Vitamin A), or Hyaluronic acid. Serums are lighter than moisturisers and are actively absorbed by the skin. Serums should be applied before moisturisers. 

The 24k Lifting Serum contains a rich complex of gold crystals, hyaluronic acid, raspberry stem cell extract, and mineral-rich Swiss glacial water, and keeps your skin hydrated throughout the day. It significantly reduces wrinkles and other signs of aging, and its patented active ingredient Hyalgen helps to increase skin density by up to 171%.  

Use eye cream daily for significant improvement in dark circles, wrinkles, fine lines, and eye bags.  

elline Switzerland's 'Treasures of Youth' Instant Eye Lift contains an anti-aging complex of spherical gold crystals, short-chain hyaluronic acid, and Persian silk tree extract, and reduces wrinkles, has a tightening effect on the skin and leaves it glowing. Its active ingredient Actiwhite™ helps reduce dark circles, and a tightening effect with reduced appearance of swellings is produced by the active ingredient BEAUTIFEYE™. Use Instant Eye Lift for an immediately noticeable and long-lasting lifting effect. 

Use an anti-wrinkle cream at night

The night is the time when the skin heals and regenerates the damage it has endured throughout the day. Make sure to use an anti-wrinkle cream at night so that your skin rejuvenates properly and you wake up with radiant skin with lesser signs of aging. 

Integrate retinol in your routine

Retinol, or vitamin A, has revolutionised the anti-aging and skincare industry.  

Retinol is a strong antioxidant, and helps protect your skin from the damaging effects of free radicals. Retinol increases the collagen production of your skin and helps remove wrinkles and promote smooth, elastic skin. It also helps in improving skin tone and colour and removing mottled patches on the skin. 

Retinol can be found as an active ingredient in many of your serums, creams, etc. 

Do note that Retinol is an irritant and can cause dry skin. It also makes your skin more sensitive to Sunlight, and should only be used at night. 

Used in formulation, retinol is unstable and causes skin irritation. A plant-based alternative called Vit-A-Like is used in place of retinol. Vit-A-Like has all the goodness of retinol minus any adverse side effects on your skin.  

Maintain healthy lifestyle practices  

Bringing healthy changes in your daily lifestyle is critical for long-lasting youth. 

• Eat healthy: Cut down on the sugars, and binge on fruits and green vegetables, which are loaded with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Try to consume more protein, and foods containing omega 3 fatty acids. 
• Drink lots of water: Drinking 2 liters of water every day keeps your skin hydrated and healthy, giving it a smooth, supple, and radiant texture. 
• Cut down on coffee and alcohol: Both of them have a dehydrating effect and can lead to dry skin which wrinkles easily. 
• Stop smoking:  Apart from many other detrimental effects, smoking decreases the microcirculation of your skin and leads to a dull complexion and premature wrinkles. 
• Catch up on your sleep: Your skin rejuvenates and heals while you sleep. Inadequate sleep would mean that your skin does not get enough time to heal properly, while a healthy full night's sleep will ensure that you wake up refreshed, radiant, and with significantly fewer eye bags and dark circles. 
• Avoid stress: Stress causes your body to release cortisol, which promotes inflammation in the body and has been known to promote aging. 

In short 

To maintain a youthful charm and postpone the signs of aging, take gentle care of your skin, and avoid the damaging effects of pollution and sunlight. Remember to cleanse and moisturise daily, and choose your skincare products wisely. In addition to a proper skincare regime, healthy lifestyle changes also go a long way in receding the signs of aging that may have already appeared.