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The Procrastinator's Guide to Anti-Aging

If you've been putting off a proper anti-aging skin care regimen, help is here
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Fight Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Marionette lines, crow's feet, frown lines -- you're familiar with the various names given to wrinkles. Even in your 20s, you may notice a few lines on your forehead or around your eyes. As you age, the collagen and elastin fibers responsible for facial volume start to break down. Muscle memory is also responsible for some of those wrinkles; essentially, every time you frown, you're teaching your skin to remember those lines.

Quick fix:
Before you put on your makeup, apply a serum with hyaluronic acid to help plump the skin. Primers specifically targeted to fill in wrinkles help minimize their appearance by creating a smoother, more even base for makeup. To really fill those wrinkles and avoid doing more damage to the delicate skin around the eyes, Patterson says not to massage the cream into your skin. Use your finger to press, hold and rock the hand back and forth until the cream absorbs, similar to the way you should apply eye cream.

If you're worried about the appearance of lines around the eyes, don't apply mascara or liner to bottom lashes or lash line. Patterson says these products draw attention to the area.

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Over time:
Sure, you're getting a late start on the anti-aging game, but it's not too late to reduce the appearance of fine lines and prevent more wrinkles from developing, says Lupo. Start by using a topical cream or serum containing peptides or growth factors, which help stimulate the production of collagen, and get thee to a dermatologist for a prescription retinoid -- it's a key tool in minimizing the appearance of wrinkles, says Lupo.

For instant gratification, injectable fillers can create quick results that last four months to a year. If you're under 40 and have minor wrinkles, a treatment costs approximately $600, according to Lupo. The price is determined by the amount of time it takes to inject the filler and the type of filler used, so if you're over 50 and those wrinkles are etched a bit deeper, expect to spend several thousand dollars to smooth those lines.

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Lighten and Brighten Dark Spots
Discoloration of the skin and brown spots, aka hyperpigmentation, are evidence that you've spent too much time out in the sun without proper sun protection. These marks are often referred to as age spots, but Dr. Lupo stresses that these marks are the result of sun damage, not aging.

Quick fix:
Stop us if you've heard this before: Wear sunscreen. We don't want to hear you complaining about your uneven skin tone if you're not wearing a sunscreen with broad spectrum sun protection on a daily basis and re-applying it every two to three hours when you're outside. The pros also say to avoid prolonged sun exposure, period.

You can camouflage those dark spots while protecting them with a BB cream that contains sunscreen. Many formulations offer anti-aging benefits, including skin-tone-correcting ingredients like licorice and arbutin.

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Over time:
Hydroquinone is the gold standard for lightening dark spots over time, says Lupo. It works by reducing melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its color. Microdermabrasion or chemical peels can also reduce the appearance of mild cases of hyperpigmentation by resurfacing the skin and lifting facial pigmentation. For more severe cases of hyperpigmentation, there are a variety of laser treatments that your dermatologist can suggest based on your needs.

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Your Hands Reveal Your Age
Because the skin on your hands is so thin, and they're constantly exposed to the elements, it's only natural that the tops of the hands are often the first place women notice the signs of aging. Crepe-y skin and brown spots are some of the most common issues.

Quick fix:
A fresh manicure can do wonders for improving the appearance of your hands by drawing the eye away from dark spots and wrinkles. Don't believe us? A study conducted by plastic surgeons in England found that 49 percent of those polled thought photographs of women's hands looked younger when they were painted. To keep the signs of aging from getting worse, wear gloves outside in winter to prevent dryness and redness. At night, slather on hand cream with hyaluronic acid to plump the thinning skin and smooth out dry areas.

BY MARISSA DESANTIS | AUG 11, 2016 | SHARES
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