The Best Face Care for Aging Skin

Aging is a natural part of life — but that doesn’t mean your skin has to show the years before you’re ready.

By understanding how to best care for your face and incorporating clinically proven ingredients and treatments into your daily routine, you can keep your aging skin looking radiant, firm and healthy for years to come.

Understanding Aging Skin

Our skin undergoes constant change, and while genetics play a role in how it happens, external factors play even bigger roles. Here’s what’s happening beneath the surface:

• Loss of Collagen and Elastin: These two proteins are the structural foundation of youthful skin. As we age, their production slows — this leads to sagging, fine lines and wrinkles.
• Decreased Cell Turnover: Skin naturally sheds dead cells and regenerates new ones. Just like anything, though, the process slows over time — which contributes to dullness and uneven texture.
• Sun Damage: UV exposure is a primary cause of premature aging. It expedites the breakdown of collagen, leads to hyperpigmentation and contributes to the formation of deep wrinkles. Always wear sun protection!
• Environmental Stressors: Pollution, toxins and free radicals cause oxidative stress, accelerating aging by damaging skin cells and weakening the protective barrier.

What Is a Good Face Routine for Aging Skin?

A comprehensive skincare routine tailored to aging skin should address hydration, protection and cellular renewal. Here’s what we recommend:

Cleansing: A Gentle Start

Aging skin requires a delicate balance — cleansing away impurities without stripping the skin of essential moisture. Opt for a sulfate-free, pH-balanced cleanser that removes debris while replenishing hydration. Ingredients like ceramides, glycerin and antioxidants are helpful when your goals include maintaining your skin’s natural barrier.

Exfoliation: Stimulate Cell Renewal

Exfoliation is essential for revealing fresh, radiant new skin beneath the surface. Instead of harsh physical scrubs, it’s best to choose a chemical exfoliant like glycolic acid, lactic acid or polyhydroxy acids (PHAs) to gently dissolve dead skin cells and stimulate collagen production. The ZO® Skin Health Exfoliation Accelerator has both glycolic and lactic acids to soothe skin while removing dead skin cells at the same time.

Moisturization: Locking in Hydration

Hydrated skin is plump, supple and more resilient. Look for moisturizers rich in hyaluronic acid, ceramides and squalane to strengthen the moisture barrier and prevent transepidermal water loss. For daytime use, opt for a lightweight formulation that layers well under sunscreen. In the evening, choose a richer cream to support overnight repair — like the ZO® Skin Health Radical Night Repair cream.

Serums: Targeted Ingredients for Maximum Impact

Serums deliver potent, concentrated ingredients deep into the skin. Consider incorporating serums featuring one or more of these into your routine:

• Retinol and Retinoids: These vitamin A derivatives are clinically proven to increase collagen production and help smooth wrinkles and skin texture. ZO® Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener is an excellent choice, offering stabilized retinol to improve skin tone and help minimize signs of aging.
• Vitamin C: A powerful antioxidant that brightens skin, neutralizes free radicals and stimulates collagen synthesis. Smells good, too — added bonus! ZO® Skin Health 10% Vitamin C Self-Activating Serum provides a potent dose of pure vitamin C to help even skin tone and protect against environmental damage.

Peptides: Short chains of amino acids that signal the skin to repair itself, improving elasticity and firmness. ZO® Skin Health Growth Factor Serum features an advanced peptide formula designed to support collagen production, enhance skin resilience and visibly improve fine lines and wrinkles.

Sunscreen: The Most Important Step

Daily broad-spectrum SPF 30+ is non-negotiable! Really, though, you should be looking at SPF 45 or 50. Sunscreen prevents sun-induced collagen breakdown, hyperpigmentation and deep wrinkles. Look for formulas containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for superior protection.

Can You Reverse Aging Skin on the Face?

No, aging skin cannot be reversed — but that doesn’t mean you’re powerless against time. Aging is a complex biological process driven by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Internally, the skin experiences a natural decline in collagen and elastin production, leading to reduced firmness and elasticity. Cellular turnover slows, making it harder for the skin to regenerate and repair itself. 

That said, while we can’t turn back time, we can slow the clock. Making smart lifestyle choices and maintaining a targeted skincare routine can help preserve youthful skin and minimize the effects of aging. Here are a few simple but powerful habits to adopt:

• Hydration: Drinking plenty of water supports optimal skin function and helps maintain elasticity.
• Sleep: Deep sleep is when your skin undergoes cellular repair, making rest essential for rejuvenation. Feel free to remind your family of this anytime anyone gives you a hard time for sleeping in.
• Nutrition: A diet rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and collagen-boosting nutrients helps support skin health from the inside out.
• Avoiding Smoking and Excess Alcohol: Both can degrade collagen, dehydrate skin and contribute to premature wrinkles — cutting back even a little can have a visible impact.

What Is the Best Thing to Put on Your Face for Aging?

When it comes to addressing aging skin, medical-grade skincare products offer the most effective solutions. Unlike over-the-counter products, these formulations contain higher concentrations of active ingredients that penetrate deeper and deliver clinically proven results. By incorporating targeted treatments into your routine, you can support collagen production, enhance hydration and defend against environmental stressors that accelerate aging.

• Retinoids: These vitamin A derivatives are renowned for their ability to stimulate skin renewal, enhance texture, and diminish fine lines. For a potent retinol treatment, consider ZO® Skin Health’s Radical Night Repair, which delivers a high concentration of retinol to support collagen production and improve skin clarity.
• Hyaluronic Acid: Essential for maintaining skin hydration, hyaluronic acid attracts and retains moisture, resulting in a plump and supple complexion. ZO® Skin Health’s Hydrating Crème offers advanced hydration benefits — soothing dry and irritated skin while restoring its natural barrier function.
• Peptides: These short chains of amino acids signal the skin to produce more collagen and elastin, enhancing firmness and elasticity. ZO® Skin Health’s Firming Serum visibly tightens and firms skin with advanced peptides that support collagen and elasticity.
• Niacinamide: Also known as vitamin B3, niacinamide helps to calm inflammation, reduce redness, and strengthen the skin’s barrier. ZO® Skin Health’s Rozatrol® is a treatment serum that normalizes skin by reducing excess oil — which can lead to inflammation —and provides enzymatic exfoliation to soften skin texture.

Antioxidants: These protect the skin from free radicals and environmental damage, which can accelerate aging. ZO® Skin Health’s Illuminating AOX Serum is a concentrated antioxidant serum that provides protection against pollution and premature signs of aging while visibly brightening the skin with a subtly luminous, soft-focus finish.

What Is the Most Effective Anti-Aging Facial Treatment?

The best anti-aging treatments work by triggering the skin’s natural ability to repair itself. Instead of sitting on the surface, the best anti-aging treatments reach deeper layers, encouraging the production of new collagen and elastin. While topical products help maintain results, professional treatments provide a level of correction that skincare alone cannot achieve.

• Chemical Peels dissolve damaged outer layers of skin to reveal fresh, healthy cells underneath. This process not only improves skin texture but reduces fine lines and encourages long-term collagen development.
• Microneedling with PRP creates microscopic injuries that jumpstart the body’s healing response. When combined with platelet-rich plasma — drawn from your own blood — this treatment speeds up skin regeneration and improves elasticity.
• Laser Resurfacing uses concentrated light energy to remove damaged skin and stimulate renewal. Over time, this leads to firmer skin, smoother texture and a noticeable reduction in deep wrinkles or dark spots.
• HydraFacial provides deep cleansing while replenishing hydration and essential nutrients. The skin is left looking instantly refreshed, making this an ideal option for those seeking visible radiance without downtime.

What Procedure Makes Your Face Look Younger?

Reversing the visible signs of aging requires more than just skincare. As collagen production slows and skin loses its elasticity, fine lines become deeper, facial contours soften and the skin’s ability to bounce back diminishes. While a consistent skincare routine is essential for maintaining healthy skin, in-office procedures provide targeted solutions that actively restore a more youthful appearance. 

Medical advancements now offer minimally invasive treatments that can meet your skincare goals without requiring surgery.

• BOTOX® and Dysport® relax overactive facial muscles that cause deep-set expression lines. By limiting repeated muscle contractions, these neuromodulators soften existing wrinkles while preventing new ones from forming — allowing the skin to appear smoother and more refreshed.
• Dermal Fillers restore youthful volume to areas where the skin has thinned and lost structure. Hyaluronic acid-based formulations plump hollowed cheeks, lift sagging skin and refine facial contours. This helps bring back definition and reduce the appearance of deep creases.

Building a Personalized Anti-Aging Skincare Plan

Every skin type is different — an expert consultation can help you develop a customized regimen based on your unique needs. Consistency and long-term commitment to high-quality skincare will yield the best results. The only road block for many is simply getting started. Since you’ve already read this article, you’re ahead of most.

If you’re ready to transform your skincare routine with advanced treatments and ZO® Skin Health products, consult with the experts at Renew Plastic Surgery today. We can’t wait to help you reach your goals. Don’t forget — our skincare consultations are free and include a complementary Visia skin analysis!