Anti-Aging Secret for your Skin Tone! According to InStyle

There's no doubt that sun damage is a huge factor in the battle against aging. But dermatologists say that our skin's genetic profile also plays a rold in the onslaught of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. So while the usual advice still applies to everyone - wear broad-spectrum sunscreen, drink lots of water, eat a balanced diet - here are some tips to benefit each skin tone:

Dark Skin


With lots of pigment and a relatively thick epidermis, your skin is the least susceptible to premature wrinking. "In general, the darker you are the slower you age," says New York dermatologist Francesca Fusco. The main concerns are pigmentation issues, such as dark undereye circles and hyperpigmentation. As you age, your skin may sag and develop tiny raised brown spots known as dermatosis papulosa nigra. According to dermatologist Jeanine Downie, "We dark-skinned women tend to lose elasticity as we age because we often don't wear sunblock."

Your Regimen
*Cleanser
*Eye Cream
*Daily SPF
*Fade Mark Cream
*Treatment Lotion

Reaction to the Sun
With the most melanin (aka natural sun protection), this skin type always tans, rarely burns.
How you Age
Rough patches of skin and uneven pigmentation (including dark and undereye circles) are likely to show up before crow's-feet or laugh lines make an appearance.

Olive Skin


With more melanin in your skin than most Caucasians', your skin is relatively robust. One of your biggest complaints? Melasma, large patches of hormonally driven discoloration triggered by UV exposure. Depending on how much time you spend in the sun, you may also have fine lines and other signs of sun damage. Dermatologist, Elizabeth Alvarez Connelly says, "I often remind my patients that just one day in the sun can reverse months of therapy when treating dark spots."

Your Regimen
*Cleanser
* Sunscreen
*Night Cream
*Discoloration Serum

Reaction to the Sun
This skin type often tans easily. But keep in mind: Burn-free skin can still be damaged-it's just happening below the surface.

How You Age
Blotches on cheeks and along hairline can appear as early as your mid-20's, though you might not wrinkle until many years later.


Light Skin


The yellow under-tones in your skin help bolster it against the damaging effects of the sun. If you are Asian, you have another anti-aging advantage: "Studies have shown we have thicker collagen bundles," says dermatologist Jessica Wu, noting that sagging and skin-tone problems tend to be more common than wrinkles among light-skinned women. When pigmentation patterns do develop, they tend to occur in small clusters as opposed to large patches. Jessica Wu also says, "Light skin usually develops uneven color and sagging before it starts to wrinkle."

Your Regimen
*Night Cream
*Serum
*Daily SPF
*Spot Lightener
*Cleanser

Reaction to the Sun
You tan a little, but you burn too.

How you Age
Without adequate protection, small clusters of sun spots on your cheeks may begin appearing in your 20's. Wrinkles, however, may not be a concern until your mid-to late 40's.

*February 2010 InStyle*