In the fight against aging and the fight for healthy, beautiful skin, there are five offenders that show up repeatedly. Companies are built on products designed to do combat with lines, dry and puffy skin, dull skin and breakouts. These five offenders and the ways they are mistreated contribute to skin that doesn’t reflect how great you feel inside. Here’s a look at what causes each of these troublemaking problems and how you can effectively treat them.

Those little lines that turn into deep wrinkles in the squint of an eye: The biggest culprit is the sun. Even if you don’t bake for hours, you are still exposed to UV rays anytime you go out without proper SPF protection. There are so few products that don’t come with an SPF option that it’s crazy to leave home without it. Even minimal exposure to UV rays can break down collagen, which keeps skin firm and smooth. Another sun factor to consider is how much time you spend squinting. Pay attention to your commutes and the time you spend outside, are you spending the whole ride and jog squinting against the sun? Even slight repeated squinting can result in lines. Invest in a great pair of oversized sunglasses for your drive and ultra UV protection sport glasses for your run.

Dry skin: The responsible parties are limitless so you have to fight against unseen enemies to be truly effective. Start with an exfoliants with small beads, which are gentler. Once you’ve removed the dry skin you currently have, start moisturizing every morning and at night. Invest in a pH balancing spritz that can go on over your makeup. This will help control oil, which plays a surprising role in dry, flaking skin.

Puffy eyes: What causes them? Alcohol is one major factor. Alcohol dehydrates the skin and triggers and inflammatory response – puffy eyes. What to do: go a few nights without partying and use a cream with hyaluronate to lock in moisture.

Dull, lifeless skin: That’s the worst! And all you need to do to improve is to get more sleep. Skin repairs itself from all that it’s exposed to during the day. If you’re only getting five hours of sleep that’s not enough time. So turn in early and use a night cream with niacinamide to help boost your skin’s ability to repair.

Breakouts that turn into enlarged pores and permanent marks: Want better skin? Take a vacation! Stress increases cortisol, which causes zits. Anxiety weakens your immune system making it harder for you to heal from breakouts. To fight back and win, find a way to relieve stress and use a great cleanser regularly. Try one with salicylic acid to start. To minimize already enlarged pores, use an exfoliating scrub. Dirty pores seem larger.

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