FRONT OF THE LINE

Avoiding the sun and smoking will help keep collagen stores intact, fending off wrinkles until your 40s or later. But genetics also determine when lines first show up, as do facial expressions, which can trigger dynamic wrinkles—crow’s feet and frown and forehead lines—as early as age 30, says Dr. Nowell Solish, an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Toronto.

AT HOME

“A lot of what we perceive as
fine lines and wrinkles is really just a lack of moisture,” says Celeste Lutrario, vice-president of research and development for Burt’s Bees. Upping your water consumption can help, but since the outermost layer of skin takes more water from the atmosphere than the body, a cream that locks in hydration, such as Burt’s Bees Skin Solutions Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream, should be your first priority. Alternatively, Shiseido’s new Bio-Performance Advanced Super Revitalizing Cream moisturizes (via hyaluronic acid) and reduces visible lines with a stem-cell technology that regenerates elastin fibres. To build stores of collagen, “peptides, specifically Matrixyl [found in Indeed Labs’ Snoxin], are probably the best over-the-counter ingredient available right now,” says Solish. For instant results, look for formulas with optical diffusers, such as Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex. “[They] reduce the
appearance of wrinkles by manipulating the light that bounces off the skin,” says Johnson Wilkerson. And as for prevention, a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen is your number one weapon.

ON YOUR LUNCH HOUR

Although Solish recommends supplementing your topical peptide regimen with prescription-strength vitamin A, it’s no surprise that “the next step up is injectables.” Botox remains your best bet for temporarily weakening the muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles, while hyaluronic acid is the dermal filler of choice for deeper, static lines. Still, the formula itself is only half the battle: “The most important thing is the [technique of the] person on the other end of the needle,” says Solish, so choose your practitioner carefully.

If all else fails try these treatments on the next page …

Michelle Villett is the founder of Beautyeditor.ca. Check out her latest beauty how-tos, trend updates and more.

ON YOUR WEEK OFF

A series of fractionated laser treatments—says Dr. Mark Lupin, a dermatologist based in Victoria, B.C, suggests the Fraxel re:store for fine lines and Fraxel re:pair for deep lines—can yield significant improvements. They only target a portion of the skin at once, so you’ll need just a few days of healing time while the skin (and collagen) regenerates. For serious texture issues, consider a fully ablative laser, which removes the entire top layer of skin and requires two weeks for recovery.

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Michelle Villett is the founder of Beautyeditor.ca. Check out her latest beauty how-tos, trend updates and more.