If you’re upset when you look in the mirror and see aging or flabby skin, and you know it’s time to take action but you aren’t sure where to start, then you are in the right place.

Perhaps this has been bothering you for a while now. Maybe you have already tried out one or two firming creams but know deep down that they won’t solve the problem.

Have no fear! While it took me quite a while to figure out my secrets to firm skin, you’ll learn them in a few minutes.

There is so much information available, but it’s challenging to tell what works and what doesn’t. As much as I love skin care products and makeup, I can confidently say there are more lies in the beauty industry than in any other.

Want to know why?

Manufacturers understand how important beauty is to so many of us. They know the main problems we suffer from and use emotional appeals to describe every product or procedure. And we keep falling for them.

For example, I am against plastic surgeries and fillers. Still, yesterday, after I read more on this subject, I almost changed my mind.

“Maybe now is the time to find a doctor to trust my skin with and give me a few Botox treatments,” I thought after reading some advertisements about fillers.

After all, soon, it may be too late. My inner voice kept repeating the sentences I’d read online.

Think about it. How many times have you bought anti-aging creams that promise you’ll stay young because looking old was too sad to imagine? After thinking about this, I closed my laptop. I knew that the people who wrote these descriptions had very clear intentions.

They know how to mess with our minds and make resisting almost impossible.

If you spoke with a wise Korean or Japanese woman, she would frown on the idea of fillers. She would show you a picture of her grandmother, who had perfect skin until she was 80 because she nurtured it using completely different methods.

Skin care is nothing more than advertising and culture, and much of it depends on attitude.

The constant fear of aging, losing your charm and beauty.

Oh, the life of a woman.

Manufacturers understand this fear and use it. Before making any decisions, think critically and don’t jump to conclusions.

Like you, I want to maintain my beauty and youth for as long as I can. I am constantly searching for trustworthy and practical tips from all over the world.

Today, I will share the discoveries I have collected and tested for many years.

You have probably already heard many of the things I will mention. My goal is not to tell you something new—it’s to help you get a clear picture of which methods and tools effectively maintain youthful skin and how to distinguish them from the massive sea of information you may be drowning in.

First, a short story . . .

My skin revealed its first signs of aging when I was 25.

I enjoyed sipping wine and lying in the sun. It’s no surprise that my skin was dry, “decorated” with brown spots and freckles, wrinkled around my lips, and extremely thin under my eyes.

Then I enrolled in a beauty school in Los Angeles and learned skin care secrets from an old Thai woman.

She often talked about how her mother taught her about skincare when she was still very young. I liked her philosophy very much and studied hard. I was very fortunate that my first teacher was Asian. Asian women don’t hurry to get fillers or surgery.

My first goal was to revive my tired and flabby skin.

My second goal was to act as soon as possible so that when I was 80, I would look as good as the Korean grandmother in the picture.

I combine Western technologies with Eastern secrets in my skin care routine, and I am pleased with the results.

It’s been 20 years since the day that I truly started to care for my skin, and I can confidently say that it looks better now than it did 20 years ago.

Of course, time changes our appearance and perspective. Still, from my experience, I believe how we act and treat ourselves daily influences our well-being and appearance.

Whatever condition your skin is in today, you can improve it. With such technological advancements and the abundance of information and products available, it would be a crime not to take care of yourself.

The most beautiful woman is the one who loves herself, accepts the changes in her body, and begins each new year with excitement. Love what you have, but don’t neglect yourself, either. Always stay in balance.

Self-acceptance and inner glow is another article. Let’s get back to the issue of flabby skin.

The key to good skin is collagen.

To improve our skin, we first must understand why it gets old and flabby. This is where collagen comes in. Collagen is one of the most important things to understand. Everything else is the result of factors we can’t do much about.

The word “collagen” comes from the Greek word for “glue.”

This means that it’s responsible for keeping everything in place. Wikipedia says that collagen is a protein that begins to decline once people reach the age of 25.

This is when we begin to experience unpleasant changes in our skin:

✘ It loses its firmness, elasticity, and smoothness.

✘ It gets dehydrated, forms wrinkles, and becomes flabby.

Let’s not try to understand collagen with complicated terms. Think about it as a spring mattress. The springs are collagen and elastin, and the filling in between them is hydration. To ensure that our mattress is firm and strong, it’s not the surface we need to take care of but the springs.

Think about your skin as an innerspring mattress. The springs are collagen and elastin, and the filling between them is hydration. To ensure that our mattress is firm and strong, we must take care of the springs, not the surface.

After all, if the springs become damaged and weak, the mattress loses its firmness and resistance. Squeezing the mattress will form bumps and prevent it from returning to its previous beauty.

It quickly becomes stretched out and wrinkly, right?

Another good metaphor for collagen is a net.

As soon as collagen declines, the ropes holding the net together wear out, the knots break loose, and no matter what you cover it up with, the bumps are still visible.

So now that you understand why you need to focus on collagen and not on firming cream when reviving your skin, here are 8 simple but effective steps to prevent aging:

–1– Sunscreen is a MUST for any time of the year.

Before we talk about improving our skin, we first need to discuss not making it worse.

The first thing you should pay attention to is sunscreen. Ultraviolet rays stimulate free radicals, damaging collagen, elastin, and skin cells.

This causes premature aging, the formation of wrinkles, and dark spots.

Take a look at any place on your body that is usually hidden from the sun. Compare it to the parts of your skin that “enjoy” the sunlight.

For example, the skin on my stomach, thighs, and chest is very smooth and soft. But my hands are a completely different story. They’re full of spots and moles, and the skin feels much different and thicker. Once, I was walking from the store carrying bags, and the handles left marks on my hands that wouldn’t disappear for half the day.

What do you think this means? That’s right, lack of collagen.

For the past ten years, I’ve been wearing sunscreen all the time, no matter if it’s sunny or rainy outside. I recommend you buy at least one skincare product with 30 SPF.

 

–2– Nutrition

I would love to persuade you to eat healthy foods if you don’t already, but I know that’s not always possible. Understand, however, that clean eating does wonders for your skin.

If you only make one change, I encourage you to reduce your sugar intake because it dramatically influences collagen production.

 

–3– Vitamin C serum

This vitamin is essential because it is involved in almost all collagen production processes. Buy a high-quality vitamin C serum and incorporate it into your daily skincare routine.

Vitamin C serums also give your face some extra glow, but don’t expect any quick and drastic results. This is a time-tested product that may not seem impressive at first. Still, it slowly and effectively promotes collagen production.

I’m currently using Timeless Skin Care – 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum 1 oz.

 

–4– Retinol

This is another time-tested ingredient that helps us keep our skin glowing and youthful. Retinol is the basis for all functions of our skin cells. It focuses on the nucleus of the cell and promotes regeneration.

The effect of retinol depends on its density in a product. The higher the density, the more effective the product.

If your skin is beginning to look old and dull, a cream with retinol may be your best option. I use retinol twice a week and apply it during the evening.

 

–5– Serums with antioxidants

More and more research studies are proving how effective antioxidants are in reducing wrinkles and slowing the aging process.

Antioxidants can be consumed not only with food and supplements but can also be applied directly to your face with various skin care products.

They’re also great for boosting collagen production.

When we’re exposed to free radicals, collagen is broken down. By using creams or serums with antioxidants that penetrate the deepest layers of your skin and neutralize free radicals, the damage caused by them is reversed.

I currently love the Timeless Skin Care – Coenzyme Q10 w/ Matrixyl 3000 Serum.

 

–6– Massages and physical stimulation

The only massage that has ever given me actual results is the Japanese Kobido massage.

This type of massage stimulates my face with gentle squeezes and vibrations. The session actively boosts the production of collagen and elastin.

You need to move and exercise to tone your body. The same goes for your facial muscles if you want your face to look firm and beautiful. The Kobido massage is a way to exercise your face.

 

–7– Acids.

If you’ve never tried glycolic acids, get ready to be pleasantly surprised.

Famous American scientists N. V. Perricone and J. C. DiNardo conducted two experiments back in 1969 demonstrating the benefits of glycolic acid for our skin.

Dead skin cells do not reflect light, making wrinkles appear larger. AHA acids remove the layer of dead skin cells, making the skin look better immediately.

Later research conducted by American scientists revealed that 20–70% of glycolic acid deeply penetrates the skin, boosting collagen and elastin production. I like to use Ordinary acids.

 

–8– The lymphatic system

Did you know that along with our bloodstream, there is a system underneath our skin that often experiences blockages? The lymphatic system moves lymph through your body, cleansing our bodies and skin of various toxins.

Think about it: if your skin is flooded with immobile lymph, which contains waste from our cells, how can your skin possibly glow? We don’t talk much about the lymphatic system, but Asians have known about it for years. It is important for glowing skin, so I take good care of my lymphatic system.

There you have it, my favorite and most effective “anti-aging” list.

Remember—the only way to ensure beautiful skin is to know the truth and be able to make the right choice in the endless sea of advertisements.

Don’t let yourself get lost, thinking that skincare is too complicated. I’ve written this down so that you will know what is worth your time and money and what is not.

Don’t fall into the marketing trap. Most products and procedures on the market are worthless.

Next time you want advice about how to help your skin, refer to this article and follow one or two recommendations.

Feel free to experiment, choose products according to your finances and needs, and decide for yourself what works best for you.

With love,
Ruta

P.S. If you were interested in this article, you will definitely love my new book “THE WHOLE TRUTH about beauty, youth, and skin care”👇

Amazon USA🇺🇸: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7X2Y4WW
Amazon UK🇬🇧: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7X2Y4WW

If this is you, then this article is one of the most important articles about skin care that you’ll ever read.

I will reveal the discoveries and secrets of my journey, from a full face of acne and blackheads to the complexion of my dreams.

I’m not someone who has naturally beautiful skin.

I’ve had to go through a lot of hard work, misery, and self-doubt before knowledge and patience produced my desired results.

Honestly, I never even dreamed of writing this article for you. My skin was so awful that my eyes would fill with tears merely from looking in the mirror.

I’d only go out on dates at night, so my date wouldn’t notice my tired face full of blemishes. I’d hide it under a thick layer of makeup and wouldn’t even clean my makeup mirrors so that I wouldn’t cry when I looked at them in the morning.

I kept my distance when speaking to people so they wouldn’t see what was going on with my face.

I couldn’t focus on my conversations because I thought that surely the other person was disgusted by the acne and bumps deep in the skin of my cheeks and forehead.

For many years, I hated girls who had beautiful skin. I got so frustrated when I asked them how they got their perfect skin, and they’d tell me they just used olive oil or did absolutely nothing.

My bathroom cabinets were filled with creams, ointments, antibiotics, and other remedies for drying acne. My kitchen cabinets were stuffed with different vitamins and minerals that emptied my wallet, only to disappoint me.

New products and advertisements that promised clear, beautiful skin convinced me to add more and more disappointing products to my already abundant collection.

Dermatologists and cosmetologists offered me new facial treatments, prescriptions, and over-the-counter medicine. To my despair, they resulted in little change.

I was living in Los Angeles at the time, so the number of professionals and remedies available was endless. Everyone told me to have faith and confidence. But time after time, I saw no results.

Sometimes, my skin would get worse, and I’d hear the same annoying explanations: “Your skin is just clearing up, Ruta. You’ll see. It’ll get much better. Just have more patience (and money).” Still, time went by, and I was still disappointed and tired.

The only good decision I made relating to my skin was to go to a cosmetology school in Los Angeles and figure out what was going on for myself.

Our primary teacher was an old Thai woman. Under her guidance, I started understanding my skin and how I should care for it.

Later, I attended many skincare workshops all around California. Honestly, most of the information I gained turned out to be misleading or incomplete, and I was still confused for a while.

However, after about 5 years, I finally started to put the pieces together, and my skin improved rapidly.

Here are the simple steps you should take to get rid of acne, bumps, and blackheads for good.

Never believe anyone who tells you that your situation is complicated and you need expensive procedures and special remedies. It’s not true.

In this article, I’ll teach you how to win your battle with acne and bubbles underneath your skin. I’ll also share how to solve other skin-related problems such as red spots, scarring, and pigmentation.

You’ll learn how to avoid wrinkles and restore the tone and glow of your skin in future articles or my book “THE WHOLE TRUTH about beauty, youth and skin car”

–STEP 1–

The first step is to promise yourself that you will follow my advice and take responsibility for your skin. Also, stop hating your skin and saying bad things about it. The truth is your skin can hear you, and it responds to what you think about it.

I can’t emphasize enough how crucial it is to think good thoughts because our bodies and skin will act accordingly. Please don’t ignore this step.

Also, stop repeating the useless mantra, “I’ve already tried out everything.” Instead, get into a positive mindset for your journey toward healthier skin. You won’t have to wait long.

Watching your complexion improve will be your biggest motivation. All you need is a little effort and enthusiasm to begin moving forward from your current situation. Your skin’s condition is the result of your habits, and we will work to change them.

–STEP 2–

Food. You might not like this step, but there’s no way to avoid it.

You can’t eat junk and expect your skin to look good. I’m not suggesting that you give up your favorite ice cream or pastry with your friends, but paying attention to nutrition is a must.

✓ I barely eat any pastries, pasta, sugar, or dairy. I eat a small piece of bread, half an avocado, and other veggies with my morning eggs.

✓ I have one candy or a small macaroon with my coffee.

✓ During the first part of the day, I eat fruits or drink juice. I don’t eat anything sweet later in the day because the sugar in fruits goes straight to my thighs and messes with my hormones.

✓ For lunch, I choose a high-quality protein, such as chicken or fish, and some stewed or fresh veggies. I don’t eat much in the evening. I choose nuts, crackers, carrots, and other veggies for snacks.

✓ I always have some hummus, chicken, and other snacks that are good for my skin and body in the fridge. If you’re interested in nutrition, I plan to create a comprehensive course soon in which you’ll learn everything I know about food.

This in no way means that I deprive or harm myself. I know how I want my body and skin to look, so I’m happy to provide the necessary building blocks.

I eat our traditional dishes full of potatoes and unhealthy fats a couple of times a week. I don’t care because they make me happy. I also love pies and pastries, but they only make up 20 percent of my weekly diet.

All the other food I eat is clean and high quality.

–STEP 3–

I only use effective products.

We’re constantly bombarded with advertisements offering products that turn out to be worthless, ineffective, and usually expensive. If you do some research, you’ll learn that there are actually very few effective products on the skin care market today.

–A– Face washes that don’t dry out your skin.

I’ll write a separate article on face washes, but I can tell you that face washes that make your face squeaky clean are bad for you.

At first, it may seem like they’re working, but the truth is, your dried-out skin begins to produce more sebum, which clogs your pores even worse. I’ve discovered CeraVe face wash within the last two years, which I order from the website Cult Beauty. It cleanses my face without drying it out.

–B– Facial acids are also a great option.

Some people have problems with acne and little bubbles under their skin. The cause is that dead skin cells accumulate on the face, and pores keep producing sebum.

I view my pores as tiny tubes with lids that protect me against infections and other harmful substances that could enter my bloodstream. Due to improper care, stress, and poor nutrition, skin can lose its ability to get rid of dead skin cells.

The tube of the pore becomes covered in many old “lids.” Sometimes, those “lids” slide into the pore along with dirt. The pore then expands, becomes infected, and forms a pimple. Or worse. The sebum might turn into a blackhead or a hard, strange mass under the skin we call a bubble.

Acids are one of the few products on the market that help get rid of dead skin cells. In other words, they remove the “lid” from our pore and allow it to breathe again. Once there is a free flow of oxygen, the healing begins.

One of my favorite acids is from Ordinary (AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution – 30ml).

I also have a few great acid face washes. Pixi Glow tonic is excellent for those girls who are starting with acids. Various AHA and BHA acid blends are also perfect for fighting acne.

–C– Let’s talk about moisturizers and serums.

Hyaluronic acid serums and antioxidant blends work wonders by hydrating and nourishing the skin with vitamins and antioxidants. Only hydrated and balanced skin can function and breathe properly.

I don’t recommend investing in moisturizing creams, as most contain few active and valuable ingredients. Everything else is just advertising that makes the product more alluring and expensive.

Ordinary brand has proven that a product doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective. Active ingredients are what really matter.

I like CeraVe and La Roche-Posay creams. If your skin is prone to clogging, it’s best to avoid complex products filled with fragrances or essential oils because they irritate the skin. I also don’t recommend natural oils or butters because they never gave me any results. Let’s leave them to the women who already have beautiful skin and don’t have to worry so much about what they apply to it.

–STEP 4–

Wear the proper makeup for your skin.

Today, many different foundations and concealers are available on the market. Unfortunately, many of them clog up your pores and worsen your problems.

I choose my everyday foundations very carefully and make sure that they hydrate, nourish, and protect my skin from the sun. I wear makeup daily and have ensured that a good foundation will not clog my skin. I am also careful about the primers I wear because I’ve also noticed that heavy primers usually clog my skin and result in more acne.

–STEP 5–

Educate yourself!

The more you know about skin care, the better your skin will look and feel. That’s why I wrote THE WHOLE TRUTH About Beauty, Youth, and Skin Care, the results of my 20-year search for facts about skin care.

It is available on Amazon.

Poor nutrition, lack of fresh air, lymphatic dysfunction, improper skin care, and makeup all mess with your skin and stop it from healing its problems.

If we don’t take good care of our skin, we can’t expect it to be beautiful.

My dream to have a beautiful and even complexion that I wouldn’t have to hide has come true.

Until a few years ago, I never thought I’d write articles like this. But my commitment to improving my skin and learning all I could about it gave me the results I desired.

I’m not a doctor. I’m just sharing my own experience and knowledge. I know better than anyone I’ve ever met what it’s like to hate yourself.

This article was written for you with love and compassion.

Anything is possible. Never give up.

I wholeheartedly want to encourage you that you can have glowing and beautiful skin, too. The fact that you read this article already proves that you’re interested. Half of the work is done. Now it’s up to you to decide what to do with this new inspiration and motivation.

Please share your thoughts in the comments!

Thank you for being here. Until next time,

Ruta

P.S. If you were interested in this article, you will definitely love my new book “THE WHOLE TRUTH about beauty, youth, and skin care”👇

Amazon USA🇺🇸: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B7X2Y4WW
Amazon UK🇬🇧: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7X2Y4WW