Honestly, injectables and plastic surgery freak me out. While I care about maintaining healthy skin, I prefer a more natural approach. Good genes help, but consistency is the key to great skin. Simple habits like applying sunscreen daily and sticking to an effective skincare routine can work wonders in preventing visible signs of aging. Not to mention the basics: eating a healthy diet, drinking lots of water, and avoiding smoking and drinking too much alcohol. Boring but essential!

I also keep up to date on the latest skincare technology. For now, I avoid lasers and RF technology since there is a risk of fat pad loss with heat, but there are other skincare tools and techniques I recommend that are safe.

If you're ready to go the extra mile, the following are my tried and true skincare secrets, no gatekeeping here.

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1. Collagen Powder for Skin Elasticity

Collagen is a protein that gives structure to your skin, hair, nails, and connective tissue. As we age, the natural production of collagen decreases, resulting in wrinkles and sagging skin.

By using Vitamin C and retinoids (Retinol, Retin-A), which I recommend in my skincare routine, you're already stimulating collagen production and maintaining great skin. Adding a collagen supplement kicks it up a notch.

How it works: By ingesting collagen powder, you provide your body with the building blocks to create more collagen. I started taking collagen powder over 10 years ago because it just made sense to me. I'm glad to see that the recent studies back what I suspected, that taking collagen powder improves skin elasticity and hydration, and reduces wrinkles.

In the last few years, I've been consistent with it, putting a scoop in my cofffee every morning. Collagen is heat-stable, so it won't lose its effectiveness when mixed with hot liquids. My skin (thickness and elasticity) looks the same as it did 10-15 years ago, and that's the goal.

Safety of Regular Collagen Use: Most studies indicate that collagen supplements are safe for daily use. Side effects are rare and generally mild, including digestive discomfort in sensitive individuals. To ensure the safety and efficacy of the collagen powder you are using, consult your healthcare provider.

Collagen supplementation does not suppress natural production of collagen. There is no strong evidence that taking collagen supplements decreases your body’s own collagen production. On the contrary, certain peptides found in supplements may stimulate the fibroblasts in the skin to produce more collagen. This essentially enhances the skin’s structural proteins. Collagen supplements provide amino acids like glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, which are the building blocks of natural collagen. Your body uses these to generate new collagen tissue rather than reduce its own production.

Recommended product: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides

It just has one ingredient - hydrolyzed collage (bovine). It's unflavored, dissolves easily, and doesn't make my drinks taste different.

Avoid: collagen supplements with parabens, artificial flavors, and sweeteners.

2. LED Face Masks for Acne and Anti-Aging

LED light therapy is a non-invasive way to target specific skin concerns. LED face masks offer the convenience of at-home treatments with professional results. I invested in an LED face mask and I use it at least 4x a week, for 10-20 minutes each time. In a few short months, it softened the only wrinkles I have, which are in the inner corners of my under eyes from squinting. (Friends also say my jawline looks more snatched, but I'm not sure if it's from losing a couple of pounds.) Since my skin is in pretty good shape, I mainly use this to prevent aging and keep the skin tight. I have seen some dramatic before and afters from other people using LED face masks.

How it works: LED light therapy uses different wavelengths of light (blue, red, and near-infrared) to penetrate the skin and promote healing.

• Red light stimulates collagen production and reduces inflammation.
• Blue light kills acne-causing bacteria.
• Near-infrared light promotes tissue repair and healing.

Safety of LED face masks: they are generally safe for most skin types when used as directed. They are non-invasive, often FDA-cleared, and have minimal side effects, such as mild redness or swelling that usually resolves quickly. However, it’s advisable to consult a dermatologist if you have specific skin concerns, such as melasma. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for usage to ensure safe and effective results.

Home-use LED masks have generated debate regarding their possible risks to eye health. While studies say there are no negative effects associated with using these devices unless the person has pre-existing eye issues such as light sensitivity.

I recommend keeping eyes closed whenever using LED face masks, or using blackout goggles if you're extra sensitive.

Recommended product: PlasmaGLO™ LED Face and Jowl Mask

I invested in this FDA-cleared face mask because it was developed by a dermatologist who wanted to make a mask to help tighten the jowl concerns of his patients. It's also flexible, so I can use it on other parts of my body.

Any LED face mask you invest in shouldn't produce heat, which is reportedly a risk for fat pad loss.

3. Microneedling for Skin Rejuvenation

Microneedling stimulates collagen production and improves skin texture. I recommend going to a professional rather than doing at-home treatments since we are working with needles here!

How it works: Microneedling is a procedure that uses fine needles to create tiny punctures in the skin, stimulating collagen and elastin production. This enhances skin texture and firmness while improving the absorption of topical serums. Over time, it can reduce fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and uneven skin tone, with minimal downtime and redness that usually subsides within a few days. Visible results can take some time—up to six months since the skin needs to regenerate.

For those that haven't see much results from microneedling, I recommend to finding a good esthetician who can be more aggressive with it. After each treatment, your skin should look like you have sunburn.

With an aggressive esthetician, it will hurt a little! While numbing cream is used, it'll feel uncomfortable or painful in the areas where there is more bone, such as the forehead. However, the results are worth it if you have the tolerance.

Safety of microneedling: Microneedling is generally safe when done by a qualified professional, as it involves minimally invasive micro-injuries that promote healing and collagen production. Side effects, such as mild redness and swelling, usually subside within a few days. Consult a licensed dermatologist or skincare professional beforehand to discuss any medical history and potential risks.

Benefits: Reduces the appearance of fine lines, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation while improving skin texture.

Personally, it has gotten rid of most acne scars from when I was a teenager. I only get microneedling treatments once or twice a year for maintenance.

Avoid: RF (radiofrequency) microneedling. Stick with regular microneedling for now. RF microneedling uses heat in the form of radiofrequency energy, which may promote fat pad loss. While experienced technicians may know how to avoid fat pad loss in used lasers and RF, it's not a risk I'm willing to take since RF is promoted as a fat loss treatment.

4. Gua Sha Facial Massage for Lymphatic Drainage

Gua sha is a traditional Chinese skincare tool used to improve circulation, reduce puffiness, and promote lymphatic drainage.

I started doing gua sha massage to improve my jawline, but I stopped when I got my LED face mask. I wish I had results to share, but many people swear by this for tighter, brighter skin.

How it works: Gentle scraping motions are applied to the skin to relieve tension and stimulate blood flow.

Benefits: Lifts and tones the skin, reduces puffiness, and improves skin clarity.

Safety of using gua sha: Clean your gua sha tool after every use and store it in its case to prevent infection/breakouts. One of the most common side effects is bruising, especially if too much pressure is applied or if the technique is not performed correctly. Excessive pressure can cause tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin to break, leading to a condition called petechiae. For those with pre-existing skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, or psoriasis, gua sha may exacerbate symptoms.

To minimize these risks, it’s important to use the proper technique, choose a high-quality tool, and ensure that both the skin and the tool are clean.

Recommended products: Mount Lai Gua Sha Facial Lifting Tool

Pro tip: Use your gua sha tool with facial oil to avoid dragging or pulling the skin. There are video tutorials to show you how to use various gua sha tools, especially from Mount Lai.

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Bonus simple skincare tips:✨ face massage and sleeping with a silk pillowcase ✨

What extra things do you do to maintain healthy skin? Share with us in the comments below.

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