Healthy Lifestyle Key to a Comely Complexion, but Cosmetic Techniques Can Help

Ever notice how some people are able to maintain smooth, radiant skin well into their golden years, while others seem to find a new wrinkle every day? It is not just luck. Marina Ivanovsky, nurse practitioner and owner of Marina Lifestyle Medicine in Little Rock, said there is a saying that applies to skin health: “Genetics loads the gun, but lifestyle pulls the trigger.”

 

“Daily lifestyle habits have more of an impact on skin than skincare products in my opinion,” added Jennifer Gabbard, registered nurse and co-owner of The Skin Retreat in Little Rock.

 

Dr. Suzanne Yee, surgeon and medical director at Dr. Suzanne Yee Cosmetic & Laser Surgery Center in Little Rock, agreed that genetics, hormones, lifestyle and environmental factors all play a role in aging and skin health.

 

“I often tell patients that beautiful skin is not created by a single treatment or product,” Yee added. “It is the result of a combination of healthy lifestyle habits, consistent skincare, sun protection and, when appropriate, professional treatments. When we take care of our overall health, our skin often reflects it.”

 

 

THE GOOD LIFE

 

Many people already know that a healthy diet, adequate hydration, plenty of exercise, and avoiding skin-sabotaging habits such as smoking, drinking and tanning are critical to maintaining a flawless complexion. Skin health reflects overall health, Ivanovsky said, so any efforts to achieve glowing skin must start with a foundation of wellness.

 

“Procedures and skincare work much better when the patient also supports the body with healthy habits,” she said. “I always tell patients that great skin is a combination of good products, smart treatments and lifestyle.”

 

Gabbard named diet as one of the most important factors when it comes to skin conditions.

 

 

“The goal to optimize your skin health is to decrease inflammation, keep blood sugar stable and increase protein intake, which builds collagen, the structural support for your skin,” she said. “Avoid highly processed food, as these contribute to so many of our skin conditions.”

 

Foods high in healthy fats such as avocados reduce inflammation and protect the skin barrier, she said, while antioxidants found in berries and leafy greens protect the skin against damage from ultraviolet light, pollution and metabolic stress.

 

She also recommended taking multivitamins to ensure adequate amounts of skin-boosting micronutrients such as zinc, vitamin A, selenium and copper, as well as drinking plenty of water to promote skin plumpness and healing.

 

In Arkansas, sun exposure is one of the biggest contributors to skin problems, leading to discoloration, wrinkles, the loss of collagen and even skin cancer, Yee said. She advised wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen rated SPF 30 or higher to stay protected.

 

“If someone commits to only one antiaging product, sunscreen is by far the most important,” she said.

 

AGING GRACEFULLY

 

Skin undergoes many changes throughout life, Yee said. During the teenage years, hormonal fluctuations often contribute to acne and increased oil production, she said. Prevention is key during one’s 20s and 30s, Ivanovsky added, encouraging young adults to focus on sunscreen, antioxidants and early retinoid use.

 

By their 40s and 50s, people may begin noticing fine lines, pigmentations, and a loss of elasticity and volume, Yee said. For women, menopause can lead to thinner, drier skin and a more rapid loss of collagen and facial volume, she said.

 

She added that although men tend to show signs of aging later due to thicker skin and higher collagen density, the changes often happen more suddenly and dramatically, making proper skincare just as important to men as it is to women.

 

“Prevention is always easier and often more effective than trying to reverse years of damage,” she added. “Small, consistent steps over time can make a significant difference in how your skin ages.”

 

During one’s 60s and beyond, skin becomes thinner and more fragile as collagen, elastin, and fat and bone resorption continue to decline, which can lead to wrinkling, skin laxity and changes in facial contours, she said.

 

“My philosophy is that aging is inevitable, but looking tired doesn’t have to be,” Yee added. “By understanding how the skin changes over time, we can help patients maintain healthy, vibrant skin at every stage of life.”

 

GETTING INTO A ROUTINE

 

Skincare routines do not have to be complicated. Gabbard recommended starting with one to three products and building from there. A great skincare routine incorporates a sunscreen, cleanser and moisturizer daily, as well as an exfoliator one to three times a week, an optional retinoid and targeted products based on skin goals, she said.

 

“For optimum results, I would recommend they come in for a consult to assess their skin type and needs,” she added. “At that point, I would help them establish a plan to get started to build on and educate them on products and ingredients specific to their needs and related to their budget.”

 

It is best not to change products too frequently, she added, since it takes about 12 weeks to see a product’s results. She also advised consumers not to believe everything they see on social media and said that, when it comes to skincare products, the less ingredients, the better.

 

 

Ivanovsky also stressed the importance of being a smart consumer, reading the first three ingredients on a label when assessing a product and learning to discern marketing tricks from true quality.

 

“We at the clinic help people to navigate this confusing task,” she said. “They bring in their bags full of skincare they bought that TikTok or Instagram recommended them, but they don’t know why they bought it. We go through the ingredients list and try to help patients navigate this.”

 

 

BEYOND THE BASICS

 

There are many treatments available to help maintain beautiful skin and combat skin conditions. Many professionals stack multiple treatments to help patients achieve a desired result.

 

“Sometimes it takes multiple modalities to address one condition,” Ivanovsky said. “It usually leads to better outcomes. During our complimentary consultation, we will create a personalized, comprehensive skin rejuvenation plan. It could include topical medical-grade or prescription skin care; laser treatment; wrinkle relaxer; and collagen stimulators.”

 

Treatments could vary based on one’s age, ethnicity, skin condition and even the time of year, she said, noting that laser treatments are best done between September and May, when there is less sun exposure.

 

 

Facials are one of the more well-known treatments. Gabbard said that although her practice offers traditional facials customized to each patient’s skin needs, her go-to procedure is the hydrafacial.

 

“This is a facial treatment that combines cleansing, exfoliation, pure extraction, hydration and serum infusion in one single treatment,” she said. “Unlike traditional facials, it uses a suction device to remove debris while simultaneously infusing a customized solution into your skin.”

 

Both Yee and Ivanovsky mentioned DiamondGlow as one of their most popular facials. The treatment combines exfoliation, extraction and the infusion of professional-grade serums using a diamond-tipped device.

 

 

“It is excellent for improving skin texture, pigmentation, dryness and overall skin health while delivering customized serums deep into the skin,” Yee said. “It is appropriate for most skin types and is ideal for improving hydration, texture, pore congestion and overall skin radiance with little to no downtime.”

 

Many may also be familiar with neuromodulators such as Botox or Dysport, which Gabbard said are used to treat expression lines, provide a smoother appearance and prevent deeper lines from occurring. Also popular are hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane, Juvéderm and RHA fillers, which fill lines and provide facial volume.

 

“Before using injectables, people should consider provider experience, facial anatomy, safety, realistic expectations and whether the result will look natural,” Ivanovsky said.

 

Skin resurfacing is another phrase consumers may have heard. It encompasses a range of treatments to improve the texture and appearance of skin.

 

“Most people think of this as peeling layers of skin off, but it actually refers to a treatment that improves skin appearance by removing damaged surface cells and stimulating new collagen,” Gabbard said.

 

She added that there are various levels of resurfacing. Light resurfacing includes techniques such as hydrafacials or dermaplaning, while moderate resurfacing could include microneedling and nonablative lasers, she said.

 

Yee noted that dermaplaning gently removes dead skin cells and fine facial hair, leaving the skin smoother and allowing products to penetrate more deeply. Microneedling creates tiny microchannels in the skin to stimulate the body’s natural collagen and elastin production, she said.

 

“Patients should understand that skin resurfacing is not just about looking younger — it’s about improving skin health and quality,” she added. “Proper skincare, sun protection and following posttreatment instructions are essential for achieving the best results and maintaining them over time.”

 

Deeper resurfacing can also be achieved with deep chemical peels or erbium lasers such as the Sciton Contour Tunable Resurfacing Laser, Gabbard said.

 

“Obviously, the deeper you go, the better the result but, also, the longer the downtime,” she said. “This can vary from one to two days to two weeks.”

 

She said she is excited about the new Sofwave ultrasound treatment, a skin-tightening device that lifts skin without any downtime.

 

“This also targets crepey skin, which, in the past, has been impossible to treat,” she said.

 

Another treatment is platelet-rich plasma, which Yee said can be injected or combined with treatments such as microneedling to improve skin texture, tone and overall radiance.

 

“Sometimes referred to as ‘liquid gold,’ it is derived from the patient’s own blood and contains concentrated growth factors that stimulate healing and collagen production,” she said. “It is a natural option for patients seeking rejuvenation using their body’s own regenerative capabilities.”

 

Surgical fat transfer and nonsurgical fat fillers can help with volume loss as people age, she added, while more significant skin laxity or facial aging can be addressed with surgical options such as eyelid surgery, endoscopic brow lifts, facelifts and neck rejuvenation.

 

Gabbard said she has seen increased interest in improving skin longevity using regenerative medicines such as exosomes, biostimulators and platelet-derived growth factors. Biostimulators such as Sculptra promote collagen stimulation over time, she added, while PDGF promotes rapid healing and can also be used for hair growth.

 

“The future is moving toward regenerative, personalized and combination-based treatments,” Ivanovsky said, adding that new technologies also include skin-analysis tools that use artificial intelligence and treatments to improve skin at the cellular level. “I think the next generation of aesthetics will be less about chasing wrinkles and more about improving biology.” 

 

SEE THE FEATURE BELOW AND IN OUR AUGUST 2026 ISSUE OF AY MAGAZINE