Equinox is launching an exclusive Longevity Facial in partnership with luxury skincare brand, Aramore.
You're following the Blue Zones Diet, testing your biological age, and exercising all in the name of longevity. But are you overlooking the longevity of your skin? Longevity skincare is a unique approach to how you care for your skin, and it's far different from the anti-aging approach that's been around for years.
Here, learn the science behind longevity skincare from one of the experts behind a leading longevity skincare brand, Aramore. Equinox partnered with Aramore to co-develop an exclusive longevity facial, now offered at select Clubs, introducing members to the next level of innovation in beauty.
The Benefits of Longevity Skincare
To put it simply, “longevity skincare focuses on promoting beauty by optimizing overall skin health, reinforcing skin integrity, and improving tissue function at the cellular level,” explains Sarina B. Elmariah, MD, PhD, a dermatologist located in Boston, MA and a Aramore Scientific Cofounder. While it sounds similar to anti-aging skincare, which focuses on covering up and/or minimizing the signs of aging, longevity skincare is centered on improving tissue function at a cellular level.
“Longevity skincare is aimed at addressing cellular senescence, a root cause of aging in which damaged or stressed cells stop dividing and exhibit reduced functional capacity,” says Dr. Elmariah. “Rather than chasing the symptoms of aging, longevity skincare is working to prevent them. It’s akin to investing in an exercise regimen to keep your muscles fit and maintain your overall health, rather than going on a strict diet after you’ve [fallen] out of shape.”
In turn, this unique approach to skin is more likely to keep your complexion healthy in the long run. As you age, your skin barrier doesn’t retain moisture, produce lipids, or protect the skin from UV light and pollution as well. “This decline in function results in the visible signs of aging, dryness and increased sensitivity,” explains Dr. Elmariah. By restoring the structure and function of youthful skin, “longevity skincare helps reinforce our skin’s resiliency against the factors that provoke hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, sagging, redness, irritation, and more.”
The rapidly growing interest in longevity skincare is a direct result of several trends, according to Dr. Elmariah. The biggest driving forces: “the emphasis on self-care and wellness, scientific advances in understanding cellular metabolism, and technological advances allowing us to study genetic and epigenetic changes that occur with advancing age,” she says. Beauty consumers are also advocating for products that are backed by science and vetted by clinical studies, and longevity skincare has the research to support its benefits.
The Key Ingredients in Longevity Skincare Products
When it comes to longevity skincare, “you will find a constellation of molecules (vitamins, minerals, and more) that either boost or maintain natural energy levels within the cell,” according to Dr. Elmariah.
One molecule in particular — nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) — is a fundamental co-factor for basic cellular metabolism. “NAD declines naturally as we age and is associated with lower metabolic function,” says Dr. Elmariah. “Studies show that when skin is supplied with supplemental NAD or its precursors, epidermal integrity is restored.”
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is another cellular energy packet to look out for; it holds the potential to rejuvenate the skin. Essentially, “skincare formulations [that] are rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and plant polyphenols are also a must for reducing oxidative stress that will prematurely age skin,” says Dr. Elmariah. And, of course, no longevity skincare regimen is complete without a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin – “preferably mineral-based,” she adds.
Innovation in Longevity Skincare
While longevity skincare is relatively new itself, there’s already innovation occurring within the field, including advances in encapsulation and delivery technology (e.g. liposomes). “This has been key in allowing the aforementioned vital molecules and antioxidants to target deeper layers of the skin without stripping the skin barrier,” says Dr. Elmariah.
There’s also a growing emphasis on nutrition and dietary supplements that support healthy skin aging and longevity, says Dr. Elmariah. “There is a synergy that arises when we nourish our skin with the necessary minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and peptides from the inside out, as well as the outside in,” she adds.
The Longevity Facial will be available at select Equinox Clubs across the country, including West Hollywood, Studio City, Sports Club San Francisco, River Oaks in Houston, Sports Club DC, Sports Club Boston and the 63rd Street and 76th Street locations in New York City.
Book your Longevity Facial at The Spa
Aramore's NAD+ Cell Energizing Lotion, NAD+ Cell Restoration Cream, Retinol Peptide Booster, and Restore Supplement will be carried at Equinox as the brand’s first retail partner.