Anti-Aging - The Ultimate Guide to Looking Good As You Age
Did you know that in the UK, we spend nearly £3 billion a year on non-invasive, anti-aging treatments, of those treatments, 9 out of 10 are “non-surgical” procedures (Botox, Restylane, Hyaluronic Acid fillers etc.)?
It’s not just about being over the age of 50 either! The reality is, most procedures are carried out on people in their forties and early fifties and 20% of cosmetic treatments are on people in their thirties. We all definitely want to look good as we age but are these treatments the only answer?
If you’re staring at your sagging jawline and hooded eyes in the mirror, you’ve just spotted yet another fine line or deep furrow appear in between your eyes – you might be asking yourself that question! Well, cosmetic treatments certainly make a difference. They refresh the skin, giving you that “I’ve just had 9 hours sleep” look and they instantly shave off years. However, let’s think about the reality – we don’t really understand the dangers yet – fast forward another 50 years and there could be health problems associated with non-invasive, anti-aging treatments. So for those of you that don’t want to spend hundreds (sometimes thousands) of pounds on cosmetic procedures, what can you do to stave off looking, well, older and look good as you age?
Channel Your Inner Jackie O and Stay Out of the Sun!
A whopping 90% of aging is caused by the sun so to prevent further sun damage, stay out of it, entirely. Today’s beauty advancements mean that you can get an authentic looking tan straight from a bottle. Apply it properly and it will look even and golden, last as long as a tan and means you can stay in the shade reading a good book and without breaking a sweat! If you are outside in the sunshine and areas of your body are exposed to the sun, wear a high SPF (at least Factor 50) and choose one with anti-aging ingredients . Skin turns over every four weeks . So you can make steps to stop more damage. By using sunscreen you don’t keep exposing your skin to the harsh elements, this gives your skin a chance to heal properly rather than keep being attacked and deteriorating further.
Exfoliate Regularly
Tired, parched and dry looking skin doesn’t do you any favours. To encourage cell renewal, it’s a good idea to exfoliate at least once a week. Exfoliation removes the dead skin cells and this speeds up the skin’s natural renewal. Skin looks smoother and brighter after exfoliation, and the action naturally boosts circulation so it plumps out skin too (although temporarily). Regular exfoliation keeps your complexion glowing. Add in a really good anti-aging face-mask once a week to replenish your skin with any lost hydration and give it a vitamin-boost too. This should help (more on vitamins below).
Consume More Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a naturally occurring anti-oxidant that your skin needs to fight off free radicals (attackers such as the sun, harsh elements, industrial fumes, smoke etc.). Collagen especially needs Vitamin C to keep your skin elastic and without it, skin looks saggy plus it is far more susceptible to lines and wrinkles. So, add more to your diet. Eat more green leafy vegetables. Other good sources are citrus, kiwi fruit, tomatoes and sprouts. You should look for skincare with Vitamin C in its ingredients. It’s listed as L-Ascorbic acid, ascorbyl phosphate or ascorbyl palmitate. You could also invest in a quality Vitamin C serum, far stronger than moisturiser, it penetrates deeper within the dermis, plumping up skin so it looks smoother and feels softer. Add an anti-aging Vitamin C serum to your skincare routine. Better still; find a retinol-based serum combined with Vitamin C because retinol is Vitamin A, excellent for wrinkle-busting (see below).
Pare Down Your Make-Up
Too much make-up can actually make you look older, especially if you pile on foundation and powder. Foundation sinks into lines making them look far more visible and powder gives skin a dry, papery appearance. It’s better to use a light, tinted moisturiser and a little blush to add colour to your cheeks. Yes, most people need make-up but be brave, as you get older, use less foundation, not more.
Use Retinol
Retinol (Vitamin A) is an active ingredient found in most anti-aging skincare and that’s because it’s been proven to encourage collagen production. It works by preventing collagen breakdown particularly after sun exposure. It also sends messages to the receptors in the skin to boost collagen production. If your skin has aged unnecessarily quickly, your dermatologist might give you a prescription for pure retinoid cream but this is in extreme cases. In the meantime, try a retinol serum and use a few drops under your night cream. Go easy as it can sting a little, try 0.5% to begin with, once your skin shows it can tolerate it; increase it up to 1%.
Sleep On Silk
Silk is far kinder to skin than cotton; even your favourite Egyptian cotton pillowcases won’t do aging skin any favours. As skin ages, it takes longer to “bounce back”, literally. That’s why you wake up with imprints on your skin from the pillow. Try silk, your skin won’t have any extra markings in the morning and it’s light, airy, soft texture helps to keep skin looking fresh when you wake up.
Sleep – Well
While on the subject of pillowcases, you need to sleep well. Sometimes, hormone changes affect your sleep quality and in severe cases, you might even experience dreaded insomnia. When you’ve had a good 8 hours’ sleep, your skin looks so much better and you feel better too. So, try to relax your body and your mind a good couple of hours before you get into bed. Banish the technology (the bright lights stimulate brain activity, hampering your ability to sleep). Run a warm bath, add some lavender essential oil and listen to soothing music. Then, sleep on comfortable bedding (silk as mentioned before), leave a window open slightly for good circulation and wear a dark eye-mask to stop daylight interrupting your sleep. If you are a poor sleeper, limit your caffeine intake; don’t have any after midday because it stays in your system for around 7 to 8 hours. It might be a reason why you aren’t sleeping as well as you should.
Drink Water
Water is essential for good-looking skin. Not only does it flush out impurities and toxins from your body, it also hydrates skin which means it plumps it up. Without water, skin looks older and tired, lines are more pronounced and you get that parched look that can make you look years older than you are. Always drink at least 2 litres a day; you’ll be amazed at how good your skin looks after just one month of religious water-drinking!
Try a Collagen Supplement
One of the latest advances is liquid collagen. You can buy little sachets of collagen that you blend with fruit juice or water and drink every day. The belief is that when the collagen enters your body, it helps to replenish diminished collagen stores and promote more elasticity. There are lots of different products out there you can try. The general rule of thumb is to consume one or two sachets a day for 90 days to see a visible difference.
Dress Your Age
We’ve talked about skincare but actually, it can be extremely aging to dress 20 years younger than you actually are! If you still wear the same clothes as your teenage daughter, it’s time for a rethink. Certain fashion items are geared towards younger people so assess your wardrobe and go for chic rather than high-fashion. Neutral colours and flattering cut jeans with boots suit any age but a slogan, cropped-top and skinny leather trousers with extra-long hair extensions won’t look nearly as good on a 50 year old as they would on an 18 year old! By all means, shop in fashion boutiques but be realistic!
