ANTI AGING SKIN CARE TIPS
Hands up, wish your skin looked younger?? I can bet the majority of people reading this are saying “yes” myself included. Aging can change your skins appearance as early as your 30th birthday and if you are fortunate with good genes to pass 30 untouched I can assure you, that later in midlife the aging process will kick in depending on your habits.
There are certain factors we have no control over like our estrogen levels that lead to the sagging skin or the genes that give us a particular bone structure, however there are also plenty of external influences on how your skin ages-and the right anti aging care that can help ease the damage.
ITS ALWAYS SUNNY EVERYWHERE
Right now we certainly feel truly blessed with clear blue skies and temperatures of 21-23 degrees, it is glorious and joyful to apply SPF in the morning knowing the day ahead is filled with sunshine and heat!!
Yet on those cloudy days of our British Summer that we are more accustomed to, don’t assume you are safe against photo damage just because the sun is barely up when you leave for work and sets on your return home.
Unlike UVB light, UVA rays travel through windows in the office, home and car.
Dermatologists agree that UV exposure is the number 1 skin ager out there. The sun damages our elastin and causes loss of collagen which translates to drooping, a lost jawline and wrinkles…….. wonderful, here we are thinking we have a healthy sun kissed look and lets fast forward the years and with excess sun exposure without SPF and we will age before our time FACT!
Now I know UVA and UVB rays are not unavoidable, no one needs to be a hermit but armed with the knowledge we have today , we need to be using a SPF of 30 on our faces, spreading it to our necks and ears.
There are really no excuses, as if you do tend to forget sunscreen, try the newish make up bases and moisturizers with UV protection built in. On the downside you might not get the maximum amount of SPF, but the plus for many women is that at least they remember some protection every day – which is better than going without.
DIET
Focus as much on what you put in your body as on what you put on skin.
The skin is the body’s largest organ, after all, so our diet directly affects how you visibly age.
The best advice is too eat plenty of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, ideally they should come from natural sources including
Olive Oil
Ground Flaxseed – can be drizzled on salads and vegetables
Fish – salmon and tuna
Green leafy veggies like kale and spinach have some of the highest vitamin content of all vegetables so eat up.
Fish oil supplements are another source of these important fats, which help to protect the moisture barrier. This is the protective top layer of skin that keeps moisture in but tends to thin as we age, causing dry skin.
You need to cut way back on processed foods and sugars, they are full of preservatives that promote inflammation, a biochemical process that damages the normal formation of cells
SLEEP
Not getting enough Zzz’s can cause stress, skin cells are some of the most rapidly rejuvenating cells in the body. Take away adequate rest and your skin will suffer.
The body depends on rest/sleep for every single thing it does, when skin cells don’t turn over quickly enough, our skin looks dull and lifeless and so do we.
BOTTOM LINE :- Don’t deprive your body and skin of sleep – it uses that time to regenerate and to recover from your day to day activities.
SAY AHHH………
Stress is a major factor to create an aging skin, body and mind and although modern day life has brought us many great things, what normally comes hand in hand with that is stress. Stress is a tricky one, near impossible to avoid yet needs to be managed! So whether its a facial, massage or even a pedicure be sure to pamper yourself as your health and appearance are positively influenced by increasing your emotional and mental well being.
A visit to your Beauty salon is a foolproof way to promote stress relief and aid relaxation.
LOTION UP
Daily moisturizing is the best defense against dry skin, applying lotion right after you step out of the shower seals in the moisture that your skin has just absorbed.
Especially the hands since they are often the 1st indicators of age, so invest in a rich moisturizer with SPF to keep in your bag, car or office.
BOTTOM LINE
Patience is a virtue, but patience doesn’t know anything about wrinkles, by taking heed of the tips above will provide you with youthful skin well beyond your 30s.
Just remember :- the path to smoother, younger and healthier skin is proved with daily broad spectrum sun protection. Without that core step, nothing else you do to reduce signs of aging matters, even the best products wont overcome the type of damage that UV rays can dish out.