Some beautiful people choose to let their hair get grey and are not concerned by changes in their skin while other people want to try and help and/or slow down the skin aging process. If you are worried about some of the common characteristics of aging such as thinner skin, loss of elasticity/collagen, broken capillaries, pigmentation, wrinkles and fine lines then we’re going to discuss some products and techniques to help you glow and feel confident.
FIRSTLY, WHAT IS SKIN AGING?
Skin aging is thinning and changes in your epidermis (outer skin layer) that happen as you get older. There are some factors that can speed this up but ultimately everyone will experience skin aging and the effects from their mid 20’s onwards. Two major causes that we see the most are;
SUN
The sun is known for causing nasty sunburns, but did you know that it is the cause of most skin damage and premature aging that we see? Photoaging is damage from UV lights that mean when they hit the skin they cause changes in your collagen fibres, skin DNA and pigmentation. You may notice age spots and discolouration in photodamaged skin.
LOSS OF COLLAGEN
Collagen is an essential protein that your body naturally makes and as you age you produce less resulting in a loss of elasticity. There are oral collagen supplements in the market but research is unclear as to whether your body can digest and absorb them in any way to benefit the skin. We will speak more about some products and ingredients that can increase collagen production so stay tuned!
While the sun and loss of collagen are common causes of skin aging, there are still many more that can come from medical conditions, genetics and other environmental factors. Luckily a lot of treatments and products that we can use for anti-aging remain the same no matter the cause. Here are our recommended skincare ingredients and techniques to see a difference in your complexion;
GENERAL TIPS
Be gentle with your skin. As your skin is more delicate when you are older, be sure not to rub too much with makeup wipes, tap eye cream in with your ring finger and avoid scrubby exfoliants.
Neck and hands show the first signs of aging, remember to bring products down to them and look after them with SPF and moisture.
Facial massage is great at improving elasticity and firmness in the skin over time!
Keep skin moisturized throughout the day with mists and thicker creams if needed.
DAYTIME PRODUCTS
Vitamin C is not only good for beating a stubborn cold but is amazing on your skin. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects your skin from free radicals/pollution and increases collagen production.
Niacinamide/Vitamin B3 is for anyone who wants a brighter and more even skin tone.
#1 Product of all time for anti-aging, Sunscreen. Sun is one of the most damaging and harmful things in the environment that you must be wary of. Rain, hail or shine you should be putting a strong SPF of 30-50+ every day and reapplying it as needed.
Hyaluronic Acid is the queen of hydration. Essentially a drink of water for your skin, it works to plump and increases water content to give you a plump complexion.
NIGHTTIME PRODUCTS
Retinol AKA Vitamin A is going to be a superstar ingredient for you. It is known to increase cell turnover, which naturally slows down as you age, and can help to show a major improvement in fine lines/wrinkles and pigmentation.
AHA’s (Alpha Hydroxy Acids such as Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid) are a gentle exfoliation that will eat away at your dead skin cells revealing a gorgeous glow underneath!
Ceramides are the glue of your skin, holding your skin cells together and protecting everything underneath. You can find some super hydrating thicker night creams with ceramides in them to help repair your skin’s barrier and increase moisture levels.
MORE ADVANCED TREATMENTS
If you are struggling to see any results in your skin after years of trying different products and routines then you can look at more professional skin treatments.
Chemical Peels are a high-strength solution that is applied to eat away at all the dead skin cells and reduce pigmentation. Generally, it takes 4-5 chemical peels to see a big difference in any age spots or sun damage.
LED Skin Treatments involve different wavelengths of light to help heal the skin and regenerate skin cells. This also might take 4-5 treatments to see results.
Seeing your skin change can be a bit scary and frustrating at times but remember that each line and wrinkle is from all the fantastic years that you have lived and the non-stop laughing, crying and smiling that you have done. If there is going to be 1 product/ingredient from this post that you need to add to your routine, which one are you choosing?
Have an amazing day,
