beauty Collective - four ways to slow down facial ageing

Four ways to slow down facial ageing

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I know, there are probably more than a million ways to slow down facial ageing!  But even after more than 20 years in the beauty industry and believing I’d heard it all before, it was these four things I learnt at the school of hard knocks.

The first is one may have more impact than you realised…

GLASSES

Yes you read right, my advice is to invest in great glasses—both sun and vision.

Sunglasses — Look for those with more opaque lenses and both UVA and UVB protection. They’ll keep you from squinting, which will help you avoid wrinkles, but they will also protect the delicate skin around your eyes from sun-induced discoloration better known as Melasma or Hyper-Pigmentation. I discovered this when I treated myself to a big pair of Jackie O glasses.  After four weeks my hyperpigmentation began to fade! Remember, the bigger the frame, the better.

And when it comes to vision, it might interest you to know that as it deteriorates, other muscles in your eye area, particularly those beneath the crow’s feet, pitch in to help you focus which makes lines around the eyes a lot worse. I avoided upgrading my glasses for far too long (let’s face it, it’s a huge hassle) when I finally did, not only did the world become a lot clearer but the constant squinting and watery eyes that lead to deep lines and lots of headaches began to soften and disappear.

TOO MUCH SUGAR AND NOT ENOUGH OMEGA 3

Don’t just think about your waistline when you’re tempted by processed treats, think about your skin too.

You know that refined carbohydrates and added sugars are at the top of every nutritionist’s don’t-eat list, but dermatologists avoid them too. They lead to wrinkles through a process called glycation—eating refined carbs and sugars creates a quick spike in blood sugar, and when those sugar molecules link up with the collagen in your body (which normally gives skin its elasticity), it leads to stiffness in your skin.

Eat more of these instead: Healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, and colourful fruits and vegetables. The fats can also help lower inflammation, which calms redness-inducing issues like acne and rosacea but also dramatically reduces your chances of inflamm-ageing.  Not sure what Inflamm-ageing is? Read more here

USE RETINOL

It really is a game changer and it is the one thing all dermatologists, plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgeons agree you should do to prevent premature skin ageing (other than wear sunscreen).

The list of their anti-ageing benefits is huge but to name a few: Retinol increases collagen production, helps make your pores appear smaller and boosts cell turnover to even out discoloration and brighten your skin tone. As far as I know it’s the only ingredient that is such a great anti-ageing multi-tasker.

Our favourites are the Medicalia Retinol and C Care Cream and Retinol Concentrate.  This is a medical skin care line recommended by Doctors worldwide and head and shoulders above some of the low % cosmeceutical lines on the market.

Just remember these important tips:
  • Give it a chance, you won’t see the benefits in a week or even a month, it takes about 3 months to see the true benefits of retinol and when you do it will have been worth your persistence.
  • If you have sensitive skin, wean yourself onto the products, start with a small amount every other night or even twice a week before building up to every night.
  • Apply before bed; never in the morning. Retinol makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight and more likely to burn, yes always, and don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise.
  • Less is more. You only need a pea-sized amount for your whole face.
  • Keep them outside the bony ring around your eyes. The skin inside is delicate and if the retinol irritates your eyes you’ll rub them and that can lead to under-eye bags. Take my word for it!
SUNSCREEN BLIND SPOTS

There are two overlooked places that often miss the sunscreen and that is the décolletage and hands.  The two places that are first to show signs of ageing. Hands can develop sunspots and wrinkles and they are so hard to treat once established.

It is particularly important to apply sunscreen to the backs of your hands while you’re driving, because car windshields and mirrors don’t block UVA rays. For your chest, sunscreen should extend all the way down to your bra line and don’t forget the sides of the neck.

Our “go to” sunscreen is the Medicalia – Sunscreen SPF 30.  It’s both a physical and chemical block so the texture and feel is more like a gorgeous moisturiser, and the subtle tint makes your skin look airbrushed and even.

Obviously a good diet and exercise, plenty of sleep and water will have the greatest impact on how you age, and of course genetics, but these are four easy fixes that make a huge impact so worth a share in my book!