There aren’t many absolute certainties in life, but there’s one thing you can say without fear of contradiction and that’s that we’re all going to get older. Of course, we can’t control whether or not we get old, but what we do have is the freedom to take measures to slow down the ageing process.
A key part of this is our skin, which is probably the best indicator of our overall health, meaning that taking proper care of your skin is key to looking younger for longer. In this blog, we take a look at some of the many things that you can do to prevent skin damage, which can lead to premature ageing.
Hydration, Hydration, Hydration
There’s nothing more likely to leave your skin looking jaded and old than not hydrating properly, so drinking the recommended amount of water every day - 6 to 8 glasses- is vital to young looking skin. The opposite applies to alcohol consumption, which is known to severely dehydrate your body, meaning that the fewer times you drink, the more youthful your skin will look.
UV Protection
As wonderful as the sun is when it’s out, the Ultra Violet (UV) light it emits can be very damaging to your skin. Whether you’re at work or relaxing on the beach, if you’re out in the sun for any length of time, you need to be applying a broad spectrum sunscreen. We’d recommend using an SPF30 sunscreen or stronger to make sure that you fully protect yourself when outdoors.
For this same reason, using a sunbed is an absolute no-no, as when you do, you subject your skin to intense UV rays, which can be extremely harmful, even if it is for just a few minutes. If you’re after a year-round tan, you should use a moisturising tanning cream to achieve the same effect without the associated skin damage.
Stop Smoking
We know that it’s much harder to do than say, but if you’re currently a cigarette smoker, stopping will do wonders for the way your skin looks. In addition to the immeasurable internal damage smoking causes, each cigarette you smoke dries out your skin, causing fine lines and wrinkles to appear. So, if you are able stop smoking, not only will you be richer, but you’ll look younger too.
Regular Exfoliation
Another key to younger looking skin is regular exfoliation, which needs to be carried out two or three times a week. What this does is remove the upper layer of dead skin, so that the new, vibrant skin cells underneath shine through. If you don’t exfoliate on a regular basis, your skin will look dull, lifeless and old before its time.
When you exfoliate, you should ensure that you don’t overdo it and scrub too hard, thereby damaging the new skin underneath. You should also moisturise directly afterwards to make sure that this new skin is protected and hydrated.
Argan Oil
A beauty aid that many swear by is cold pressed Moroccan Argan Oil, which can be used to keep your skin looking amazing when used as part of a regular beauty regime. Extracted from the nut of the Argan Tree in Morocco, Argan Oil is an intense moisturiser, so when applying it to your skin, you’ll only need to use a few drops, as it goes an awfully long way.
One of the active elements in Argan Oil that makes it so effective in keeping your skin looking young are known as triterpenoids, which not only help to moisturise, but are also known to reduce the sebum levels. Cold pressed Argan Oil also contains high concentrations of vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids, meaning that it offers a myriad of age-defying properties.
In fact, Argan Oil is so intensely moisturising that it can also be used to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and as a way to help deal with damaged hair and thickened or cracked nails.
Superfoods
Another of the cornerstones of keeping your skin looking young is sticking to a healthy, balanced diet. Whilst eating right is always a good idea for good health, there are a number of foods that are so beneficial to your body and skin, that they’re known as superfoods.
The following foods offer a ton of benefits to your skin health and how young it looks:
Fatty Fish- Fish like herring and mackerel are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which keep skin supple and moisturised. These fats are known to reduce redness, acne and inflammation and are even believed to make skin less susceptible to UV damage. Fatty fish also contains zinc, which is key to the production of new skin cells.
Tomatoes- One of the heroes when it comes to protecting your skin is probably sitting in your refrigerator right now. Tomatoes are a fantastic source of carotenoids, like lycopene and lutein, which are known to protect the skin from sun damage. For best effects, tomatoes should be eaten with fats like those in olive oil or cheese, as it helps the body to absorb more of the carotenoids.
In Summary
They say that you are only as old as you feel and with vibrant, supple skin, you’re going to feel younger and better about yourself. Employ even just a few of the tips mentioned above and you should start to see a noticeable difference in the tone and complexion of your skin and a reduction in the kind of fine lines and wrinkles that add years to how you look.
You can’t halt the passage of time, but you can certainly slow down the effects that everyday life has on your skin and defy the age you are. If you’re willing to make the lifestyle changes you need to and keep up with a daily skincare routine, you’re going to reap the rewards as you get older.
Thanks for taking the time out to read our blog. We’ll see you next time.