Stay fresh-faced with these simple anti-ageing tips from the experts
Stay fresh-faced with these simple anti-ageing tips from the expertsskin retain its youthful radiance!
Turn up the heat
Get steamy once a day for a beautiful youthful glow, says Elizabeth Barbalich,founder of cult New Zealand skincare brand Antipodes
“To stimulate healthy, youthful and clear skin I recommend regularly steaming your skin at home as part of your daily cleansing skincare ritual. As an extension of your cleansing regime, it has a wealth of benefits to the skin including softening, deep pore cleansing and detoxification.
“Another great advantage of steaming is that it can help to boost healthy facial circulation which is vital for the production of new skin cells. As we age, our skin cell regeneration becomes less efficient, and our complexion can appear dull and lined in appearance because of this. To achieve a clear, fresh and youthful appearance you can incorporate gentle facial steaming into your daily cleansing regime by removing your daily cleanser with a warm, damp face cloth. Firstly hold the cloth on your face for about 10 seconds, and then rinse and re-warm and repeat the process to promote a gentle healthy daily cleanse for your skin.”
“Look for products with vitamin C to brighten your complexion”
Beauty sleep
Keep clean and get have an early bed time , says Daniela Chandler,director of leading botanical spa brand Pevonia
“Always remove your make-up before you go to bed and before a work out at the gym. The problem with not doing so is that, as you sweat, the pores dilate causing clogging if there is surface debris on the skin, which can lead to problems. Removing your make-up prior to going to bed is also vital to keep your skin in good condition as the body has only one window of opportunity to produce collagen. This production takes place between 10pm and 2am. If you aren’t asleep by this time you’ll have missed out! That’s why night workers tend to age more quickly. Who said they didn’t need beauty sleep?”
Find the Cause
Identify if you’re ageing genetically, environmentally or hormonally,says internationally acclaimed dermatologist Dr Howard Murad, founder of Murad skincare
“If your skin is thinner, prone to breakouts, sensitive or dry around the eyes and you’re approaching or going through menopause, you’re probably experiencing hormonal ageing. This is when oestrogen levels decline. Look for ingredients in products like phytoestrogens, alphahydrixy acids and shea butter to hydrate and stimulate cell renewal.Include more soy, wild yam and broccoli into your diet which are natural, plant-based oestrogens. “If you’re ageing in the same way as your parents, have medium to deep crows’ feet and can see visible fine lines you’re most likely experiencing genetic ageing. This is something we’ll all go through eventually! Look for products that contain hyaluronic acid to reduce the appearance of fine lines and dried plum extract for a youthful glow.“If you’re seeing pigmentation, a rougher, drier texture, dark circles around the eyes and have spent quite a lot of time in the sun you are most likely experiencing environmental ageing. This is often caused by excessive sun exposure, pollution, smoking, stress, poor diet and alcohol intake. Look for products with vitamin C to brighten your complexion and help reduce pigmentation.”
Get massaging
John Masters, founder of the eponymous luxury organic hair and skincare range, says massage those lines away
“To get skin really glowing try a 10 minute facial massage several times a week. This can benefit your face in many ways, firstly it’s a great de-stresser (facial tension can cause lines especially on the brow and around the mouth). Regular massage relaxes tight muscles to help alleviate and reduce stress lines. The lymphatic system plays a key role in skin health and there are a lot of lymph nodes within the facial area. Massage helps to stimulate the lymphatic system helping to facilitate toxin elimination from the face, so reducing skin congestion, while stimulating blood flow, bringing fresh nutrients and promoting collagen production. Select a light, non-greasy oil like grapeseed and use gentle but firm upward sweeping movements, concentrating on areas you know you hold tension and always avoiding the eye area. When you have finished, wash off the excess oil and moisturise as usual.”
Scrub up
Use the right exfoliator says Charlotte Votz, founder of high-performance natural skincare brand Green People
“With age, cell turnover slows down and old surface cells remain longer on the skin,creating a dull complexion, and pores easily become congested. Skin exfoliation not only removes dead skin cells but improves the tone, speeds up cell renewal and allows for increased penetration of subsequent active skincare products. Apply in gentle circular motions to face, neck and do remember your décolletage! Use twice a week.
“Ingredients such as finely ground plant kernels, from apricot, pomegranate and cranberry as well as silica-rich extract from bamboo stems gently lift dead cells away from the outer layer of the skin without irritating the living cells under the surface (this is physical exfoliation). Pineapple extract contains the enzyme bromelain which helps to dissolve the protein bonds (corneodesmosomes) that hold excess dead skin cells onto the surface of the skin (this is chemical, non-abrassive exfoliation).“Avoid aggressive exfoliation and chemical peels which can cause redness and irritation, triggering an inflammatory response, which in turn accelerates premature ageing.”
6 of the Best
Age-fighting heroes
Comfort Zone Sacred Nature Day Cream, £48.75 This chemical-free rich, concentrated nourishing cream has powerful anti-ageing action. Heaven Overnight Success, £26.20 Packed with vitamins including B5, C and E, this cream contains oxygen and carbon dioxide which makes it fizz on the skin to really feed it overnight Jamela 24k Gold Collagen Face& Neck Masks, £37.50 These masks use pure mineral gold, infused with high-strength natural plant collagen and anti-oxidants including vitamin E and rose essence. Earth Science A/B Hydroxy AcidNight Rejuvenator, £21.95 A powerful skin renewal lotion, packed with hyaluronic acid, sea kelp and vitamin E to soothe,soften and nourish skin,rejuvenating and smoothing it without irritation. Miracle Skin Transformer Triple Active Night Treatment, £56 Quench your skin with sunflower extract, and bamboo silica, pea extract and glucosamine stimulate collagen synthesis while enzymes repair the appearance of skin’s photo-damaged cells. Jason C-Effects Creme, £15.99 A luxuriously rich daily remedy which has been shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines in just four weeks.
