6 ways to make your skin look younger
Ageing might be inevitable – but that doesn’t mean we have to accept it gracefully.
There’s no doubt a healthy and glowing visage is seen as a sign of youth and vitality so when the years start showing in our face, it can affect our confidence.
The good news is that up to 40 per cent of the physical changes that make us look older come down to non-genetic factors.
That means there’s a whole host of things we can do to keep our skin looking younger for longer.
- Skin no-nos: 7 surprising things that age you
A good skincare regime is crucial
Moisturising can help skin remain clear, smooth and wrinkle free into the future.
The firm, plumped-up feeling you have afterwards isn’t an illusion.
Research shows people with properly moisturised skin accumulate lines at a much slower rate that those with dry skin.
- Through the ages: Our decade-by-decade guide to looking after your skin
Bump up clever collagen
Collagen is an essential protein that provides elasticity to the skin, helping it to appear more youthful and healthy.
As we age, our bodies produce less of it, leading to fine lines, loose skin and dryness – and that’s what we want to avoid.
Research has found at-home topical products can help maintain our skin’s volume and resiliency, making these a vital part of our beauty arsenal.
- When to do what: Your best-time beauty calendar
Beauty sleep is real
The amount of sleep we have each night can have a significant impact on our skin’s overall health with studies linking lack of sleep to ageing skin.
A Swedish study found that even looking weary can make us appear older, with observers able to detect a tired person from a rested person in a fraction of second.
While we’re sleeping our skin switches into “recovery mode” – a time of repair and regeneration, fixing damage that’s occurred during the day.
Importantly – skin makes collagen while we slumber, which is reason enough to hit the pillow early and kip for the recommended seven to nine hours.
More collagen means skin is plumper and less likely to wrinkle.
Protect your skin from the sun
Minimising sun exposure is also crucial if we want to keep skin looking younger for longer.
The sun’s UV radiation penetrates deep into the skin, where it damages collagen and can mess with our skin’s ability to rebuild.
Over time this leads to fine lines, wrinkles, skin sagging, discolorations and other signs of premature ageing. So remember – sunscreen, hat and sunglasses!
Drink plenty of water
Hydration is essential to good skin health as well as general wellbeing, aiding in digestion, circulation, absorption and excretion.
If we’re not drinking enough water, our skin will become dry, tight and flaky giving it less resilience and making it more prone to wrinkling.
Eat well
Eating a good, wholesome, nutrient rich diet is also essential for healthy, glowing skin.
Diets high in added sugars can damage elastin and collagen, which can lead to wrinkles and sagging – giving even more credence to the old adage we are what we eat.
So stick to lots of plant foods and healthy fats like the kind found in fish, nuts and avocado on your plate. And bon appetite!
- Eat your age: 5 best anti-ageing foods for younger looking skin
This post is brought to you by Skin Doctors Collagen Beauty Renew Shots.
