Honestly, you don’t look a day over 20! But did you know that once you hit 20 your skin starts to age? So if you think that anti-aging skincare is only for those over 40, then think again!
Unfortunately, we can’t change or stop the natural aging process. But the good news is, is there are some things we can do to slow down this process. Some lifestyle choices and environmental forces can cause our skin to age prematurely, like the sun, harsh weather, bad habits, and even our skincare routine!
The signs of aging can appear slowly and subtly, while others seem to just pop up out of nowhere! If you feel like your skin isn’t acting its age, I’ve given you 8 ways to prevent your skin from prematurely aging.
What are the characteristics of aging skin?
As we age, changes like these naturally occur to our skin:
- A spot – pun totally intended – of hyperpigmentation (brown spots or age spots)
- Rough, dull, and tired-looking skin that’s craving some glow.
- Feeling like your skin is a bit saggy due to the loss of elastin.
- Sun damage, especially broken capillaries.
- Our skin becomes more transparent. Due to the thinning of the epidermis (surface layer of the skin).
- Skin becomes more fragile and is easily bruised.
Still not sure what your unique skin type is? Let’s end that confusion and the myth of one-size-fits-all skincare! Take our short (and entertaining but we’re not biased) quiz to discover your unique skin type and get recommendations for a truly personalized skincare routine below!
What causes skin to age prematurely?
Here’s what’s going on with that mature skin you’re rocking:
The rate in which our skin ages is mostly influenced by genetics and ethnicity which we’re not able to control. However, our skin is also at the mercy of some environmental and lifestyle factors. Like too much time in the sun, too many cigarettes, too much alcohol, and damaging skin products. All of these things we are able to change!
And here’s how you’re going to nurture it and create the plump and toned complexion of your dreams:
8 ways to slow premature aging:
Protect your skin
This should *really* go without saying – a broad-spectrum, high-level SPF will protect your aging skin from UV radiation and environmental elements, which pretty much zap it of any youthful vibrance and glow. So slip slop and slap that SPF (30 or higher) on every day, whether you’re spending the day at the beach, or just running some errands in town. Your skin can be damaged even on a cloudy day from harmful UV rays, so seek shade and wear a hat when you can. Apply self-tanner rather than getting a tan from the sun, a tanning bed, or other indoor tanning equipment.
Stop smoking
If you smoke, stop! Smoking destroys precious collagen and elastin that keeps our skin smooth and supple. This accelerates the signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles and leaves your skin dry, discolored, and dull. And even being around secondhand smoke “degrades the building blocks of the skin.
Drink less alcohol
Whilst I’m a big fan of the occasional pina colada on the beach, heavy drinking speeds up the aging process and can be rough on our skin! It dehydrates the whole body, including your face, and in time encourages wrinkles, puffiness, dryness, red cheeks, and purple capillaries. So keep drinking alcohol to a minimum and increase your H2O consumption to keep your skin hydrated.
Simplify your skincare routine
Simplify and supercharge. Adopt a simple routine that cleans, nourishes, hydrates, balances, and gently cares for your skin. Scrubbing your skin can be irritating which accelerates skin aging, so gently wash your skin with an easily absorbed plant oil or mild cleanser that won’t strip the skin’s natural oils or disrupt its delicate balance. Follow that by using a simple floral water to hydrate and tone. And apply a facial moisturiser every day to trap in water, giving your skin a more youthful appearance.
Use an anti-aging face mask
Some people find that incorporating regular gentle exfoliation beneficial. We recommend using a clay mask at least once a week to draw out toxins and pollutants, to keep your skin looking supple and renewed.
To achieve skin as bloomin’ as a fresh bouquet, try our anti-aging Purple Clay Mask which has a mix of Rosehips for evening skin tone (bye, sun spots) and Hibiscus for that Botox effect.
Use a silk pillowcase
Sleep lines are probably the biggest aging concern I have, which is why I’ve included a silk pillowcase in this list. I have a very deep line that runs from the corner of my left eye down my cheek and it’s because I favor that side when I sleep. I am unable to sleep on my back (which is best for avoiding facial creases) so I splashed out and bought myself a silk pillowcase. Because pure silk provides the skin with a smooth surface, it reduces friction, this means less tugging on the skin helping to prevent sleep lines, fine lines, and wrinkles!
Don’t forget your chest!
Another tell-tale sign of aging is the leathery-appearing skin on the chest. As your skin’s moisture and collagen deplete over time, your chest can appear dry and wrinkled. This is worsened by excessive years of smoking and sun exposure. So in order to combat this, carry your skincare from your face all the way to your neck and decolletage.
Use natural high-quality skincare
The sooner you start a simple skincare routine built around natural high-quality powerhouse ingredients the better.
So things like Vitamin A which is found in our Rosehip Seed Oil, minimizes the appearance of wrinkles, boosts elasticity, fades sun damage, and slows collagen breakdown in the skin.
Vitamin C that’s known for a few things you’ll be *very* interested in: boosting collagen to fade fine lines and wrinkles, fading hyperpigmentation for healthy and radiant skin, and boosting cellular energy to reveal a clear complexion.
Lavender Floral Water is an ultra-soothing infusion that helps to balance the skin’s pH level, restoring damage, and reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
In conclusion, the products you’ll wanna gravitate toward are the ones with words like nourishing, hydrating, and gentle so you can really nurture your fragile skin. What anti-aging tips do you have that you can share with the rest of us? Let me know in the comments section below.