Guest post: anti-ageing tips

It is said that with age comes wisdom; but if that’s the case, why as we get older are we not better able to combat the pesky fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin and dark spots that nature bestows upon us? It seems unfair, but the unfortunate truth is that the harm is already done by the time our skin’s damage reveals itself.

Not all wrinkles are bad...

In fact, did you know the signs of ageing skin that start to appear in your 40s actually began when you were a small child? Skin damage occurs every day, no matter what you do to further it, or how much you try to prevent it. Whether it’s due to smoking, skin type, genetics, or environmental factors like the sun and toxins, nobody is immune to aged and damaged skin. While you can’t time travel back to the younger version of yourself – the one who used baby oil to tan – to give yourself a good talking to, there are some very simple tricks and tips which you can begin using now to help reverse the damage that is already done.

Nowadays, one of the most popular methods for treating aged and damaged skin is with an anti-aging cream, serum or gel which we will explore below; however, this type of treatment can take weeks to months for results to show. So what can you do day-to-day to disguise spots, hide fine lines and wrinkles, and give your under-eyes or chin a lift?

Daily Care

Chances are you’ve heard this advice before: Drink lots of water! An overwhelming 50% of the global population is subject to chronic dehydration, which is an obvious and easy fix. The processes of the cells which make up your complexion are dependent upon water, and if you don’t get enough of it, your cells can’t replenish themselves and create their natural oils. Depending on your weight, a recommended 6-12 glasses of water per day will bring about numerous health benefits, including a nourished and supple complexion.

In fact, application while your skin is still damp allows the moisturiser to soak into your skin, plumping it up and smoothing it out. Many of us, in attempts to hide fine lines and blemishes, tend to overuse cosmetics to disguise imperfections; but this can actually have the opposite effect. As the day goes on, your makeup begins to cake and will eventually draw attention to your lines rather than hide them, which oftentimes leads to continuous application throughout the day. Best practice advises that we should start with a moisturiser as your base to protect your skin from the chemicals found in most cosmetics, and then to keep it light and simple.

Makeup Tricks

While serums and moisturisers can work to hide lines and wrinkles, how can you lift your skin without surgical treatment? Well, it isn’t really about lifting the skin itself, but instead making your skin appear less saggy with some simple application techniques. You can fake a “lift” and hide blemishes using a combination of darker and lighter shades of cream foundation – hello contouring. Apply a foundation that is one to two shades darker than your usual makeup to the areas you wish to lift, and it will appear as though the skin is more taught. Continue by brushing a translucent powder over the darker foundation. To work the same magic on any dark spots, use a foundation that is one to two shades lighter than usual. For blemishes or dark circles under the eyes, apply a lighter foundation, followed by concealer and loose powder.

To brighten dull skin, you may want to start with an exfoliating wash or an age-defying at home microdermabrasion scrub like those sold here – followed, of course, by a moisturiser for primer. Once you’ve applied your foundation, try using softer colors like pastels to compliment your skin. It is still appropriate to use black mascara and eyeliner, but for grey or lighter hair colors, it is recommended to use a fairer shade, like charcoal grey, brown or navy blue.

At the end of every day, it is of utmost importance to get into the habit of removing all make-up and cleansing your skin thoroughly. Doing so twice a day will allow your skin to breath and regenerate properly, which helps to maintain firmness and elasticity.

Anti-Ageing Skin Care Products

As mentioned above, there are also many specific products that may be used daily or nightly to help treat and prevent ageing and damaged skin long-term. These products can be prescribed as well as purchased over the counter, and neither requires surgical treatment. These are the types of products you want to exercise most caution with, as not all will work best on your unique complexion. It’s important before purchasing any product to do the proper research and read customer reviews.

The most common offender is a product that is advertised to “reduce the appearance of fine lines.” While this sounds great in print, what you are generally getting is an over the counter moisturiser or facial cleanser that will hide fine lines and wrinkles, but will not permanently erase them. Not all moisturisers and gels have to be a temporary fix. For results that last, you want to look for the active ingredients glycolic, ascorbic or retinoic acid.

This last ingredient, retinoic acid – also known as retinol or retinoid in OTC products like those found here – is often the most popular and highly recommended nonsurgical product. Why? Products containing retinoic acid or retinol will actually long-term treat and prevent wrinkles, fine lines, sagging, and blemishes. Retinoid products are known to hasten the turnover of skin cells and cause them to die rapidly without thinning out your skin. This not only keeps your skin looking healthy, but helps to lighten blemishes by ridding of the darker pigment melanin that causes dark spots and slows melanin’s production. These same gels and creams are also efficient in slowing the collagen breakdown to promote elasticity and reinforce thickness.

Unfortunately, there is no treatment that can reverse 100% of aging or prevent it forever – but then again, with age also comes beauty, right?

Guest post by Jenna Hasselbach