Your skin makes up an important part of your anti-ageing wellness, but how do you keep it looking young and fresh? We’ve rounded up a few wellness experts to share their top tips for improving your complexion:
1. Consider Your Water: According to Susan H. Weinkle, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of South Florida, ‘Soft water doesn’t remove soap well, so it can leave a residue on your skin.’ Therefore, if you live in an area with soft water, you should only use a small amount of face and body cleansers. If you live in an area with hard water, on the other hand, Chicago-based dermatologist Carolyn Jacob recommends that you use gentle, non-soap formulas that aren’t meant to lather. This is because hard water prompts you to use even more cleanser, which can cause dryness.
2. Drink Green Tea: Florida-based dermatologist Andrea Cambio points out, ‘If your complexion is red or blotchy, this tea’s anti-inflammatory properties can be soothing. Iced is best because hot beverages can worsen redness and other symptoms of rosacea.’ Wellness expert Stacy Colino explains, ‘The epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in green tea may help prevent the collagen destruction that leads to wrinkles as well as sun-induced DNA damage in the skin (think lines and discoloration).’
3. Keep Stress Under Control: Colino details, ‘In a study conducted at Stanford University, researchers found that during exam time, students who felt stressed had more severe acne breakouts than did those under less pressure. That’s because stress increases the body’s production of hormones such as cortisol, which can make skin oilier and decrease its ability to fight off acne-causing bacteria.’ To help you keep that frazzled feeling in check, Lisa Donofrio, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale University School of Medicine, advises that you regularly practice stress-management techniques, like yoga, deep breathing, and meditation. She notes that this ‘can help conditions such as acne, psoriasis, rosacea, and seborrhoea.’
4. Improve Your Air Quality: ‘Just being around smoke can lead to the release of free radicals that damage skin and hasten ageing,’ says Diane S. Berson, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, in New York City. Colino adds, ‘Change the air filter in your furnace regularly, and if you cook with oil, use the fan over your range. Also keep in mind that dry indoor air can dehydrate skin and make fine lines more noticeable. Run a humidifier in your bedroom to minimise these problems.’
5. Watch Sun Exposure Indoors: ‘UV rays (in particular UVA rays) can penetrate the windows in your home and office and cause wrinkling and brown spots,’ Colino warns. ‘The same goes for car windows: Studies have found higher rates of skin cancers on the left side of the face and upper body than on the right, since that side is more exposed when you’re driving.’
6. Watch Your Dairy Intake: Colino outlines, ‘Research from the Harvard School of Public Health found that teenage girls who consume a lot of milk are almost 30% more likely to have acne than those who drink less, and experts believe the same holds true for adult women prone to serious breakouts. Surprisingly, skimmed milk seems to be a worse offender than whole milk. Scientists don’t understand exactly why milk products can lead to acne, but some surmise that the natural hormones present in dairy may be to blame…While cutting back on dairy won’t solve a pimple problem single-handedly, it may make a difference for those who suffer severe breakouts.’
