Showing posts with label moisturiser. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moisturiser. Show all posts

It’s Never Too Late, or Too Early, to Take Care of Your Skin

 


It’s never too late to start taking care of your skin but, equally, it’s never too early. Some people put off thinking about their anti-ageing wellness until the first wrinkles appear, but your skin actually begins to age when you’re only in your mid-20s, albeit not visibly. However, whatever your age, there are steps you can do to enhance your skin wellness, so what are you waiting for?


 


1. Use a gentle cleanser: If you have oily skin, you need to find an oil-free, foaming cleanser, but if you have dry skin you need to use a cleanser that’s rich and creamy. If your skin is very sensitive, a lot of cleansers may be harmful to your wellbeing, so it might be a good idea to talk to a dermatologist about how you can avoid irritation. Remember to wash your face with cool or warm water, as hot water can strip your skin off its natural moisture and protective layer. For the same reason, when drying your face remember to pat dry, rather than rub.


 


2. Moisturise: It’s important to use a moisturiser on your face as this will protect your skin, as well as making it look and feel better. Using a lightweight, oil-free moisturiser every day can be helpful if you have oily skin or breakouts, while people with dry skin may need to apply moisturiser more than once a day. To seal the moisture in, may sure you apply your cream or lotion when your skin is damp.


 


3. Always wear sun cream: Whether it’s summer or winter, a sunny day or pouring it down, a day outside or you’re staying indoors; you need protection from the sun during daylight hours. The rays of the sun can pass through clouds and even windows, so you’re never safe from exposure. This means you absolutely have to wear sun cream on a daily basis, and this needs to contain a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or higher. When you’re buying your moisturiser, you can kill two birds with one stone by choosing one with SPF included. Remember to cover your lips, and to reapply your sun cream all over if you sweat or are outside for a long time.


 


4. Layer in the right order: It’s completely fine to layer your beauty and wellness products, you just need to do it in the right order to make sure they all do their respective jobs. First and foremost, you need to start with clean skin, and then proceed to apply any prescription creams or gels you might have. In the morning, you should layer on your moisturiser, followed by your sun cream (if it’s not in your moisturiser) and then, finally, makeup if you wear it. In the evening, you should follow up your clean face and prescription cream with an anti-ageing product (if you use one) and then a moisturiser without sun cream.


 


5. Exfoliate: Scrubbing away your dead skin cells will help your skin to glow. It’s dealers choice as to what you use for buffing, but generally a soft washcloth, spinning brush or a body scrub with synthetic beads will get the job done. If you have dry skin, you can probably get away with gently exfoliating once a week, but if your skin is oily, you may have to exfoliate twice weekly. However, if you have sensitive skin or acne, exfoliating may be irritating to your skin so speak to your dermatologist about the best way to move forward. No matter your skin type, exfoliating too much or too hard can irritate and thicken your skin, so be gentle.


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Acne Attack: How to Prevent Future Breakouts Without Spending a Penny

 


Acne breakouts can really be a cost to your financial wellness – not to mention your self-confidence. However, you can protect your emotional wellbeing against future breakouts without spending a penny. According to anti-ageing wellness expert Angela Ayles, ‘Acne breakouts often occur because of changes you’ve made to your daily routine. Maybe you’ve started using a different laundry detergent, shampoo, face cream or soap. These are often the biggest culprits of an acne breakout.’ As well as identifying the reason behind your acne – and eliminating the culprit – here are seven things you can do to prevent breakouts.


 


1. Choose Acne-Friendly Makeup: Ayles explains, ‘The makeup you use (and how much you use) has a big impact on the health of your skin. If you’re prone to breakouts, look for products that say “non-comedogenic” on the label. This means that the product is specifically designed not to clog your pores. Clogged pores are one of the leading causes of breakouts.’


 


2. Change Your Pillow Case Every Week: ‘Forget the $50 bottle of acne cream you’ve been purchasing every month,’ Ayles enthuses. ‘Changing your pillow case is a proven method for preventing breakouts. All of the sweat, dirt and makeup from your face is seeping into your pillow every night. If you don’t wash your pillow cases regularly you’re basically planting your face on a pillow of sweat and dirt for eight hours. Washing your cases will give your face the fresh rest it needs at the end of the day.’


 


3. Moisturise: Ayles notes, ‘If you’ve turned to acne products to control your outbreaks (which most of you probably have), the importance of moisturising becomes a key component in keeping your breakouts at bay. Most acne products contain ingredients that dry out the skin, thus, moisturising immediately after is critical. Make sure you hydrate your skin with water before applying the moisturiser.’


 


4. Review Your Shampoo: ‘Have you noticed that you’ve been breaking out a lot more than usual lately?’ Ayles asks. ‘You might want to check your shampoo. Shampoos and conditioners with a lot fragrance and chemicals can irritate skin and cause breakouts on your forehead, jaw, neck and back. Considering using non-fragrance products (or all-natural products) and always make sure you rinse the shampoo out of your hair completely before washing your face in the shower.’


 


5. Stop Touching Your Face: ‘This might seem like common sense but keeping your hands away from your face is harder than you think,’ says Ayles. ‘If you’re sitting in class or at work, chances are your head is resting on your hands and your fingers are running up your cheeks. These movements can cause irritation and spark a breakout. Keeping your hands and fingers off your face will keep it clean and healthy and help eliminate future breakouts.’


 


6. Check Your Laundry Detergent: Ayles points out, ‘Much like shampoos, laundry detergents can be a huge culprit when it comes to breakouts. If you’re experiencing more breakouts than normal it could very well have to do with the ingredients in your detergent. Many soaps contain harsh chemicals and fragrances that can irritate skin (especially when you use towels to dry your face). Try switching to a non-fragrance detergent or one with more natural ingredients and see if you’re breakouts start to fade.’


 


7. Go Easy on the Makeup: Ayles advises, ‘This may be hard for some girls (especially those in high school) but lightening up on the makeup will almost certainly help control your breakouts. Not only are the ingredients in most makeup products bad for your skin but applying makeup means touching your face, which can lead to a breakout. If you must wear makeup, try adding a dab of liquid foundation to an all-natural moisturiser which will help hydrate the skin instead of drying it out.’

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Fight to the Finish: How to Battle Your Dry Skin Problem

In your teens, your skincare wellness tends to revolve around eliminating acne, and then you hit that sweet spot in your twenties in which skin problems no longer plague your wellbeing. Your skin is clear, glowing and soft with minimal to no effort on your part – if only things stayed that way forever! Unfortunately, skin problems are never that far away, and if acne is no longer an issue, you’ve got something new you need to deal with: dry skin. Unlike acne, dry skin isn’t something you naturally grow out of; it’s a problem you need to take steps to eliminate or it will continue to get worse.


 


According to anti-ageing wellness expert Anvi Mehta, ‘Rough and dry skin can be embarrassing some times. Nobody wants to show their rough, dry and flaky skin to anybody. Skin can become rough and dry because of exposure to sun and pollution, temperature and climatic conditions, dehydration of skin and skin related diseases. Rough skin tends to cause patches, flakes, cracks and redness all over the skin. The common areas of rough skin patches are the elbows, knees, heels and cheeks. Skincare for rough skin is essential to improve the texture of your skin.’ But how do you rub away the rough and leave yourself with smooth, soft skin?


 


1. Add Moisture: ‘The most important factor for skin care for rough skin includes re-hydrating the dry part,’ says Mehta. ‘For this, use a good moisturiser preferably made from milk and cream extracts. The more you rub a moisturiser on the rough skin, the sooner you shall have a change in skin quality. Using a good and natural moisturiser is a skin care tip for rough skin.’


 


2. Scrub Away the Rough: Mehta notes, ‘Rough skin is generally because of the dead skin cells and damaged cells. Skincare for rough skin includes removing the dead skins cells. To do so, use a good scrub at least once a week. Rub the scrub on the area of rough and dry skin for 10-15 minutes and then rinse with water. Apply moisturiser after scrubbing your skin. The scrub will help to remove unwanted skin cells and boost the growth of new skin cells. Skin becomes supple and soft after using a scrub. Visible effects are observed after a few weeks. This is also a good skin care tip for rough skin.’


 


3. Use Less Soap: ‘Soap contains certain chemicals that can make your skin more dull and dry,’ Mehta explains. ‘Especially for the face, avoid using soaps and replace them with a gentle face wash. Soaps tend to absorb all the moisture from the skin and make the skin rough and dry. Skin care for rough skin requires use of naturally made face washes which are sensitive towards skin and helps to enhance the texture of the skin. This is a must do tip for rough skin.’


 


4. Try to Relax: Mehta points out, ‘Stress also leads to skin problems and diseases. For a healthy skin it is necessary for you to be happy and mentally stable. Do not stress yourself too much; it may affect the skin quality. Take a spa appointment or relax in your gym steam room at regular intervals of time to relax your body. De-stressing is one of the skin tips for rough skin.’


 


5. Eat Healthily and Drink Water: ‘Healthy eating habits also show good results for skin care for rough skin,’ asserts Mehta. ‘Eat fruits with high water content to replenish your skin. Dry skin is mainly because of dehydration. Also drink a lot of water to rejuvenate your skin cells.’

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Fight to the Finish: How to Battle Your Dry Skin Problem

In your teens, your skincare wellness tends to revolve around eliminating acne, and then you hit that sweet spot in your twenties in which skin problems no longer plague your wellbeing. Your skin is clear, glowing and soft with minimal to no effort on your part – if only things stayed that way forever! Unfortunately, skin problems are never that far away, and if acne is no longer an issue, you’ve got something new you need to deal with: dry skin. Unlike acne, dry skin isn’t something you naturally grow out of; it’s a problem you need to take steps to eliminate or it will continue to get worse.


 


According to anti-ageing wellness expert Anvi Mehta, ‘Rough and dry skin can be embarrassing some times. Nobody wants to show their rough, dry and flaky skin to anybody. Skin can become rough and dry because of exposure to sun and pollution, temperature and climatic conditions, dehydration of skin and skin related diseases. Rough skin tends to cause patches, flakes, cracks and redness all over the skin. The common areas of rough skin patches are the elbows, knees, heels and cheeks. Skincare for rough skin is essential to improve the texture of your skin.’ But how do you rub away the rough and leave yourself with smooth, soft skin?


 


1. Add Moisture: ‘The most important factor for skin care for rough skin includes re-hydrating the dry part,’ says Mehta. ‘For this, use a good moisturiser preferably made from milk and cream extracts. The more you rub a moisturiser on the rough skin, the sooner you shall have a change in skin quality. Using a good and natural moisturiser is a skin care tip for rough skin.’


 


2. Scrub Away the Rough: Mehta notes, ‘Rough skin is generally because of the dead skin cells and damaged cells. Skincare for rough skin includes removing the dead skins cells. To do so, use a good scrub at least once a week. Rub the scrub on the area of rough and dry skin for 10-15 minutes and then rinse with water. Apply moisturiser after scrubbing your skin. The scrub will help to remove unwanted skin cells and boost the growth of new skin cells. Skin becomes supple and soft after using a scrub. Visible effects are observed after a few weeks. This is also a good skin care tip for rough skin.’


 


3. Use Less Soap: ‘Soap contains certain chemicals that can make your skin more dull and dry,’ Mehta explains. ‘Especially for the face, avoid using soaps and replace them with a gentle face wash. Soaps tend to absorb all the moisture from the skin and make the skin rough and dry. Skin care for rough skin requires use of naturally made face washes which are sensitive towards skin and helps to enhance the texture of the skin. This is a must do tip for rough skin.’


 


4. Try to Relax: Mehta points out, ‘Stress also leads to skin problems and diseases. For a healthy skin it is necessary for you to be happy and mentally stable. Do not stress yourself too much; it may affect the skin quality. Take a spa appointment or relax in your gym steam room at regular intervals of time to relax your body. De-stressing is one of the skin tips for rough skin.’


 


5. Eat Healthily and Drink Water: ‘Healthy eating habits also show good results for skin care for rough skin,’ asserts Mehta. ‘Eat fruits with high water content to replenish your skin. Dry skin is mainly because of dehydration. Also drink a lot of water to rejuvenate your skin cells.’

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Windows to the Soul: How to Improve Your Under-Eye Area

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then most of us have got very dark and puffy windowsills. When it comes to anti-ageing wellness, dark circles and bags under your eyes are a dead giveaway, and one that affects many-a-person’s wellbeing. According to dermatologist Valerie Goldburt, MD, PhD, of NYU Langone Medical Centre, ‘I hear patients voice complaints several times a day.’ However, the good news is, once you work out what your particular eye-problem is, there are some effective, wellness fixes you can try.


 


1. Morning-after puffy eyes: Water building up under your eyes could be due to a cold, seasonal allergy or sinus infection. Goldburt explains, ‘We have the thinnest skin around our eyes, so it’s the area that’s most influenced by the in-and-out flow of fluids.’ Another reason for puffy eyes might be that you ate too much salty food last night, or cried a lot. Goldburt clarifies, ‘Water always travels from areas in the body where there’s low salt concentration to tissues where there’s more salt.’ If your puffy eyes are due to hay fever or colds, over-the-counter medications, such as neti pots, will probably sort your eyes out. Sleeping on your back with an extra pillow under your head also encourages the water not to collect in your eyes. Goldburt says, ‘The earlier you start changing your sleep position, the better, because after a few years under-eye bags can became permanent.’


 


2. Dark Circles: Unlike puffy eyes, dark circles are often not temporary or caused by something in your life. Rather, pigmentary issues are often inherited, and the natural ageing process also contribute to dark circles as the skin around your eye becomes thinner and exposes the tiny blood vessels that lie just below. That said, New York makeup artist Kimara Ahnert asserts that you can still do something about it. Choose a concealer than matches your skin tone and, if you have mild discoloration, make sure you pick a liquid formula. For more prominent shadows, coverage with a cream or cake concealer is best, just pat the concealer on lightly from the inner corner of your eye to just past the outer corner. Joseph Eviatar, MD, a New York ophthalmic plastic surgeon, notes that dark circles caused by extremely thin skin are ‘really difficult to treat, [but] eye creams that contain caffeine may help a bit because they constrict the underlying blood vessels.’


 


3. General quick fixes: If you just generally want more youthful-looking eyes, start by quitting smoking and applying sun cream to your eye area on a daily basis. Both smoking and exposure to UV rays weaken your collagen production, which causes premature wrinkling and sagging. Another top tip from Goldburt is to apply a moisturiser to your eye area every night. ‘You don’t need to spend a lot,’ Goldburt assures. ‘Almost any drugstore moisturiser will provide the hydration you need.’ However, Goldburt’s number one tip is to use a prescription retinoic acid – the vitamin A cream that goes by the generic name tretinoin – as part of your daily skin care regimen. According to Goldburt, ‘It’s the single best thing you can use to prevent wrinkles and improve existing lines.’ Brent Moelleken, MD, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, adds ‘We have patients who swear by’ using a haemorrhoid cream on puffy eyes. ‘But we suggest a retinol eye cream instead.’ If all else fails, why not try the classic, cheap options of placing cold spoons, slices of cucumbers, chilled tea bags, or even a package of frozen peas under your eyes. The cool temperatures – rather than any special properties of cucumbers or peas – reduce swelling.

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It’s Never Too Late, or Too Early, to Take Care of Your Skin

It’s never too late to start taking care of your skin but, equally, it’s never too early. Some people put off thinking about their anti-ageing wellness until the first wrinkles appear, but your skin actually begins to age when you’re only in your mid-20s, albeit not visibly. However, whatever your age, there are steps you can do to enhance your skin wellness, so what are you waiting for?


 


1. Use a gentle cleanser: If you have oily skin, you need to find an oil-free, foaming cleanser, but if you have dry skin you need to use a cleanser that’s rich and creamy. If your skin is very sensitive, a lot of cleansers may be harmful to your wellbeing, so it might be a good idea to talk to a dermatologist about how you can avoid irritation. Remember to wash your face with cool or warm water, as hot water can strip your skin off its natural moisture and protective layer. For the same reason, when drying your face remember to pat dry, rather than rub.


 


2. Moisturise: It’s important to use a moisturiser on your face as this will protect your skin, as well as making it look and feel better. Using a lightweight, oil-free moisturiser every day can be helpful if you have oily skin or breakouts, while people with dry skin may need to apply moisturiser more than once a day. To seal the moisture in, may sure you apply your cream or lotion when your skin is damp.


 


3. Always wear sun cream: Whether it’s summer or winter, a sunny day or pouring it down, a day outside or you’re staying indoors; you need protection from the sun during daylight hours. The rays of the sun can pass through clouds and even windows, so you’re never safe from exposure. This means you absolutely have to wear sun cream on a daily basis, and this needs to contain a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or higher. When you’re buying your moisturiser, you can kill two birds with one stone by choosing one with SPF included. Remember to cover your lips, and to reapply your sun cream all over if you sweat or are outside for a long time.


 


4. Layer in the right order: It’s completely fine to layer your beauty and wellness products, you just need to do it in the right order to make sure they all do their respective jobs. First and foremost, you need to start with clean skin, and then proceed to apply any prescription creams or gels you might have. In the morning, you should layer on your moisturiser, followed by your sun cream (if it’s not in your moisturiser) and then, finally, makeup if you wear it. In the evening, you should follow up your clean face and prescription cream with an anti-ageing product (if you use one) and then a moisturiser without sun cream.


 


5. Exfoliate: Scrubbing away your dead skin cells will help your skin to glow. It’s dealers choice as to what you use for buffing, but generally a soft washcloth, spinning brush or a body scrub with synthetic beads will get the job done. If you have dry skin, you can probably get away with gently exfoliating once a week, but if your skin is oily, you may have to exfoliate twice weekly. However, if you have sensitive skin or acne, exfoliating may be irritating to your skin so speak to your dermatologist about the best way to move forward. No matter your skin type, exfoliating too much or too hard can irritate and thicken your skin, so be gentle.

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Get it Right: How to Apply Your Anti Ageing Products

These days you get so many anti-ageing wellness products, it can be difficult to know which ones to take, in which combinations and in which order. Luckily, we’ve got you covered.


 


Let’s start with your new routine to help you look and feel young. Start your mornings off with a body moisturiser, and then move onto a cleanser, day treatment and eye cream (although the latter three are more optional). You then need to apply a facial moisturiser with sun cream, and after that you can apply your make up (if you want). In the evening, you again begin with a body moisturiser and cleanser, and then you have the option of an exfoliator. After that, a night treatment is a must, but the following eye cream and night face moisturiser are less necessary.


 


So that’s your general routine to help your anti-ageing wellbeing, but how do you apply specific products?


 


Day Moisturiser with Sunscreen


As this is your protection from the sun’s harmful rays, there’s no reason to tread lightly. Avoid your lash lines and eyelids, but otherwise you should spread a generous amount to your face, neck, the base of your throat and your chest. Let it sink in for two minutes before you put on make up.


 


Eye Cream


Using your ring finger, stroke a bead of eye cream once under your eye, starting an inch away from the outer corner of your eye. Then move your finger once over your eyelid from the inner corner to where you started. Keep doing this until the eye cream is blended in.


 


Night Treatment


This is usually best done on a clean, damp face, but if you have sensitive skin your face should be completely dry for two minutes before using the treatment. This is because the ingredients penetrate more deeply on damp skin, so they can irritate your sensitive complexion. As treatments are more potent than a moisturiser, you only need a pea-sized amount.


 


Body Moisturiser


Again, moisturise on damp skin, massaging it in right after you’ve had a shower. You should use a marble-sized blob for each limb, and the front and back of your torso.

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Ways to Stay Ageless Through Your Lifestyle

The media has created a need for us to be ageless and ever-youthful, but how do you achieve that in everyday life? There are numerous surgical options available to us now, but for those seeking the natural route all is not lost. Make-up hides a number of ageing sins, but that’s not all – preventative measures can do wonders for your appearance as well. Here are some ways to stay looking young and feeling good as you age.


 


The sun is responsible for a large proportion of your ageing, so wherever you can prevent this damage you should. This doesn’t have to just mean wearing sunscreen though, although this is hugely important – your eyes bear the brunt of squinting which is one of the first areas of your face to age. Super-sizing your sunglasses can help with this, as it not only stops you from squinting in the sunshine, but also helps protect the skin from the damaging UV rays. And don’t forget to wear a hat and a scarf over the sensitive décolleté area, to protect against sun spots.


 


As moisturisers go, you should aim for natural, organic and nutritious ingredients. Olive oil is a surprising choice but one which can offer numerous benefits to your skin – it is loaded with essential fatty acids which can combat dry and sensitive skin. Opt for an unflavoured oil and rub in a small amount at night to keep your skin looking plump and youthful. This goes for the skin on your hands as well, as dry and wrinkled skin in this area can lead to an instant giveaway of your age. If you want to protect this area and reduce wrinkles, apply the same retinoid used on your face to the back of your hands and then add a layer of Vaseline. Cotton gloves can help to keep the treatment in place overnight and supercharge the process, so these could be useful for keeping your hands moisturised for longer.


 


When your eyes are strained, this leads to squinting to overcompensate, putting you at risk of developing eye bags and wrinkles, as well as frown lines. Ninety present of the time this is due to poor eyesight, because your prescription isn’t strong enough – an eye exam could correct this problem and save you a lot of time and worry in anti-ageing treatments down the line. But there are other unsuspecting factors contributing to your appearance – ever worry about how your commute is affecting your ageing? 80 percent of sun exposure occurs through windows, so if you want to ward off the sun spots, wrinkles and even skin cancer, you may want to invest in a window shield. You can purchase a clear window film which acts as a guard from the sunlight and UV rays. The average commuter gets around 200 hours of sun exposure from driving alone, so this measure could prevent 99 percent of these rays from affecting you. If you do happen to develop brown spots, lemon juice can be used to reverse the damage – a little lemon juice with water could help to fade the spots on all skin tones. Apply with a Q-tip before bedtime, and gradually increase to twice a day, however you should stop if your skin gets too tight.


 


Ageing is something which should be done naturally and gracefully where possible, but these are tricks which could make a huge difference in the rate at which you age. Drinking plenty of water, avoiding too much sunlight and protecting your skin with a moisturiser are the best basic rules to follow.

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How to Determine Which Skincare Products You Actually Need

There’s a jungle of skin care products out there, with everything from anti-wrinkle creams and BB serums to cleansers and exfoliators, but what do you actually need to take care of your anti-ageing wellness? Here’s some sound advice for your wellbeing-centred skin care regime.



1. Don’t go overboard in the beginning – Your new moisturiser may be amazing, but that doesn’t mean you should rush out and get the matching serum, cleanser, mask and eye cream. You should use a product for at least three weeks, in case it irritates your skin. That way, you’ll be able to pinpoint the problem without wasting your money on loads of products. Plus, using too many strong products may overload your skin and cause sensitivity and inflammation.



2. Test it out – Most brands are often happy to give you a sample before you buy, so you can test whether it’s going to work for you, or irritate your skin. If you find that the sample does irritate your skin, try other samples of moisturiser and look at which ingredients the irritating ones have in common.



3. Don’t mix and match – Check the ingredients on your skin care products, and make sure you’re not combining any ingredients that react badly together. Never put vitamin C with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), copper peptides or retinol, and never put retinol with benzoyl peroxide or AHAs.



4. Use what you need – The products you need depend on your skin type. If you have acne-prone skin, you need a cleanser that helps remove oil and dead skin, an oil-free sun cream, a glycolic product and one that contains salicylic acid. If you have normal or combination skin, you need a cleanser, an anti-ageing serum which contains peptides and hyaluronic acid or vitamin B, a moisturiser with SPF, and an exfoliator twice a week. For sensitive skin, make sure your cleanser doesn’t contain sodium laurel sulphate because this can cause irritation, and opt for a perfume-free moisturiser, SPF50 sun cream and a weekly enzyme mask.



5. Use the right thing at the right time – Serums are especially formulated to penetrate deeply, so should be used before a moisturiser. Moisturisers should be applied before make-up, to keep your skin hydrated and protected against the elements. Primers should be used after a moisturiser and before foundation to even out your skin tone and help make-up go on smoothly, or you can use a tinted moisturiser instead to give a sheer wash of colour instead of foundation. A BB cream can act as a primer before foundation or be worn on its own, and a CC cream is for use instead of foundation.

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Say “Hello Hydration” and Wave “Au Revior” to Ageing!

When it comes to looking young and taking care of your wellbeing, it seems that you can suddenly experience a burst of ageing signs for no reason. This can have you running towards your nearest beauty parlour or botox clinic, but once you understand the underlying cause of your ageing skin, you’ll never have to waste your money on scary anti-ageing treatments. What’s the big secret? Water.


According to skincare expert Noella Gabriel, who is in charge of treatments and product development at Elemis, mere dehydration can be the culprit behind your signs of ageing. Whether you’ve recently spent a weekend by the sea, a period of stress or even the changing seasons, many things can have a negative effect on the barrier function of your skin, which leads to water loss. Luckily, it’s a problem that’s easily and inexpensively fixed. Gabriel explains, ‘The drier and more dehydrated the skin is, the more it emphasises existing lines, so things can look much worse than they are. That’s why a great moisturiser is instrumental to a more youthful appearance.’


Sally Penford, Education Manager at The International Dermal Institute, comments, ‘Skin that lacks oils will generally always be dehydrated, too, as reduced barrier lipids increase the likelihood of water loss, reinforcing the problem. If dryness is an issue, introduce a hydrating gel mask or a rich, vitamin-based mask at least twice a week to give skin a good feed and don’t forget to layer on a generous dollop of daily moisturiser to protect from the elements.’


Noella adds, ‘Lifestyle choices are very important and affect the speed of the ageing process. Certain activities, for example smoking, will accelerate the visible effects and, over time, dehydrate and dull the complexion. Creams and serums are key for keeping your skin healthy, helping it hold and retain moisture and improving the condition of dry complexions. Think of it as giving your skin a big drink, packed full of replenishing antioxidants.’


To get a big anti-ageing wellness boost from a small amount of products, you need to avoid alkaline soaps, choose a cleanser that is designed to hydrate, and apply an extra-hydrating but non-greasy moisturiser every day. Sally recommends, ‘Evening primrose oil – a source of gamma linoleic acid – silicones and shea butter work to protect and repair the skin’s barrier function, which can be damaged by changes in temperature, leaving skin red and sensitised. One of the best ingredients to help with this is hyaluronic acid, which holds up to 1,000 times its own weight in moisture. Skin will feel instantly quenched.’

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Can you Replicate the Effects of Botox without Surgery?

Could anti-ageing creams and lotions spell the end for surgical procedures such as Botox? If the latest research is to be believed then yes – the anti-ageing market is led by people in their 50s and 60s, with the majority of people opting for non-toxic and non-invasive ways to reduce the appearance of age on their skin. The sales of ‘miracle’ cures that many creams claim to offer have hit a record high in recent years, suggesting that people are looking for speedy results without having to go under the knife and needle. The latest in the stream of anti-ageing offerings is a £40 serum which offers to moisturise and plump the skin without the need for injections.


 


Thousands of women have bought the latest beauty serum, leading to it selling more than three times the expected amount in just a few days. Targeting the 50-plus age group, these types of products offer a non-invasive alternative to ridding your skin of lines and age-induced wrinkles. The demand for such products has tripled in the last few years, with the numbers still rising. The craze for so-called ‘liquid Botox’ isn’t just connected to this product though – various companies have developed similar offerings to meet the demand of their target demographic. Today’s society has made it impossible to age without judgement, so people want to remove the signs of ageing to look young and attractive for as long as possible.


 


There are many factors which affect the speed at which you age, from sun damage and smoking, to genetics and diet. You can improve the condition of your skin internally as well as with creams and lotions, such as drinking more water and cutting back on sugar, which can break down the collagen in your skin. People are looking for a mid-point which gives them the effects of a surgical procedure without the risks or the costs.


 

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