Although many of us don’t feel a day over 25 in our mind, one look in the mirror can usually remind us that we aren’t as young as we used to be, and some of our lifestyle choices, such as tanning in the sun and not eating well, can drastically affect how our skin looks.
Dermatologist Dr Leona Yip has some practical and non-invasive tips on how you can preserve your skin’s youthful appearance and fights the signs of ageing with these 5 easy tips.
1. Use sun protection
“The best way to fight ageing is to start early. New research from NIVEA SUN has just found that almost two thirds of Australians (63%) have spent some money on skin care or treatment in the last 3 months in order to reverse the effects of ageing or sun damage. It’s so important to protect yourself from the sun, not just during those big sun occasions but during day-to-day activity when exposed to the sun. I recommend using an SPF 50 sunscreen each day. Sun protection is the best and cheapest long-term anti-aging investment for your skin.”
2. Stop squinting
“Take care of your eye area as it’s more delicate than the rest of the face and often where early fine lines start. This is also where sun protection is often forgotten. I recommend wearing sunglasses outdoors regularly as squinting your eyes too much to avoid sunlight can cause fine lines and crows’ feet to appear prematurely. Use a nourishing and protecting eye cream nightly to deter wrinkles and look for products suitable for delicate skin in the eye area with active anti-aging ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid and antioxidants such as Vitamin E and C.”
3. Exfoliate
“Remember to exfoliate regularly, as our skin cells turnover every 28 days and the top layer of our skin (stratum corneum) sheds dead skin cells regularly. However, over time this process slows down and can lead to dull and dry skin. Exfoliation helps speed things back up by working to unclog pores and improve overall cellular turnover. Your skin complexion and texture will be healthier, softer and smoother for longer. Avoid mechanical exfoliation with brushes or scrubs as this can traumatise and irritate the skin.”
4. Hydrate
“As you age, your skin is more prone to dryness because it loses moisture more readily due to a decrease in production of natural skin oils. Remember to keep your skin hydrated and moisturise twice a day, morning and evening. Moisturising replenishes the skin barrier function to prevent skin dryness, which is important because dry skin is more susceptible to external irritants and UV damage. The dull appearance of dry skin also makes the skin looks prematurely older. Using moisturising creams and ointments is the only effective way to restore and maintain skin hydration. Drinking lots of water does not effectively restore skin moisture because only very little actually ends up in the skin.”
5. Sleep
“Don’t forget how your lifestyle affects your skin. Ensure you are getting plenty of sleep. When you sleep the body repairs itself, including your skin. Low quality sleep can lead to wrinkles, dark circles, eyebags and loss of skin elasticity, so be sure to get plenty of rest. Your skin is also what you eat. Keep up foods rich in antioxidants like Vitamins A,C, E and omega-3 and -6, such as colourful fruits, vegetables, avocados, walnuts, fatty fish, and green tea to prevent skin DNA damage from free radicals. Lastly, avoid cigarette smoking as this accelerates skin aging, wrinkles and creates a gaunt complexion.”
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