From sun exposure to sugary foods, four reasons your skin is ageing and what you can do to slow down the process
STEP away from the choc stash, ladies! While your skin is ageing all the time, too much sugar could be leading to more than your fair share of wrinkles.
There are things in your daily life – such as pollution, sunshine and using the wrong skincare – that accelerate the ageing process, and sometimes they’re not immediately obvious. That’s why we quizzed the experts to find out what the worst wrinkle offenders are, how they’re ageing skin and, most importantly, how to minimise the effects.
Sugar
Do you have a sweet tooth? Well, the sorry truth is, when you have too much sugar in your diet, your skin enters a process called glycation.
This causes the body to stop producing proteins such as collagen and elastin, both of which make skin look plump and youthful.
Plus, sugar is a powerful dehydrating agent, which means it can result in wrinkling, sagging and slower cell turnover – dull skin.
What to do:
Studies show that after the age of 35, glycation ramps up.* “Skincare to slow glycation should include antioxidants, such as vitamin C, A and E,” says aesthetic practitioner Dr David Jack.
SkinCeuticals AGE Eye Complex contains vitamin E and blueberry extracts which, after 12 weeks, can interrupt glycation. Supplements that can help control glucose levels and deliver antioxidants via the bloodstream are also worth trying,” he says.
When mixed with water or milk, a protein powder like , helps build collagen and elastin thanks to its blend of superfoods, antioxidants and vitamin B.
Pollution
If you live in a busy, built-up area or are a smoker, chances are your skin is suffering from oxidative stress caused by an imbalance of free radicals – molecules that can damage cells.
“Many things encourage oxidative stress, including hypoxia (low oxygen levels) caused by smoking and inflammation.
Oxidative stress can also reduce levels of collagen and elastin in your skin’s tissue,” Dr Jack explains – a no-no if you’re keen on maintaining a youthful glow for as long as possible.
What to do:
To restore balance and keep free radical damage in check, powerful antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E should be your weapons of choice.
UV rays
It’s often thought the condition of your skin is largely to do with genes, but being genetically blessed doesn’t mean you can’t damage your DNA and speed up the ageing process.
“Genetic damage, AKA DNA mutation, is largely caused by inflammation and UV damage,” explains Dr Jack.
“Over time, the sun’s ultraviolet light damages elastin fibres in the skin which, when broken down, cause the skin to sag, stretch and lose its ability to snap back.”
Unfortunately, as signs of sun damage aren’t always immediate, it means the ageing effects of a sunbathing sesh can creep up on us later in life.
What to do:
Arm skin with all it needs to defend itself, and that includes, yep you guessed it, SPF! Go for at least factor 30 all year round, and look for the words “broad spectrum” or a star rating alongside the SPF number to protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
For an added boost, pick up sun protection packed with vitamin C and E, advises Dr Jack – the combination has been shown to have a protective effect against future damage.
Glossier Invisible Shield SPF30 does all of the above without leaving a milky residue. To help repair damage once the sun’s gone down, slap on a boosting serum, such as , which contains eight powerful peptides that do everything from stimulating collagen production and looking after the health of skin’s cells to evening out skin tone and soothing inflammation.
Skincare
Have you been using the wrong products? Skin is naturally acidic, so when anything too alkaline gets thrown into the mix, such as a harsh face wash, skin gets caught off-guard.
“If the acid mantle (part of the skin’s barrier) gets knocked out of balance, your natural bacteria gets knocked off balance, too, which means foreign bodies can find a way through skin to wreak havoc, resulting in breakouts, inflammation and wrinkles,” explains Dr Maryam Zamani.
What to do:
Avoid skincare that contains astringents, such as alcohol. Zelens Z Balance Prebiotic & Probiotic Facial Mist is infused with a cocktail of antioxidants including shiso leaves to help shield against environmental aggressors, and amino acids to help maintain hydration.
Another skin ally is , which contains myrtle extract to help to protect, strengthen and brighten.
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