Laughter Lines : 9 Natural Anti-Ageing Tips

30 Sep 2016

You may not need us to tell you this but as we age our body naturally produces less collagen leading to the development of pesky fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen acts as a scaffold for the cells, tissues and organs which give your skin its elasticity. The bad news is that women produce less collagen than men and lose around 1% every year.

That means by the age of 50, women have lost half of their skin’s collagen.

With the arrival of Botox, fillers and yet more cosmetic surgery options, there are numerous procedures we can undergo in order to roll back the years if we choose. In the meantime, for those who prefer a more natural approach, the following tips may help:-

Stay pale and interesting : Over 80% of the signs of ageing are a direct result of UV rays. Using an appropriate SPF and covering up in the sun should be your top priority in your battle against the ageing process. Choose a sunscreen that is suitable for your skin type and apply all year round, not just in the summer months when the sun is at its strongest. According to the British Skin Foundation skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK and rates are on the rise. Stay pale and interesting or use a fake tan! If you overdo it in the sun read our article on ways to deal with sunburn.

Hands and neck : While most of you will pay close attention to your face, your hands are one of the first areas to reveal the tell-tale signs of ageing and also one of the most neglected. Always moisturise with a suitable handcream after washing throughout the day. The same applies to your neck, it is an often overlooked area in beauty routines yet can be a big giveaway when it comes to ageing. Hands up if this applies to you!

Don’t light up : Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your skin as it prevents the body from absorbing Vitamin C – an essential ingredient for the growth of new collagen. Lighting up too often will deprive your skin of essential oxygen and nutrients. As well as accelerating the ageing process, smoking dries out your skin making fine lines more pronounced. Always seek advice from your GP if you are struggling to give up smoking.

Eat a balanced diet : Collagen helps the blood vessels and cells in your skin to grow and leads to smoother, plumper skin. Eat a balanced diet rich in anti-oxidants to stimulate collagen production and fight off the damaging effects of free radicals caused by the effects of poor diet, stress and the environment. Watermelon in particular is a great source of anti-oxidants for skin as it contains lycopene which can help to prevent the deterioration of collagen. Avoid sugary foods too, they damage both collage and elastin (and make you age faster).

Drink alcohol in moderation : Among the many problems caused by a high alcohol intake are the dehydrating and ageing effects it has on your skin. Take a look in the mirror the next morning after the night before and you’ll see exactly what we mean. Red wine contains anti-oxidants so may have positive effects on your skin but drinking to excess will reverse those benefits. Current guidelines suggest 2-3 units per day for women (around one 175 ml glass of wine per day) and 3-4 units for men (not much more than one pint of strong beer).

Drink lots and lots of water : We’ve said this before and we’ll no doubt say it again. Drink at least two litres of water every day to prevent that tired, washed-out look. Drinking lots of water takes some getting used to, but your skin – and your reflection – will love you for it in the long run.

Take regular exercise : Regular exercise promotes skin renewal by boosting blood flow and pumping nutrients to the surface of the skin. The result is a fresher, more youthful appearance. Applying a body butter which contains shea butter after your post-workout shower may also help to stimulate the production of collagen as well as ease sore muscles.

Use natural skincare products : With the effects of environmental damage, there’s no need to add in yet more chemicals to your skincare regime. My Trusty skincare products are dermatologically tested, kind to skin and free from colour, parabens and lanolin.

Smile! Laughter lines are much more attractive than frown lines. A natural smile reveals your inner beauty and transforms your mood instantly. Go on, give it a try.

If it’s any consolation, remember that with age comes wisdom and in the words of Audrey Hepburn ‘And the beauty of a woman, with passing years only grows!”

Who are we to argue?

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