TEN TIPS FOR AGEING WELL

The followings are advice from the expert for keeping your skin looking younger for longer.

1. Always use a broad spectrum (meaning it protects from both UVA and UVB rays) sunblock with a minimum SPF 15 all year round. Between 80 and 90% of all skin ageing is blamed on UV exposure, so it is essential to protect yourself even when the sun is not shining.
2. Exfoliate 2-3 times a week to encourage new skin cells to form and help these fresh cells travel to the skin's surface more quickly. Exfoliation also helps fine lines look less visible by smoothing the surface and giving your skin a glow.
3. Rather than apply one layer of thick gooey cream, your skin will be kept more supple and better protected if you layer your moisturizing products. That means a hydrating spritz sealed in with a protective moisturizer and finished off with that all-important broad spectrum sunblock.
4. Avoid using harsh products (anything with a strong smell or even a whiff of antiseptic) or harsh treatments on your skin. They both encourage sensitivity and dehydration, leading to premature ageing. Constantly changing your skincare, or mixing and matching from many ranges, can also sensitize your skin, so find a brand that suits you and stick with it.
5. Drink a lots of water all year round (and not just in summer), as this not only keeps your skin well dehydrated but also flushes out waste toxins.
6. Stop smoking immediately. Not only do waste toxins give you a yellow or grey complexion, but nicotine also deprives the skin of vital oxygen.
7. As we get older, essential vitamins in our diet are diverted to the body's other organs, so choose skincare products to supplement your skin. Anti-ageing vitamins to look out for are vitamins A, B5, E, P (bioflavenoids) and C.
8. Get plenty of sleep, as your skin repairs itself overnight when your body's energy is no longer need for day-to-day living.
9. Cut down your alcohol consumption. Alcohol raises blood pressure, causing your capillaries to dilate. In time they will weaken, leading to permanent redness and sensitivity. The chemicals alcohol produces also cause dehydration and destroy mineral needed for daily skin functions (caffeine in tea and coffee cause dehydration, too).
10. Learn to deal with the stress in your life with relaxation techniques, as stress and unhappiness are major causes of age acceleration.

Exfoliation 2-3 times a week helps fine lines look less visible by smoothing the surface and giving your skin a glow.