How to put the brakes on premature ageing

Getting older is just a beautiful fact of life – as you age, so does your skin. After 30, your skin may become a bit dryer, duller, and fine lines may begin to form around the eyes and mouth. Around this time, the proteins collagen and elastin (which are responsible for the structure, strength, and elasticity of the skin) will also begin to weaken. Much of this is part of the natural process of getting older. But, many of the health and lifestyle choices that you make every day can also accelerate the process and cause premature ageing.

There’s nothing wrong with getting older, but everyone should have the option to move through life gracefully and look their best, no matter their age. Fortunately, with the right carefully-formulated products and a little help from cutting-edge active ingredients, you can enjoy a more youthful-looking, radiant complexion for longer.

Everyone needs a helping hand

Aside from the obvious healthy lifestyle choices, like avoiding smoking, drinking more water, and getting enough sleep. There are other ways to age like a fine wine and avoid looking older than you are. Fortunately, help is available!

Using the right products is the key, and, in a world full of brands vying for your attention, it can be hard to know which can offer you the most benefit. Worse yet, many products tend to create ranges specifically for younger skin which, in turn, don’t include targeted premature ageing ingredients, reserving these for their “mature skin” lines. But, if you know which products and ingredients to look for, you can arm yourself and help prevent premature ageing.

In the same way that prevention is always better than cure, the time to use potent and proven ‘anti-ageing’ products is always as soon as possible. Also, it makes sense if you think about it. You can’t live on a diet of junk food throughout your 20s and 30s and then expect to feel healthy when you suddenly only start paying attention to nutrition in your 40s. When it comes to ageing gracefully, it’s all about consistency and ensuring your skin looks and feels healthy irrespective of your maturity.

With that in mind, here’s how to put the brakes on premature ageing to ensure your skin looks the best for your age.

Ramp up the protection

Sunscreen is often the last thing people add to their routine. But, it should be one of the first things to think about adding to your skincare routine if you’re concerned about premature ageing. A good sunscreen is often the most powerful anti-ageing product in your beauty cabinet. Considering more than 80% of premature ageing is caused by unprotected sun exposure, it’s easy to see why.

To help protect your skin, look for sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and apply it every time you set foot outside. While that one mega-sunburn you got back in the day will always be bad news for your skin’s future, it’s the accumulative damage over time that really adds up to the early onset of fine lines, pigmentation, and a loss of elasticity.

Daily protection is essential to help prevent the visible signs of premature skin ageing caused by sun exposure. Sun-loving skin will adore a lightweight, antioxidant-rich product like the Ren Clean Screen SPF 30. In short, it’s an anti-ageing, not-so-secret weapon that can protect your skin now, so you’ll reap the benefits long into the future.

Antioxidants are your friends

One of the best ways to protect your skin from the signs of premature ageing is with the power of antioxidants. If you’re concerned about premature ageing then adding antioxidant-rich skincare and health products into your daily skincare routine is an easy way to benefit from this ingredient’s cell-protecting properties and boost your skin’s radiance.

For those looking for a simple answer, try a product like the Skoon Rosehip C+ Antioxidant Concentrate. The easy-to-use serum provides rich replenishment for oil-dry skin.

You can also support your skin with a daily antioxidant supplement. And, in this case, you’ll want to know about astaxanthin (pronounced “asta-zan-thin”.) The “Hulk” of the carotenoid family, its free radical-zapping ability is up to 100 times more powerful than beta-carotene and lycopene. Other superpowers include protecting your skin from UV damage, calming inflammation, and bolstering your skin’s immune system.

Warding off premature ageing isn’t just about the products you apply to the skin. You can also promote healthy skin from the inside out. An oral supplement like Good Health Red Super Krill is a great place to start. Krill oil is naturally rich in Astaxanthin, for potent antioxidant protection and for promoting optimal health and well-being.

Rely on Retinoids

Another healthy skin hero is Retinoids. These compounds are either derived from vitamin A or have a structure or function that's similar to vitamin A. Known for their ability to improve skin texture and minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, Retonoids offer a great way to maintain a healthy, glowing complexion.

Retinoids, like retinol, can help to strengthen the protective function of the epidermis (outermost layer of skin) and its cells, limit water loss, and protect collagen. Something like the Filorga Global-Repair Intensive Nutri-Restorative Multi-Reversing Serum is ideal to add to your skincare routine if you need to put the brakes on premature ageing signs and symptoms. It’s packed with retinol and other powerful ingredients to help tackle lack of firmness, loss of volume, dark spots, and a dull complexion.

Care for the eyes

Focus on delicate areas, like around your eyes in order to prevent further damage and slow down signs of premature ageing. If not cared for, the delicate area under the eyes can start to show major wear around your late 20s and early 30s. Because this zone is so delicate, it can easily be weighed down by heavy moisteriser and other products. Unless otherwise stated, ensure you don’t take your other skincare products too close to your eyes. Instead invest in a good eye cream specifically intended to treat the area just above, below, and around your eyes.

A great eye cream like Teaology Matcha Tea Ultra Firming Eye Cream or Filorga Time-Filler Eyes applied daily may help minimise darkening, decrease puffiness, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and rejuvenate this sensitive skin.

The bottom line

It's never too early to start taking care of your skin and support it in the ageing process. Incorporating products like retinols, eye creams, sunscreen, and antioxidants will support the structure, strength, and elasticity of your skin.

The Beautiful Store offers a wide range of skincare products to help your skin live its best life, no matter your age. Whether you’re after powerhouse active ingredients or luxury skincare spoils, the online store is chock-full of brands you, and your skin, will love.