Aging is a non-negotiable part of life – and, indeed, something to be celebrated as opposed to villainized. Still, there are some undesirable aspects to aging that can be a little harder to romanticize than laugh lines and fetching splotches of grey hair. And some, inevitably, relate to skin.
Our skin does the hard yards in keeping us safe from all manner of threats, both foreign and domestic. It’s essential for helping us manage our moisture levels, it protects us from the impacts of UV radiation and it helps us avoid invasion by harmful microorganisms. But it isn’t invincible – and can wear its battle scars prominently. This is what drives many physical signs of aging; what can you do about it?
- Hydration, Hydration, Hydration
This first beauty tip is perhaps the most obvious, relating to something we ought to be doing every day anyway! This is in reference to, of course, hydration – a crucial consideration that impacts everything from our energy levels to our skin health. Simply put, the more hydrated you are, the softer and more supple your skin will be; moisture is vital for maintaining skin elasticity and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Managing your skin hydration levels could be as simple as drinking enough water each day, though it doesn’t need to stop here by any means. Topical moisturizers and skin oils are excellent for rejuvenating dry skin in both the short and long term!
- Sunscreen and UV Protection
Environmental factors are just as important to bear in mind as meeting your body’s core needs. For instance, the importance of wearing sunscreen every day cannot be over-emphasized, particularly if you care about maintaining a healthy glow and even when indoors or on cloudy days. This is because UV radiation is a pervasive and nearly ever-present threat to the health of your skin.
UV exposure contributes heavily to premature aging, reducing your skin’s elasticity and compromising cells – the combination of which leads to wrinkles, freckles, age spots, and even the risk of skin cancer. Good sunscreen can also provide additional moisturizing benefits, besides.
- Peptide Serums
Here, we’ll move away from the lifestyle advice and towards something a little more specific, even a little more actionable in your daily routine. You’ll have heard the word ‘peptides’ bandied around on skincare product ads for some time now, but it’s far more than a clinical buzzword; peptide serums help stimulate collagen production, which decreases as we age, hence contributing to firmer, more youthful-looking skin.
- Gentle Exfoliation
Finally and perhaps anticlimactically, there’s another simple approach to skincare that can have amazing results with respect to youthfulness: exfoliation. You probably already have exfoliation in your beauty regime – but are you doing it right? Exfoliation can be a powerful tool in maintaining glowing skin as we age, removing dead skin cells, promoting skin renewal and improving skin texture overall. However, if you’re exfoliating more than twice a week – and using harsh scrubs while you’re at it – you could be doing yourself more harm than good.