Follow them, and thou shalt look younger for
longer.
1. Get make-up moxie
A little make-up know-how can take years
off your face. Try these quick-fixes:
Sweep a bone-coloured eyeshadow over the
entire eye area to brighten skin and counteract ruddiness.
Smudged mascara can settle into creases
under your eyes, so switch to a waterproof formula that won’t budge.
Lining your top lashes with black liner
gives your eyes an instant boost.
Look for foundation formulas that contain
additional skincare ingredients.
A
little make-up know-how can take years off your face.
2. Use a targeted serum
Establish what your main anti-ageing
concern is — be it wrinkles, pigmentation or sagging — and use a serum
specially formulated for it. Serums are packed with active ingredients that
penetrate the skin on a deeper level than moisturiser. They can be pricey, but
a little goes a long way and results are usually visible after about two weeks.
They
can be pricey, but a little goes a long way and results are usually visible
after about two weeks.
3. Choose potent products
‘Look for ingredients in skincare products
that increase the production of collagen and elastin in your skin, improving its
strength and elasticity,’ advises Dr Bradley Wagemaker, medical doctor and
director of Lamelle Research Laboratories. Retinol, peptides and antioxidants
pack a serious anti-ageing punch.
‘Look
for ingredients in skincare products that increase the production of collagen
and elastin in your skin, improving its strength and elasticity,’ advises Dr
Bradley Wagemaker
4. Face up to fillers
As we age, we start losing volume in your
face, most noticeably in our checks. ‘The most successful way to keep that
youthful shape is to pot for dermal fillers,’ says Dr Mayreen Allem,
anti-ageing specialist, cosmetic doctor and the founder of Skin & Body
Renewal Clinics. She recommends Surgiderm or Restylane, about R 3500 per
injection – the results last about a year.
As
we age, we start losing volume in your face, most noticeably in our checks.
5. Get behind botox
‘The quickest and easiest way to get rid of
lines and wrinkles is with Botox,’ says DrAllem. With a series of tiny
injections, muscles are relaxed and wrinkles smoothed out, and the effects last
about six months. Botox isn’t for everyone though, so if you’re needle-shy, try
an over-the-counter wrinkle relaxer. Apply sparingly to furrows, wrinkles and
feet — you get the picture.
‘The
quickest and easiest way to get rid of lines and wrinkles is with Botox,’ says
DrAllem.
6. Exfoliate
Regular exfoliation (twice a week removes
the dead skin cells that dull your complexion and make skin look dry or flakey.
It also allows skincare products to penetrate more easily, which means better
results. You can choose between a granular or enzyme exfoliator, depending on
your preference, but the latter is a better option for sensitive skins.
You
can choose between a granular or enzyme exfoliator, depending on your
preference, but the latter is a better option for sensitive skins.
7. Keep skin hydrated
Parched skin ¡s one of the first signs of
ageing, and can lead to wrinkles and a loss of elasticity. Drink plenty of
water (between five and eight glasses a day) to boost your skin’s moisture
levels from the inside, and use a moisturiser that contains hyaluronic acid.
‘Found naturally in the body, its main function is to retain water,’ says Dr
Wagemaker. ‘As we age, our natural levels of hyaluronic acid decrease, so the
skin becomes less effective at hydrating itself.’
8. Apply eye cream
The skin around the eye area is thin and
delicate, so it’s more prone to visible signs of ageing (bags, wrinkles, dark
circles) and requires special attention and care. Gel formulations are great
for cooling and dc-puffing, while richer, more nourishing formulas are best for
wrinkles and fine lines.
Apply
eye cream
9. Stop smoking
If you’ve been living on the moon, you
might not yet be aware that — apart from other, far more serious health
problems — smoking also results in a sallow, dull complexion and yellow teeth.
Nicotine starves your entire body (including your skin) of oxygen. Long story
short, you’re going to age prematurely, big time, unless you stub out that
stompie for good.
Stop
smoking
10. Don’t get
burned
It bears repeating: a good sunscreen really
is your best anti-ageing weapon, given that 90% of visible lines, pigmentation
and wrinkles are due to sun damage. Sunscreens that contain zinc oxide and
titanium dioxide give the most uniform coverage, and tend to be lightweight and
non-greasy. Choose a formula that contains antioxidants to give your skin an
added boost. If applying both sunscreen and moisturiser seems too much bother,
buy a good-quality day cream with an SPF of at least 15.
It
bears repeating: a good sunscreen really is your best anti-ageing weapon, given
that 90% of visible lines, pigmentation and wrinkles are due to sun damage.
