What is skin aging and how to keep your fountain of youth flowing?

 

A pair of hand with wrinkles.

“Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty.” - Coco Chanel

Most of us in our youth tend to overlook the anti-aging products that are displayed on cosmetic shelves, thinking that they’re catered only to women of older ages. However, the luxury of youth lasts much shorter than we think.

Sadly, our skin can start aging as early as in our 20s, so it’s important not to take it’s plumpness and smoothness for granted. The earlier we start nourishing our skin, the more gracefully we’ll age and the less correction we’ll have to do in our later years. If you hope to keep your fountain of youth flowing into your 60s, the best time to start implementing your anti-aging regiment is now.

SIGNS THAT YOUR SKIN IS AGING

  • Fine lines appearing around upper eyelids, cheeks and mouth area
  • Wrinkles appearing on neck
  • Darkened spots and uneven skin tone (also known as hyperpigmentation)
  • Skin starts to sag

WHAT CAUSES SKIN TO AGE?

Our skin has two layers, the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is the outer barrier of our skin that protects us from environmental pollutants and UV radiation. As we age, the viability of keratinocytes reduces and intercellular connections loosen, leading to the slowing of epidermal cell renewal and a weak tissue healing process.

The dermis contains an arrangement of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that are responsible for our skin’s strength and elasticity. Over time, the ECM network degrades, leading to a weakened ability to synthesise collagen and elasticity.

Lastly, as we age, the subcutaneous and adipose tissues beneath our skin layer decrease, resulting in a reduction of skin cushioning and elasticity. This shrinking of the fat layer leads to what we know as facial sagging.

ARE YOU A VICTIM OF PREMATURE AGING?

The hard truth is: everybody ages. It is important to remember that wrinkles are part and parcel of life and losing skin elasticity is completely normal. Skincare is not meant to eradicate aging but instead, delay signs of aging to our best abilities.

Though aging is a natural process, photoaging is a type of premature aging that we should be worried about. When our skin is exposed to excessive amounts of sunlight, the collagen and elastic fibrosis in our dermis undergoes premature degeneration. The result? Formation of skin wrinkles and increased pigmentation. Fortunately, unlike natural aging, photoaging is completely preventable.

WANT TO DELAY SKIN AGING? TRY THESE

As cliche as it may sound, making sure you incorporate a good sunscreen into your skincare routine is a big must. Opt for a broad spectrum sunscreen (minimum SPF 25) and try to seek shade between 11am-3pm when the sun’s UV rays are the harshest.

Masking! Not only does a good face mask provide us with a sense of luxury and relaxation, it also provides our skin with active ingredients that it thrives on. Some of our holy grail masks include:

Biologique Recherche  biomagic mask

  • Biomagic Mask – firms and lifts skin, brightens and evens skin tone, tightens pores

Biologique Recherche cream masque biofixine

  • Masque Creme Biofixine – smooths fine lines, reduces wrinkles, prevents oxidation, combats skin aging
  • Masque Biologique Feerie (Note: Salon use product) – replenishes collagen, smooths and firms skin, regenerates skin’s anti-aging properties, rejuvenates and brightens skin
What we put inside our body is also as important as what we apply on it. One of the best ways to combat aging is through a vibrant diet rich in antioxidants, healthy fats and lots of water. Fruits and vegetables such as blueberries, avocados and spinach all contain radical fighting abilities that maintain your skin’s glow.