Do you love the thought of youthful, healthy skin for many years to come? While we can’t halt ageing, there are steps you can take to nourish & nurture your skin so it looks and feels younger for longer.
As a naturopath, these are my top anti-ageing skin tips that I not only recommend to my clients, but also implement myself.
1. EMBRACE EXFOLIATION
As you age, your skin cell turnover slows down. By exfoliating on a regular basis, you help to remove the dead skin on the surface and make your skin smoother, brighter and clearer.
Keep in mind that more is not always better - over-exfoliating can make your skin vulnerable to sensitivity, irritation and even UV damage. So it’s best to stick to 1-2 times per week and tweak from there, depending on how your skin responds.
Personally, I am a massive fan of konjac sponges as an eco-friendly, non-toxic way to gently exfoliate your skin and they are gentle enough to use daily.
2. DON’T FORGET YOUR SUNSCREEN!
UV rays are a major cause of premature ageing, particularly UVA. Unfortunately, UVA is the form of UV ray that also penetrates through windows! That’s why it’s best to wear a sunscreen that protects against UVA damage, even if you’re mostly indoors.
The #1 ingredient to look out for when it comes to UVA protection? Zinc oxide. It is found in plenty of low-tox and natural sunscreen options, and for good reason - it’s one of two ingredients known to protect against UVA.
My go-to sunscreen is Grown Alchemist Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen SPF30. It contains zinc oxide, is all-natural, Australian, vegan AND it’s lightweight with no white cast.
3. UP THE POLYPHENOL INTAKE
Research suggests that polyphenols counteract ageing by preventing cell senescence (aka zombie cells - that's a thing!) as well as potentially removing senescent cells that have already formed.
There are countless research articles that look into specific polyphenols for protecting against ageing. But, seriously, just eat as many different brightly coloured fruit, vegetables & plants as possible! This allows you to get a wide variety of polyphenols and antioxidants that work on different anti-ageing pathways.
4. AVOID AGEs AT ALL COSTS
One of the big bad guys when it comes to ageing prematurely? AGEs stands for Advanced Glycation End products. These not only age your skin, but also contribute to inflammation, oxidative stress and even chronic disease like heart disease and diabetes.
So where do we find AGEs? The most common contributors to AGEs production are highly processed foods, refined carbohydrates and fried foods. So if you’re eating lots of treats, sweets, takeaway and other indulgences, it’s time to make some changes for your skin’s sake.
5. GET YOUR COLLAGEN NUTRIENTS IN
If you’ve looked into anti-ageing skin advice, you’ll know that supporting collagen is one of the most important tips. But to do this, we need to get the vital nutrients that support collagen production on a daily basis.
Collagen cofactors include:
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Vitamin C
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Zinc
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Vitamin B5
In fact, that’s a big part of why I included these nutrients in Energy Glow NR. It contains ingredients specifically to maintain skin integrity & structure, support skin repair and overall skin health - plus so much more.
(Vitamin supplements should not replace a balanced diet. Always read the label and follow directions for use.)
