Main causes of ageing skin & how to prevent them
The Sun
It shouldn’t be a surprise that UV rays can be very harmful to our skin. In fact, it is one of the primary causes of skin ageing. To protect yourself, add sun cream to your daily routine – yes, even in winter! Apply it to your face and anywhere else that will be exposed to the sun every morning and apply your make up as usual once it’s dry.
Now that British summer has well and truly arrived, it’s more important than ever to make sure your skin is fully protected. A high SPF will protect you from burning but you must also consider the UVA rating of your chosen sun cream. The higher the UVA rating (which ranges from 0 to 5) the better protected you will be against UVA rays, which will keep your skin looking younger for longer. We recommend choosing a factor 50 sun cream with a 5 star UVA rating.
Pollution
Ever had irritated skin with no real sign as to why it suddenly appeared? Sometimes breakouts and rashes can be the result of exposure to pollution. But if you love the city life, don’t fear – you can keep your skin feeling silky soft by removing your make up properly, cleansing and moisturizing your face every day.
Smoking
We all know that smoking is harmful to your body but it will also affect your skin. The chemicals in nicotine increase the number of free radicals in your skin which in turn, cause damage. In a similar way to pollution, smoking also intensifies the effects of sun exposure. So, if you’re a smoker consider reducing the amount you smoke and make sure that sun cream is kept topped up.
Nutrition
Your diet will affect your skin so eating lots of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables is an important part of skincare. Antioxidants have the ability to neutralise the free radicals that damage skin and speed up ageing. Some popular foods include blueberries, raspberries and strawberries, as well as pecans, beans and the best of them all – dark chocolate.
