Unless you plan on discovering the fountain of youth anytime soon, chances are you’re going to begin to show the signs of ageing.
Sooner or later our bodies all succumb to the ravages of ‘Father Time’ and the ‘Dad Bod’. But just because you’re getting older it doesn’t mean you have to show it.
There are a number of simple measures you can take now to appear younger and simultaneously slow down the ageing process of your skin. Many of these measures will fit into your normal skincare routine while others won’t cost you a cent.
So we’re saying to hell with ageing gracefully. Employ these simple tips to ensure a bright, youthful appearance well into your distinguished years.
Hit Pause On The Beard
We’re advocates of a good beard here but it needs to be said that if you’re after a more youthful look, it’s probably a good idea to crack out the razor regularly. Researchers from Britain’s leading hair transplant centre, Crown Clinic, believe that a growing a beard can make men look up to ten years older. More specifically, the study revealed that even a light stubble can add three years to your perceived age whilst a moustache can up to five years.
So the question you need to ask yourself is do you want to look like a rugged gentleman or an immortal Keanu Reeves? Answer: Why not both. Alternate the looks to keep people guessing. And if that’s still not enough reason for you to keep the beard in check, you should probably take note of the facial hair styles that women absolutely hate.
Moisturise, You Magnificent Bastard
It’s proven that those who suffer from dry skin are more prone to wrinkles and signs of ageing, whereas those with oily skin have less wrinkles and are less prone. Now we aren’t telling you to go out and bath yourself in Vaseline (unless you’re into that stuff); the key point to take away here is to keep your skin moisturised evenly on a regular basis.
A good moisturiser with anti-ageing properties will keep your skin continuously hydrated, which minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while also bringing vitality to dull and lifeless skin. Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Heavy Lifting Moisturiser will do the hard work of fighting the signs of ageing.
Skin will be moisturised while at the same time increasing the skin’s elasticity and firmness with ingredients such as caffeine, linseed extract and Vitamin C. The inclusion of salicylic acid helps smooth imperfections and tightens skin.
Scrub Away Those Years
A build up of dead skin cells over time gives the skin a dull, lifeless look. As you get older, dead skin cells multiply and do not shed naturally or as quickly as they once did. It’s important to scrub away these dead skin cells manually to allow new, younger cells to reach the surface and provide a brighter and youthful appearance.
When purchasing a face scrub or even a face wash for anti ageing purposes, look for the ingredient hydroxy acid – this ingredient smooths fine lines and assists in the shedding of dead skin. Give Lab Series Invigorating Face Scrub a go at removing the build up of dead skin cells whilst also unclogging pores.
This scrub includes menthol which when applied to the skin stimulates blood flow, improving its appearance and speeding up the skin’s natural shedding process.
Focus Around The Eyes
For the purposes of anti-ageing, the eyes aren’t a window to the soul – they are a glaring indication of getting and looking older. Given the delicate nature of the skin around the eyes, they are always the first to show the signs of ageing.
Crow’s feet, wrinkles, dark spots and bags under the eyes are all factors that will make you look older. Shiseido Men Deep Wrinkle Corrector will help out those aged peepers.
Containing the miracle anti-ageing ingredient of Retinol, this product is designed for the whole face but is particularly effective on the eye area. It ensures a firmer more youthful result while smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines perfect for crow’s feet.
Hit The Snooze Button
Sticking with tired looking eyes, we can’t stress the importance of getting enough sleep to help fight the signs of ageing. For the purposes of anti ageing, the term “beauty sleep” is all too real and ideally you should be getting 7-9 hours of rest a night to reap the benefits.
The body and more importantly your skin repairs itself while you rest so be sure to hit the pillow hard to maintain a youthful look.
Slip, Slop, Slap
Excessive sun exposure is a significant contributor to early sings of ageing, causing wrinkles and age spots. Applying sun screen should be a regular part of your daily routine to avoid sunburn and potential skin cancer, an SPF 30 or higher will help to avoid such nasties while also keeping skin from drying out and ageing prematurely.
Apply sun screen at least half an hour before heading outdoors and re-apply when needed for continuous protection. Be sure to wear a pair of well-fitted sunglasses when you’re out as excessive squinting will cause wrinkles to form around the eye area.