5 ways to look younger. (No yoga or kale required).

By NICKY CHAMP

So you’ve landed here because a) you want to look after your skin for the future or b) you want to look younger now, right NOW DAMMIT.

If you’re in the latter camp then fair enough. We live in the age of instant gratification and it’s much easier to live your life without the unsexy limitations of liberal sunscreen application and not drinking your body weight in vodka.

Whether you want to age gracefully or the smallest hint of crow’s feet has you researching Botox treatments, the pressure to look ‘good for our age’ is greater than ever. Blame 50-year-old celebrities who deny having plastic surgery and put it all down to a strict yoga routine and kale.

It’s inevitable that as we age our skin will lose elastin and collagen and wrinkles will begin to form, but there are many non-invasive things you can do to prevent your skin from looking like Cameron Diaz’s neighbour, Magda, in There’s Something About Mary.

1. Invest in a moisturiser with hyaluronic acid.

I know what you’re thinking, Nic, hyaluronic acid sounds scary, why on earth would I want to put that on my face? Sure, anyone telling you to put acid on your face doesn’t sound legit, but hear me out.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is found naturally in your body, it’s the gel-like stuff that stops your joints and bones rubbing against each other and more importantly, it hydrates your skin and hair. It gained momentum when a reporter discovered HA was the reason that 90-year-old’s in a remote Japanese village had wrinkle-free skin, luscious hair and the flexibility of Jane Fonda in the 80s. It was found that soya and tofu from their diet sent signals to their cells to make more hyaluronic acid. Suddenly thinking about eating more tofu? Maybe bathing in it? Me too, and this brings me to my next point.

Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Neutrogena. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100 per cent authentic and written in their own words.

2. Eat right.

Ask any makeup artist or skin esthetician (and I have) about how to get a flawless complexion, and they’ll say it’s all down to eating well and a regular skincare routine.

I know, to us instant gratifiers it’s not the news we want to hear. But until Science invents a pill that can give us glowing, perfect skin, it’s down to us – and what we put in our mouths. The best fruits and vegetables that contain skin-boosting goodness (Vitamin A, C and E) are: nuts, seeds, oranges, papayas, mangoes, eggs, spinach, sweet potatoes, capsicum, broccoli, peaches and spinach.

You could probably make a salad with all of those if you like to live on the edge.

3. Wear sunscreen every single day (no excuses).

You know it, I know it: wearing sunscreen is not only beneficial for preventing skin cancer; it also helps to stop premature ageing. Those pesky UVA and UVB rays can even get you though car windows. The best way to avoid wrinkles and age spots is to apply a high SPF factor sunscreen, and reapply it through the day if you are going to be in the sun a lot. No exceptions. ‘Kay?

4. Water, water, and more water.

Ok, pop quiz time: does dry skin cause wrinkles? If you answered yes, then sorry but no dice. Dry skin exacerbates wrinkles because it makes them more visible, but it’s not the cause itself. Environmental factors such as the sun, smoking, inadequate diet, and not getting enough sleep or properly cleansing the skin are all responsible for wrinkles and fine lines forming on the skin.

While drinking your eight glasses a day won’t directly hydrate the skin, it will improve gut function, which does reflect on your skin. Up your water intake and it can take years off your face.

5. Exfoliate.

Proper washing and exfoliating will help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. I repeat: proper washing and exfoliating will help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Is there any greater motivation than that? Don’t answer that, there isn’t. Opt for a chemical exfoliant (one that contains AHAs or BHAs) over a physical one (a granular scrub) as it’s gentler on the skin.

What are your tips for keeping skin healthy?

Here are some more tips on simple skin care..

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