I am always the first one to state that there is no magic bullet for antiageing. Sorry, but here is the good news, there are so many amazing little tricks and tips to keep premature ageing away.
Our face is a canvas upon which we write our life's stories…every line, every expression has its own tale to tell. It's who we are, and why we are so unique.
The first step in creating beautiful healthy skin is learning to read the messages you skin is sending you. Since your skin is a reflection of your general health, it follows that lack of sleep, hormonal swings and other imbalances appear on your face first. In fact, for centuries, the Chinese have looked on the colour of the skin around the eyes as an indication of health, for example, a green tinge may be indicative of liver imbalance.
Your face will also reveal your bad habits. Smoking and excessive sun exposure can prematurely age skin, leading the early appearance of wrinkles.
Looking after your skin should be as easy task and not a time consuming and costly affair. The result of our lifestyles takes its toll on the way we look and feel. Pollution, fast food, stress and the sun will all put extra strain on our skin. The consequence of our busy lifestyles leads to increased production of free-radicals, rogue molecules which accelerate ageing and increase our need for antioxidants, mandatory molecules to mop up this damage.
Furthermore, It is widely known that a lifestyle that includes a cocktail of alcohol, little water intake, poor diets (especially diets high in refined sugars and carbohydrates) and cigarettes will amplify your need for more protection through antioxidants.
As a naturopath I subscribe to the belief that ‘You are what you eat’. It’s an age old adage to make sure you are eating a balanced and nutritious diet. To maintain a radiant complexion you should try to avoid refined carbohydrates, excessive sugar, fried and fatty foods and increase you consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains.
Our body requires water. The body is made of somewhere between 50-75% water and you should aim to drink 8-10 glasses of water daily. Water will help your body flush out any nasties and keep your skin looking soft. Go for filtered tap water or still mineral water, at room temperature.
Let’s talk sleep…Its no wonder Cinderella needed to be in bed by midnight. The body is designed to heal itself during sleep; we do most of this healing between the hours of 11pm and 1am. Recent research reveals that sleeping between 6am-9am is when our body restores the stress hormones in the body allowing you to better cope the following with your busy schedule. Aim to have 6-8 hours of sleep each night. Avoiding caffeine before sleeping and switching to chamomile herbal tea is an effective way to relax the mind to encourage a peaceful sleep.
All the above are general lifestyle guidelines, but we are all so individually unique that it’s not one size fits all. It is said that by the time the average woman gets up and showers and applies make up she may have exposed herself to up to 60 chemicals.
Here are a just few ingredients to watch out for:
• Foaming agents such as sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are drying and may cause eczema.
• The various forms of parabens as preservatives are commonly found in skin care products and may cause rashes and other allergic reactions.
• Diethanolamine (DEA) is used extensively for its emulsifying and foaming properties and has been associated with allergic reactions and eye irritation.
• Mineral oil. Though it would be mistaken to suggest that mineral oil is not “natural” – it is derived from crude oil, which as we know, comes from the earth. The question you have to ask yourself is – do I want to put something that is a by-product of the petrochemical industry on my skin?
It’s important to remember, though, that natural products can sometimes cause allergies too, so if you have sensitive skin, be aware of this and take care.
Our principles are very simple, use the best natural and certified organic ingredients, honest expert advice, quality service, and incredibly effective products. So, whilst there isn't any miracle cure for ageing, you can always arm yourself with knowledge, and we think that is the most powerful apparatus you can own.
