Prevention, anti-ageing skincare in your twenties

PREVENTION, Anti-Ageing Skincare In Your Twenties

Today we all seem to be more time poor then ever before, stressed out, sleep deprived and to top it off we now live in the age of the SELFIE!  I don’t know if you feel the pressure, but I sometimes do, to be wonder woman and have gorgeous, glowing skin 24/7! 

As a practising beauty therapist I am often asked the question, when is a good age to introduce a skincare regime and anti-ageing ingredients?  To start the basics in skincare application, I believe it’s once we enter puberty, with a regime that would consist of deep cleansing and skincare products that protect the skins barrier such as a moisturiser and SPF.  To address the appearance of the signs of ageing, I believe we need to start in our early twenties, as I’m a huge believer in prevention. 

From my experience I find that women in their early twenties would rather spend money on clothes and social gatherings, then invest money in skin care products.  A lifestyle that consists of late nights, drinking and not removing make-up are stressors that contribute to a tired, dull and weakened complexion. What this demographic doesn’t realise is that the lifestyle choices they make now, and by not looking after their skin, could possibly result in the early signs of premature ageing. 

Just as it is important to eat fresh fruit and vegetables, to obtain a healthy skin foundation we also need to be mindful of the skincare products we apply to our skin topically, to nurture and look after our complexion. My message from my experience is for woman of all ages in particular early twenties, if you haven’t already, NOW is the time to start simple, results driven and cost effective skincare regime. 

TIP: PREVENTION + DAILY MAINTAINCE is KEY to achieve good skin health. 
A great skin health regime is like going to the gym, if you don’t practice methodically you don’t see the results! 
Stick to your regime and you will see the results- there is no Band-Aid solution- great skin doesn’t happen over night. 

I often hear many excuses on a day-to-day basis such as ‘time poor’ and skincare products being ‘too expensive’. I believe there should be no excuses! Fortunately we have a plethora of personal care products that cater to everyone and products are available at our fingertips! 

If you are truly passionate about great skin health, you need to be committed- it is through commitment that you will start to see positive changes in your complexion. 

3 SKIN HEALTH TIPS
1. Take the time to select the right products for your current skin condition
2. Discipline, a methodical approach
3. Three to five minutes is all it takes to create a skin health ritual

KEY ANTI-AGEING INGREDIENTS
Anti-ageing ingredients are usually referred to as actives or cosmeceuticals. 
The ingredient that is responsible for producing the desired effect of a mixture of ingredients and for giving the product its main characteristic. They may be proteins, vitamins, botanical extracts and so forth. NOTE: The active ingredient is not necessarily the most common ingredient in a product.  

There is a plethora of anti-ageing ingredients that I will flesh out for you in another post. 
For now, read below three of my favourite topical vitamin actives. 

*VITAMIN A (Retinoids) 
A class of chemical compounds related chemically to vitamin A.  Used in skin care formulations for their properties in regulating epithelial cell growth. (Stimulate collagen production, regulates cell turnover) 

I always apply a vitamin A serum sparingly in the evening only as it makes the skin photosensitive. Because of this, make sure to apply and reapply your sunscreen and wear a hat when outdoors. 

*VITAMIN B3 (Niacinamide)
One of my favouritate ingredients! Niacinamide has an endless list of skin health benefits, this multitasking ingredient is designed to rejuvenate and strengthen skin. 

*VITAMIN C (Look for L-Ascorbic Acid) 
I apply this fabulous skin soothing, anti-oxidant in the am to help fight free radicals (environmental pollution and other stressors). Vitamin C applied topically to the skin is also great to even out skin tone, revitalise the complexion and improve hydration. 

80/20 RULE
Lastly, I always inform my clients about the 80/20 rule.  20% as a skin health consultant I provide treatments with higher strength ingredients, most important is that 80% of great skin health is achieved with a simple and effective at home skin maintenance routine. 

© Amy Erbacher Copyright 2016