7 Deadly Skin Sins

​I don't know anybody who wants to look old before their time., and none of us desires grey, sallow skin.  As we are now living longer we want to stay looking and feeling younger for longer too.

​Some of the ageing process comes from our genetics, so its worth taking a look at your parents  and observitng how they've aged, as that will give you a pretty good indication of how you will hold out in old age.  BUT there are so many other factors that can really make a HUGE difference when it comes to slowing down the ageing process, and keeping that gorgeous radiant glow, so there really is hope!  It may surprise you, that only 10% of ageing comes from our genes. The rest is down to the environment (epi-genetics) we put ourselves in, the food we eat, the nutrients we absorb and the products we apply. This means we can put a stop to premature ageing and stay wrinkle free for as long as possible.  I know that I definltey like the sound of that.

7 things you must avoid at all costs if you want gorgeous glowing & wrinkle free skin

1) Exposure to excessive sunlight
Please take note of  the word ‘excessive’.   We absolultely need some sunlight as it is our main source of vitamin D, which is a vital vitamin for bone health, skin health, our immunity and so much more.  BUT basking in the sun 24/7 will most certainly lead to the leather hand bag look that none of us want to be sporting. There are 2 types of rays that we get from the sun. UVB rays are the rays that burn you but UVA rays are the ageing rays.  UVA penetrates through glass, which is why we tend to age more on the right side of our face (due to the side of the road we drive on) whereas in the USA they age more on the left side. So rather than just thinking about using a sunscreen when we are in sunlight we need to think about using it all the time as the UVA rays will penetrate clouds and glass. Zinc oxide is a powdered mineral that sits on top of the skin,scattering and absorbing UVA & UVB rays so is a good choice to look for when looking for effective and safe sun protection. Consider your day lotion? Does it have an SPF and do you know the source of that SPF? There is no point slapping an SPF on if it is a heavily chemically based on which could be doing your skin and body more harm than the sunlight itself

2) Mineral oil
This is a by-product of the petrol industry. It is in a huge proportion of products on the market and acts like cling film on the skin. Not only does this mean your biggest detoxifying organ is being suffocated, it also intensifies the damaging effects of the sun! Some studies have shown it to be the 2nd biggest ager of the skin after the sun as it disrupts the skins natural function so when looking for your anti ageing products check the labels for mineral oil (also known as Petrolatum, Petroleum or parrafinum liquidum)

2) Sugar
People often ask me ‘does what I eat really affect my skin?’ the answer is a BIG FAT YES!!! Our bodies are made up from the food we eat and absorb. Sugar, that pesky little devil can cause fine lines and wrinkles. Who would have thought it?! It does this by attaching to the collagen in your skin making it stiff and inflexible. When your collagen is cross linked with sugar, you end up with stiff, sagging skin. So ditch the sweet treats to preserve your youth

4) Dirty make up brushes
Make up brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria. You would be totally grossed out if you put your make up brushes that haven’t been washed under a microscope. If you are finding that you are getting spotty, maybe it is time to wash those brushes. I would recommend doing this on a weekly basis

5) Sleeping in your make up
I know I know, sometimes we just can't be bothered to remove it - but it will impact your skin. Especially if you are using chemically based make up which I would recommend avoiding in the first place. I choose to use Arbonne Internationals mineral based make up which is treatment based.  And I know it doesn’t contain any pore clogging ingredients and is actually feeding my skin with anti-ageing elements..Double bonus!! Sleeping in make up will cause blocked pores, dirt trapped next to the skin and ultimately grey spotty skin.

6) Dehydration
Up to 60% of our bodies are water so if you are dehydrated this will have an effect on the skin cells. Skin appears youthful when it is loaded with moisture so you want to keep as much moisture in the skin cells as possible to preserve that glow. Think about how much older you look the next morning when you have had a night out on the town. The wrinkles are ten times worse because your skin is parched

7) Low fat diets
You need fat…fact!!! Every cell in the body needs fat to function as the outer layer of cells are made from fats. Not only that, your hormones are made from fat too so if you are eating low fat, you will have out of balance hormones which in turn will affect hair, nails and skin.  Consuming foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids leads to smoother, younger-looking skin with a visible reduction in inflammatory skin conditions like acne and psoriasis. These fats are abundant in cold water fatty fish such as sardines, salmon, mackerel, tuna, anchovies, and herring. So don’t fear the fat. Instead fear the sugar and refined carbohydrates!

For more information on product recommendations please feel free to get in touch.

Emma x