Five Ways You Are Ageing Your Skin
The natural ageing process is something we all have to go through, from noticing that first grey hair to sagging skin and the appearance of fine line and wrinkles. Although genetics plays a large part in determining how and when our skin shows the signs of ageing, the lifestyle choices you make everyday have a huge impact on the condition and appearance of your complexion. We've listed the five most common things you probably do everyday that are wrecking your skin. Luckily for you, most of them are easily fixed.
1. Skipping the SPF
We all know the dangers of spending too much time in the sun, yet still many of us are not clued up when it comes to SPF. A recent study by Boots Soltan found that even though we're buying more sunscreen, we still don't know how to use it properly with a third of us using it to get a 'safe tan' - even though there's no such thing! Prolonged exposure to UV rays is the biggest aggressor to skin, it damages elastin fibres in the skin and when these break down skin begins to sag and stretch. Sun exposure can also cause drink to become dehydrated, making wrinkles more prominent, and you can become more prominent to pigmentation and discolouration. You should apply a broad spectrum SPF to skin not covered by clothing everyday. Our Aqua Physics Defence Cream contains a mineral UV filter to instantly protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays.
2. Not Thinking About Pollution
Whether we're walking to work, jumping on a bus or strolling around the city soaking up some culture, pollution is everywhere and it's playing havoc with our skin. Pollution is actually the second biggest aggressor to skin and can cause skin to become itchy, red and sensitive. Even if you haven't noticed any side effects from pollution, your skin is still being damaged. Pollutants increase the number of free radicals, highly unstable oxygen molecules which attack DNA, this decreases collagen production and skin becomes less elastic. One of the most effective ways to protect you skin from pollution is make sure you thoroughly cleanse it every day to ride your pores of dirt and impurities. Our Daily Orbit Energising Essence contains antioxidants to fight against the damaging effects of free radicals.
3. Going To Bed With Your Makeup On
It's something that we all do once in a while, when we've had a late night, we're feeling too tired, or simply can't be bothered to cleanse our face, but it's a bad habit that needs to be stopped now. Sleeping in your makeup leads to your pores becoming clogged and stretching, making you more prone to blemishes. Skipping the cleansing can also cause inflammation, which can generate free radicals and lead to collagen breakdown. No matter how tired or lazy you feel you should always remember to take the time to properly cleanse your face.
4. Stressing Out
Research has found that work related exhaustion can have an impact when it comes to ageing. One study measured sections of DNA called telomeres, and found that those with the highest level of job-related stress had the shortest telomeres. When telomeres become to short cells become damaged or die. High levels of stress can also lead to unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking, drinking and staying up late, all of which can damage the skin. Try to find time everyday, or at least once a week, to relax and calm yourself. Our Bio Cellulose Facial Treatment Mask is the perfect skin pick-me-up.
5. Making Bad Food Choices
We all love to indulge in a decadent dessert now again, but if you're constantly picking food which at laden with sugars and saturated fats then it's bad news for your skin. Sugar is incredibly damaging skin, this is because it leads to spike in insulin levels which produces enzymes that attack collagen and elastin in the skin. Digested sugar then attached itself to collagen, and further exacerbates the ageing process. A sweet treat now and again doesn't do any harm, but balance is the key here. Pack your diet full of fruits and vegetables, which contains plenty of skin-nourishing antioxidants and vitamins. Try juicing as an easy way to pack extra goodness into your diet.