The truth is that we’re all worried about wrinkles. However old we are, ageing is a modern-day pre-occupation and a battle no one wants to give up on. So what causes fine lines and wrinkles and how can we get rid of them?
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NOTATIONS ON THE FACE
Corners of eyes: By your mid twenties you’ll notice little creases which slowly develop into those notorious crow’s feet.
Under Eyes: As micro-circulation slows and gravity takes
hold under bags may develop in your forties. Men will notice a pronounced
difference between the unlined oilier skin of their beard and the crinkly thin skin around their eyes.
Between Brows: This number ‘eleven’ isn’t so lucky.
Frowners will start to notice two vertical dips between their brows.
Forehead: Character lines across the forehead are the least
ageing as most of us tend to develop them early on.
Lips: If you’re a smoker you’ll quickly start to see vertical
lines. As we age our lips become thinner and less plump. Even more excuse
for gloss.
Obviously your genetic make-up will play a part in how you age. If you’re pale, the only downside to inheriting a porcelain
complexion is that you have less natural sun protective melanin than someone darker so you’re more susceptible to the damage sun can
do. But it’s not all down to the luck of the draw. "Genetics are responsible for an estimated 20% of skin ageing. The remaining 80% is down
to external factors that we can do something about," says Miami-based dermatologist Leslie Baumann.
WHEN SHALL I START MY ANTI-AGEING REGIME?
The sooner the better. "Wrinkles are no longer dictated by age," says Noella Gabriel, Director of Product and Treatment Development at Elemis. "Skin is shaped by the choices we make and our lifestyles challenge young skins with extremes that can lead to premature ageing." The problem is that an ‘extreme’ for the skin is a normal part of everyday life. "Central heating, air-conditioning, pollution, for men even shaving are all daily trials," warns Noella.
Prevention is paramount to protect life-stressed skin from ageing before it’s time so start using anti-oxidants as soon as you hit twenty.
The good Samaritans of skin-care, anti-oxidants police and mop up ageing free radicals, unstable cells released by anything from sun to stress
which damage and oxidise our healthy cells. Halve an apple and you’ll see these free radicals at work as the surface turns brown and visibly ages
in front of you. This is what happens to our skin over time, you just can’t see it.
IS SUN REALLY THAT AGEING?
It’s tempting to catch those rays but it’s damaging to both your skin and your health. If mere central heating sends skin into over-drive just think what UVA and UVB rays can do. Basking on a beach isn’t the only beauty sin as the UVA rays can penetrate through clouds and even glass.
However old you are, shielding skin against the sun is essential to fight wrinkles and more importantly to reduce the risk of skin
cancer. When you’re younger sun damage isn’t obvious but by your forties, pigmentation marks will give-away time spent tanning in your
twenties, as does the thicker, more wrinkled skin of sun worshippers’ a sure sign that collagen and elastin, the building blocks keeping skin
firm, have been damaged effectively collapsing.
It’s easy to protect skin with a minimum of SPF 15 all year, although SPF 30 is recommended during the summer months. The easiest way to do this is by incorporating sun-protection into your morning routine under your moisturiser and even in your foundation. It couldn’t be simpler.
HOW DO I GET RID OF THE LINES I'VE GOT
A good regime can only ever keep wrinkles at bay and by thirty most of us have accrued fine lines around the eyes and faint furrows along our foreheads. By day prevention is still a must so stick with anti-oxidants and SPF. But by night you can super charge skin when it naturally repairs and recharges with night creams and serums specifically devised to stimulate collagen and elastin production and boost skin cell renewal, all of which flag as we hit out mid-thirties leading to dullness and lack of bounce.
Beware of being over-zealous with your skin care. "An ageing skin is thinner," advises Noella. "Over-use of peels can further thin the skin leaving it
sensitized and susceptible to more damage and irritation." Follow the instructions to the letter or alternatively try Elemis Tri-enzyme Resurfacing
Range which works with the skin, gently nibbling away at dead cells and encouraging the production of new ones without stripping away our natural
micro-flora – the protective veil of good bacteria that keeps the skin’s surface balanced and healthy. It also diminishes pigmentation spots which
studies show are considered more ageing than lines and creases.
However good your genes and skincare regime, by 50 you’re likely to see some sagging, somewhere. Dryness and super sensitive skin
prone to flare-ups and flushing thanks to the menopause are key players in the ageing game. Luckily there’s a whole new slew of products specially
formulated to balance skin affected by hormonal changes keeping it protected from free radical damage, calming well as quenching with moisture.
Elemis’s SOS Emergency Cream does just that soothing with ingredients like Willow and Lavender.