Luminous skin is youthful. And achievable. At any age!
So it’s a question often pondered. What does your skin need to be ageless? Can the skin be ageless? Last week we looked at how and why our skin ages. We also discussed the idea of making a few small changes to shift our beliefs from the inevitability of ageing to something more positive.
For me, the definition of an ageless skin is not so much, a skin without wrinkles, as that’s inevitable, but rather a complexion that glows with luminosity.
But of course, there’s no magic bullet. Nor is there a miracle ingredient or cure-all. I believe there are four keys elements to luminous skin.
This week, in Part 2 of the Positive Ageing Series it’s time to take action and there are four essential elements you need to know about.
Answering the question; What does your skin need to be ageless?
There are four essential elements for better skin health.
Seek advice from a recognised Skincare Professional.
Skin-identical ingredients to switch on cell communication.
Sun protection that repairs while it protects.
A committed approach by YOU.
1. Finding the best advice.
Finding the right advice can be a confusing and frustrating experience, and the results you’re hoping for can be elusive.
The best place to start is with a complete consultation with a skincare professional who specialises in the skin. Someone who understands the skin can analyse your skin conditions correctly and can recommend the topical skincare ingredients that are proven to work.
2. Smart ingredients communicate with your skin cells.
To be effective, the ingredients in your skincare must communicate with your skin at a cellular level.
A synergy between skincare and your skin enables the recognition and acceptance of active ingredients, improving the performance of your skin, building up antioxidant reserves to fight free radicals and improve your skin’s protective barrier function and resilience.
Amongst these essential ingredients are vitamins lipids and proteins which are necessary to your skin’s health and resilience.
Vitamins for your skin.
The vitamin, Niacinamide (B3) is remarkable in its ability to boost the immunity of your skin and in turn enables better facilitation of every other topical vitamin, lipid or protein applied to your skin.
The demands on your bodies antioxidant reserves are constant, and when it comes to your skin, a direct and targeted approach is the best solution. Vitamins A, C and E when applied daily, fight the good fight against free radical damage and when used topically protect you from any possible deficiencies in your skin.
We’ve talked about the importance of vitamin A as an antioxidant, but it also plays an essential role in repairing the very DNA of your skin cells. A combination of Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate and Retinaldehyde deliver everything your skin cells need to improve themselves.
Youth enzyme activators.
The skin has a natural ability to repair and renew itself. But, it slows down as we age. Daily use of alpha hydroxy acid will switch your youth activating enzymes back on bringing you skin back to something much closer to optimal health.
Skin identical lipids + hydration.
There’s one area of skincare, often dismissed as not-so-important or not essential. Wrong! Don’t ruin a great skincare routine with the wrong cleansers and moisturisers! Your skin knows what it needs to perform optimally. Optimal skin health comes from giving it what’s missing by recreating a healthy environment with skin-identical ingredients.
Ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid and essential fatty acids, repair and maintain the healthy structure of the skin, which in turn, protects your skin from the rigours of the environment and eliminates the potential for any deficiencies in the skin that can lead to dry, dull and irritated skin.
3. Sun Protection
Approaching the way you protect your skin from the sun is much more than merely slapping on SPF30+ and then heading out the door. What’s needed is protection, not just from UVA and UVB but also from the sometimes harsh heat of the sun.
Once again, Niacinamide plays a crucial role in protecting the skin from inflammatory heat. When layered with sophisticated formulations containing a combination of vitamin A, C and E will provide the skin with the essential nutrients that are lost when the skin is exposed to the sun too often.
There are also specific botanicals such as geranium, artichoke, cherry blossom and bearberry extracts which will inhibit the activation of pigment. If your goal is to minimise the inflammation that activates melanin and the potential for a dysfunctional distribution of pigment throughout the skin, causing a blotchy and uneven skin tone, then these pigment blocking inhibitors are essential.
4. A committed approach
And finally. Commit. You’ll never be happy with a quick fix. Not only a waste of your time money but if you want bright, healthy and luminous skin, then this is a deal-breaker. Commit to a system of products designed to combat skin conditions.
A good skincare professional will develop a treatment plan tailored just for you, all the while monitoring your progress and results.
Reinforce all your efforts with proper nutrition, moderate exercise, don’t smoke and cut back on sugar, and you will be delighted with the luminosity of your skin. A skin that reflects light and glows with good health. At every age!
And, in case you missed Part 1 in the Positive Ageing Series, you can find it here.
Next week I’ll be discussing the best techniques in makeup – and how to enhance rather than hide your skin and maintain a luminous glow.
See you next time,
Source: Niacinamide protects skin immunity.