As unfair as it may seem, aging is inevitable and often starts to sneak up on us without warning. Fine lines, wrinkles, sunspots, dry skin – they all start to creep in way sooner than you’d expect and long before we’re ready for them. All is not lost, however – there are a great many things you can do to ward off the effects of the passage of time and keep yourself looking younger for longer. Keeping our faces, bodies, and hair looking and feeling fresh and healthy means making a few simple lifestyle changes. With a wealth of scientific research behind them, these anti-aging skin care tips and tricks are guaranteed to help you continue looking your very best.

AGE FIGHTING Secret 1

TREAT YOUR SKIN

Many products claim to eradicate wrinkles and pigmentation problems, but can you really trust them to do what they say? Each claims to contain a new ingredient that will wash away the years, but few of them have any scientific backing. One ingredient that DOES have impressive credentials is Cichoric Acid. This well-established antioxidant has had great success in laboratory tests and clinical trials. Now usedin a wide range of anti-aging products, Cichoric Acid has many properties that help to protect and firm the skin.

Cichoric Acid is a potent antioxidant, which is great news for our collagen. By inhibiting the action of free radicals and enzymes that target collagen fibers, Cichoric Acid can help to protect the skin and maintain its firmness over time. This can prevent early wrinkles from setting in while improving the appearance of others, and – by improving skin’s elasticity – can also alleviate sagging and drooping. What’s more, Cichoric Acid works to normalize the skin’s pigmentation, reducing the appearance of dark spots and freckles caused by sun exposure – leaving you with a clear and even skin tone. These effects can go a long way to making your face appear fresher and younger. Cichoric Acid is a natural ingredient and is commonly derived from the Echinacea Purpura plant. 

AGE FIGHTING Secret 2

DRINK PLENTY OF WATER

Everybody knows that staying hydrated throughout the day has numerous health benefits. It helps maintain the body’s fluid balance, keeps our complexions clear and helps us maintain a healthy weight – but could it also help to prevent us from aging? Scientists believe it can! Dry flaky and dull skin often signifies a loss of hydration. All of this can weaken the skin, and weak skin is more likely to wrinkle and droop. By staying adequately hydrated you can prevent this from happening, and preserve bounce and firmness for longer.

Getting an adequate amount of water is also essential for aiding therenewal and repair of the skin. Water facilitates the delivery of essential nutrients to your skin cells, keeping them healthy and your complexion glowing. Dehydration can impact both your general health and your complexion by making you more tired and more acne prone, neither of which are going to benefit your appearance. Plain, filtered water is the best thing you can drink, with bottled water coming a close second. Avoid sugary drinks and soda, as these are of no benefit to the health, and can contribute to skin problems rather than cure them. #ProTip: Keep a bottle of water with you at all times, and keep sipping at it throughout the day to keep your skin clear, radiant, and youthful.

AGE FIGHTING Secret 3

REDUCE STRESS

Stress is an unavoidable part of adult life, and is something we all must deal with from time to time. Apart from being emotionally wearing, chronic stress can have all sorts of physical effects. Stress can cause insomnia, weight problems, immune deficiencies, can increase our risk of heart disease, and can even contribute to the aging process.

This is because stress causes the shortening of telomeres, the protective caps on your chromosomes that dictate the age of the cells, and therefore when they will die. As telomeres shorten, so does the life span of the cell. This not only contributes heavily to premature aging, but can even shorten overall life span. Avoiding stress altogether is an unrealistic goal, but you can certainly do more to reduce stress in your life for the benefit of your health, your physical and your emotional wellbeing. There are all sorts of ways in which you can do this, such as practicing breathing exercises, surrounding yourself with the moral support of your friends and family and taking up meditative exercises, such as yoga. All of this can go a long way towards alleviating stress and allowing you to live a calmer lifestyle, which will help to prevent premature frown lines. #ProTip: Practice stress relieving exercises when things start to get on top of you, such as breathing exercises and yoga, to reduce the impact of stress hormones on the body.  

AGE FIGHTING Secret 4

EXERCISE

Regular exercise keeps you healthy, fit, energized and happy, and there’s even strong evidence to suggest that it could keep you looking and feeling younger for longer – what’s not to love?

Scientists have found that exercise may be thesingle best way to ward off the effects of aging. Keeping fit benefits you physically and mentally. Aside from that, there’s the undeniable fact that those with good muscle tone look more fit with skin that appears firmer and more youthful. Cosmetic benefits aside, regular exercise can enhance both your life span and your quality of life in old age, as it helps to fend off muscle wasting and bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Muscle loss is a leading cause of frailty and disease, and some studies have shown that those with less muscle mass are at anincreased risk of early death. So, with that in mind, get out there and get active! Even if the thought of joining a gym is unappealing, there are plenty of other ways you can get your daily fix of exercise – swimming, aerobics and dance classes, yoga, or even a good, brisk walk around the park are all viable ways of getting your blood pumping. #ProTip: Aim to get a good 30 minutes of exercise a day to keep your muscles strong and your body fit and healthy.

AGE FIGHTING Secret 5

EAT HEALTHY

What we eat can have a huge impact on how quickly we age, with some foods helping us to maintain our health while others can accelerate the aging process.Inflammatory foodscan make us look old before our time. Limiting your intake of these kinds of foods can help prevent the early onset of wrinkles, keeping you looking fresher for longer.

The good news is that there are loads of food that help slow the aging process, and can benefit your appearance as they do so. Foods high in amino acids, such as fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds, can help to repair damage to collagen and elastin, promoting firmness and warding off wrinkles. Foods like tomatoes, carrots, kale, and pumpkin are rich in antioxidants, which can counteract the harmful effects of free radicals, protecting our skin, and keeping it bright and firm. If you suffer with dark under-eye circles, potassium could be the answer – stock up on potatoes, beans, and legumes, and reduce your intake of sodium to keep eyes looking fresh. Is your skin looking dull and dry? Dark, leafy greens such as broccoli, spinach, and kale have a high water content, which can help to keep your skin hydrated, and your complexion radiant. #ProTip: Fill your diet with bright, colorful fruits and vegetables, and consider supplementing your diet with vitamins if you think you may be deficient.

AGE FIGHTING Secret 6

WEAR SUNSCREEN (EVERY DAY!)

This is one of the most important anti-aging skincare tips that we recommend at Farmacy, let's check out why. The sun is the biggest culprit in causing the early onset of wrinkles, as those harmful UV rays penetrate our skin and destroy elastin, compromising the firmness of our skin. Even anti-aging creams can’t help very much if you get too much sun over the years!Too much sunlight can also cause an over production of melanin, leading to hyperpigmentation, which is what causes dark spots and freckles.

Fortunately, it’s easy to prevent the damaging effects of those UV rays, simply by remembering to apply sunscreen. This should be something you do every morning before you leave the house, and not just on sunny days. UV rays are perfectly capable of penetrating clouds, so it’s important to make sure you are protected even when it’s grey outside. Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, with a high SPF like Green Defense (30 and above, please) especially if you have fair skin, which is more susceptible to the damaging effects of sunlight. And don’t be stingy with it, either – your skin will thank you later. #ProTip: Wear a high 30 SPF broad spectrum sunscreen every day so sun protection becomes a natural part of your morning routine.

AGE FIGHTING Secret 7

TAKE CARE OF YOUR HAIR

Although gray hair and thinning locks come to us all at some time or another, we can do plenty to keep our hair thick, shiny, and lustrous for longer. Maintaining the health of your hair is simple when you know how.

Many of us wash our hair every day, but over-washing can strip away the natural oils responsible for protecting hair strands and boosting shine. To minimize this effect, you can use less product or switch to a  to reduce damage and keep your hair looking and feeling healthy. A further peril of washing is that our hair is most fragile and prone to breakage when it’s wet. We’re all guilty of towel drying, but you need to stop that right away if you want to keep your hair strong. Detangle gently with a wide tooth comb while you haveconditioner in your hair, and avoid vigorous brushing. Heat can also cause a lot of damage, so use a heat protection spray if you blow dry or straighten your hair often. If you want to be kind to your hair, opt for a cooler temperature setting when using a hairdryer. This will help to prevent frizzy, flyaway hairs and keep your locks smooth, soft, and shiny. Tight hairstyles can put a strain on the roots and exacerbate hair loss, so loosen up that ponytail. #ProTip: Treat your hair gently if you want to keep it thick and healthy, and useessential oils to restore luster and shine. We all have to grow older, but that doesn’t mean we have to look our age. Follow these simple, scientifically supported anti-aging skin care tips to keep your skin, body, and hair at its best.