As stated on Closeronline, forget surgery – get naturally younger skin…

While its hard not to envy the wonderfully natural and radiant complexions of stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman and Kylie Minogue, their good skin actually comes from within.  A religious routine of cleansing, toning and moisturising certainly helps, but if you want to achieve and maintain that film star look, it’s important to follow the right diet and lifestyle now to remain wrinkle-free later in life. In Hollywood, a youthful appearance is everything – so much so that many stars are relying on facelifts, botox injections and collagen implants to rejuvenate both their faces and their figures. However, such surgical procedures can have side effects and the finished results can fallshort of those desired, as stars such as Leslie Ash and Melanie Griffith know only too well. Thankfully, more and more stars are shunning surgery – and it’s risks – in favour of natural skincare routines which will help them to keep their looks for longer…

Look after your skin

Age Concern!                                                                                                                                                          The rate at which your body ages, depends much more on how you live – and even where you live – than your genes. Skin ages as collagen and elastin, the two major components in the underlying structure of the skin, degenerate. According to top dermatologist Professor Nicholas Lowe, factors such as exposed  to sunlight, pollution and habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol and eating too many processed or refined foods have a much more significant affect on the ageing  process than genetic inheritance. And the good news is, that it’s never too late to take positive action in the race against time.

Take cover from the sun!                                                                                                                                                  The number one cause of skin damage is the sun. As well as causing skin cancer, sunlight is responsible for up to 80% of premature lines and wrinkles. However, it’s not only holiday sunbathing which does the damage, but daily exposure to UVA light that can ulitmately lead to long term harm. It is important to use a sunscreen containing a SPF of at least 15 everyday during the summer months even on cloudy days.

Fight off pollution!                                                                                                                                                                                                It isn’t just the sun’s rays which can harm the skin. Smog, dirt and the chemicals in the air we breathe can also have a detrimental effect, with possible free radical damage caused by anything form burning coal to household products. Pollution is hard to avoid, but if you work in an air-conditioned office, you should invest in an ioniser. The negative ions put out by these small devices are said to help counteract pollution, including cigarette smoke.

Stop smoking!                                                                                                                                                As a person smokes a cigarette, a round 4,000 toxins enter the body and stick to the skin, restricting it’s oxygen supply causing a breakdown of collagen and elastin – proteins that help to keep the skin supple. This oxygen starvation also leads to dehydration, dryness, pallor and, of course wrinkles. This will eventually result in thinner skin, which is more prone to wrinkling and discolouration. Scientific studies have shown that the chemicals in cigarettes put pressure on the body’s metabolism, increasing production of damagin free radicals. The best solution is to give up smoking altogether and to avoid smokey atmospheres whenever possible. Also always use a moisturiser containing antioxidants, which can help to neutralise the damage.

Forever young!                                                                                                                                                       Many of the visible effects of ageing, such as wrinkles, and also those we can’t see, such as deterioration of organs, are caused by free radicals. Skin thrives on foods brimming with natural goodness, so eat lots of antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetables packed with vitamins C and E. Fruit and veg also contain beta carotene, which the body converts into vitamins A, and the minerals selenium and zinc, which all help counteract the activity of free radicals. In her book Perfect Skin (12.99 Piatkus) Amanda Cochrane lists other key nutrients:

• B Complex vitamins - Help repair skin tissue and oxygenate the skin.  The best sources are wholegrain cereals, brown rice and green leafy vegetables.
• Essential fatty acids - These are used to build cell membranes.  The two most important, Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids help keep the skin soft and stop it dehydrating.  Found inseeds, nuts and oily fish.
• Calcium – This works alongside vitamin C to make collagen and other nutrients which keep skin healthy. The best sources include daity produce, fresh fish and chickpeas.
• Iron – This helps carry all important oxygen in the blood to the skin. The best sources include sardines, shellfish and wholegrains.
• Magnesium – Important for repair and renewal, It can counteract the effects of stress. The best sources include almonds, soya beans and wholegrains.
• Silica - Essential for cell growth and keeping skin smooth. Sources include oats, barleys and onions.
• Sulphur - Helps to get rid of toxins and contains anti-ageing enzymes. Found in eggs and meat.

Drink up!                                                                                                                                                                   Drinking six to eight glasses of filtered or bottled water a day will help to keep skin cells moist and plump, so that the epidermis appears softer, more supple and younger-looking. Consuming plenty of water will also help flush unwanted toxins from the body to aid digestion. Alcohol is bad news for the skin. It leaves it dehydrated and interferes with circulation, robbing it of valuable moisture and inhibiting the absoption of vital vitamins and minerals – in particular vitamins A, B and C, magnesium, sinc and fatty acids. Cut down to a maximum of one or two glasses of wine a day.

Get moving!                                                                                                                                                                                                               Exercise is essential for good skin. When you workout, oxygen surges to every cell, allowing nutrietns to be absorbed more effeciently. This means more collagen production, which improves texture and moisture retention. Researchers at the University of Winsconsin, USA, say the more oxygen taken in, the less likely you are to suffer free radical damage. Aerobic exercise stimulates the circulation, improves digestion and brings a glow to your skin. It also helps prevent age-related conditions, such as osteoporosis and heart disease.

Getyour beauty sleep!                                                                                                                                                                                                                The better we sleep, the better we feel. During sleep, the body releases a growth hormone. It has also been called the anti ageing hormone because it stimulates tissue and liver regeneration, muscle building, the breakdown of fat stores and blood sugar normalisation. Lack of sleep may also interfere with your immune system, leaving you more open to infection. When energy is low due to insufficient sleep, the body often craves sweet rhings as a temporary boost, which can lead to weight gain. If you are tired all the time, then try sleeping longer.

Creme de la Creme                                                                                                                                                         Three of the best anti-ageing ingredients to look for in a moisturiser include vitamin A derivatives, like retinol, which encourage the top layer of skin to renew more quickly; vitamin C a powerful antioxidant; and vitamin E which aids cell repair.   

What to avoid

• Sunbathing - can add 20 years to your skin. As well as ageing you, the sun can cause skin cancer.
• Regular solarium use - can add 20 years too. According to dermatologists, sunbeds are more damaging to the skin then direct sunlight.
• Stress – can add three years. Associated behavioural symptoms damage your skin’s health
• City living – can add five years. Pollutions and a faster-paced lifestyle both pile on the years.
• Crash dieting – can add ten years. Yo-yo dieting can deprive the skin of vital nutrients.      

Celebrity skin savers  

• Halle Berry’s skin always looks radiant. ”You don’t have to spend a fortune”, she says. “Your routine is what changes your skin, not costly products”. And her top tip? Rub pure vitmain c on to your face.
• Geri Halliwells’s regular exercise sessions are to thank for her glowing skin.
• Model Linda Evangelista says “I have a ‘wardrobe’ of moisturisers”. I really look at my skin, touch it, analyse what it needs”. She recommends this simple test every morning: touch with your skin with your fingertips. If it feels moist and plump its fine. If it feels dry, your need to upgrade your moisturiser.
• The secret to model and presenter Lisa Snowden’s fabulous skin is aromatherapy. She regularly used blended facial oil, containing neroli, which not only soothes and densenitises stressed skin but decongests it for a brighter complexion.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 15th, 2009 at 9:43 am and is filed under Slimming and Weight Loss Tips, Weight Loss Motivation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.