Our skin is easily noticeable, and when we meet someone for the first time, they would normally notice our skin first and foremost. The skin is the largest bodily organ, after all, and it does require some amount of care if we want to look and feel our best. If you have always had great skin, good for you – but our skin can also change as we get older, and it can lose its elasticity and moisture and become dry and less supple as well. So how can you have the best skin of your life as you get older? Let’s find out.
Moisturise – and moisturise some more!
Moisture is definitely your skin’s best friend, and when you use a moisturiser every day, you can keep your skin’s top layer hydrated. Most moisturisers available will contain ‘humectants,’ and these can stimulate the production of moisture. Moisturisers can also contain occlusive compounds or agents that can help your skin retain moisture and emollients that can help smooth the space in between the skin’s cells.
If you want to improve the moisture levels of your skin, take a five- to ten-minute bath or shower each day, and not more. Too much washing may strip away the skin’s oily layer and result in skin dryness. Also, whenever you take a bath or shower, don’t use hot water; go for warm water instead, and avoid using harsh cleansers or soaps. You should also avoid abrasive sponges, washcloths, or brushes that can result in damage to the outer layer of the skin, and when you step out of your bath or shower, pat your skin dry and don’t rub it. You should also moisturise right after you wash; apply your creams, lotions, or ointments within a few minutes after your bath or shower, so moisture is trapped within the skin.
You should also choose your moisturisers and creams carefully. Moisturisers that are non-comedogenic, paraben-free, and free from preservatives, such as the moisturisers and creams from SkinCeuticals, are ideal.
Don’t forget your beauty sleep
Proper sleep is essential to beautiful skin, and when you get enough sleep, you can banish and do away with dark circles as well as improve the tone of your skin. Experts say that you should sleep at least seven to nine hours each day. If you are sleep-deprived, this can lead to obesity, deficiencies in the immune system, cancer, and diabetes, but a lack of sleep can also have a significant impact on the ageing of the skin and its function.
When you experience deep sleep, the body will begin repairing and rejuvenating itself, and this process helps regenerate muscles, skin, and brain and blood cells. If you don’t get the required sleep, you may not be able to produce enough collagen – and we all know that collagen is essential to keep skin from looking loose and from sagging.
There are other things you can do to help your skin look more beautiful as you get older. Use sunscreen every day, and avoid tanning, whether it’s outdoors or indoors. If you smoke, quit – smoking can age the skin of the face as it can narrow the skin’s blood vessels, and this can reduce blood flow and makes skin look tired since it doesn’t receive the proper nutrients.
