It is well known that drinking plenty of water and cutting back on alcohol are vital for age-defying skin.
But even those who think they are following steps for a glowing complexion could unwittingly have habits that encourage wrinkles.
Nina Prisk, an aesthetics and anti-ageing expert in the UK, takes pride in keeping skin wrinkle-free.
Here, she reveals the four things she avoids to stay youthful. Forgetting to take off your make-up when you go to bed could speed up skin ageing, she claims.
‘This is the equivalent of suffocating the skin,’ said Prisk. She added: ‘When we sleep our skin repairs itself, something that is crucial for skin healing and optimum health.’
But wearing make-up overnight interferes with the skin’s production of sebum — a sticky, oily substance that the body releases to keep skin moisturised.
It is also vital for fighting off free radicals — which break down collagen and can lead to wrinkles and saggy skin.
Prisk said: ‘Sebum is important for keeping the skin hydrated and flexible so if its production is negatively impacted it can result in dry skin and speed up the ageing process.’
Skipping SPF
SPF isn’t just for blistering hot days to stop your skin getting burnt.
Wearing it every day, even when it’s overcast, will help prevent your skin from going saggy and wrinkly, Prisk said.
For the sun’s ultra-violet (UV) light not only increases the risk of skin cancer- it encourages premature ageing.
Prisk said: ‘If skin is exposed to the sun over prolonged periods of time it can result in sagging, wrinkled skin and also pigmentation and uneven skin tone.
‘And it’s not just during summer that skipping SPF is a big no, it’s important to wear SPF all year round, even if it’s cloudy.’
Using face wipes
They may seem like a convenient, quick and easy way to remove make-up, but dermatologists urge people to avoid them.
Experts say face wipes contain harsh chemicals that strip the skin of its natural oils and interfere with pH levels, encouraging dryness and wrinkles, says Prisk.
As wipes are touted as a make-up remover that don’t require the use of water, the chemicals they contain stay on the skin and ‘continue to negatively impact it for a long period after use’, says Prisk.
This continued irritation and dry skin is a recipe for premature ageing, she warns.
Using physical scrubs
Just like face wipes, scrubbing the skin can also be terrible for your skin’s natural barrier.
And while physically scrubbing can help remove blackheads, it also erases the skin’s natural moisture that is vital for a youthful appearance, Prisk says.
She said: ‘Physical scrubs can lead to over-drying of the skin too, which can result in cracked, peeling skin and irritation and sensitivity.
‘If you’re wishing to exfoliate the skin then opt for a chemical exfoliant instead such as glycolic acid or salicylic acid.
‘These can benefit skin texture as well as unblocking pores, leading to cleaner, healthier skin.’ -Daily Mail
