Combatting fine lines and wrinkles

Party season is round the corner. As we draw closer to Christmas and New Year, it is easy to put ourselves near the bottom of the to-do lists. As the Christmas songs start blaring on the radio, and warm, fuzzy Christmas adverts start appearing on TV, we get drawn into the franticness of the festive period from buying presents to getting the Christmas dinner sorted. You catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and the deep frown lines stare back at you; others around you keep reminding you of how tired you look and feel. Skincare can easily slip to the bottom of our list.

Here are our top tips to help keep those lines at bay:

Wrinkles are inevitable and whether we like it or not, they are (or will be) a part of life. But if you’re not quite ready to kiss goodbye to youthful, smooth skin yet, here are some simple tricks you can try to help keep them at bay.

Sleep well.

Well this one upset me as I love sleeping on my front but did you know that there is a right and a wrong way to sleep? So, sleeping on your side or face is wrong (cry!) and the right way to sleep is on your back. It might take some getting used to but I reckon you’ll really start to feel the benefits once you introduce this small change.

Say no to straws.

This one made me giggle but pursing your lips constantly will cause micro lines to become serious crevices. On a serious note, this includes saying no to cigarettes which involves the same action – come on girls, do you really want those wrinkles!? No thank you.

Say yes to sunnies!

Sunglasses not only look cool, but they also help to protect the oh so delicate skin around your eyes from harsh UV rays. The best type of sunnies are the ones that are polarised to ensure maximum protection. And the bigger, the better! I feel a spending spree coming on!

No make up at bedtime.

This is the one bit of advice my gran always repeats when it comes to having the most amazing skin you can – so I will repeat for your benefit -always, always wash your face before bed. I cannot stress this enough. Just please do not ever, ever sleep with makeup on.

SPF is a must.

Well well well, what would you know – you want youthful skin? Well SPF is a must. While a tan might look good now, don’t forget that it will really speed up the ageing process.

Moisturise twice a day.

Keep that skin supple and soft by moisturising your face and body twice a day.

Dose up on the vital vits.

Make sure you’re getting enough omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E every day and take a vitamin supplement to help support a healthy diet.

H2-ooooh yes.

You’re only 8 glasses away from happy skin…don’t forget your h2-ohhhs.

Preventative ageing involves doing little things, starting with lifestyle adjustments and good skincare to slow down the ageing process before the lines and wrinkles set in. A healthy lifestyle incorporates a balanced diet , regular exercise , drinking water and refraining from smoking or drinking too much alcohol .These are all things that we should do at any age, alongside a good skincare regime.

Cosmeceutical skincare is essential, and much more effective than High Street products. Surprisingly they do not cost as much as you think, and are probably even cheaper than some of the more expensive brands out there. The reason they are cosmeceutical is that they contain ingredients which are effective and which can get to the layers of the skin that common High Street ones can’t – and this is all to do with the regulations. Some products are only available after a consultation with our doctor, who then orders them from the pharmacy. Whichever skincare regime you choose, you should make sure they contain 3 key ingredients: CSA

C = vitamin C – Make sure you include a high-grade antioxidant serum containing 10-15% vitamin C in the morning straight after cleansing

S = sunscreen – Make sure your serum, or moisturiser, contains a broad spectrum SPF of 30-50, even in the winter months.

These two alone are an extremely preventative regime for any age.

A = vitamin A , also known as retinol – This is the magic ingredient that needs to be added to your nighttime routine, the last thing that is applied after cleansing at night. It is not only great at combating fine lines and wrinkles, but also aids skin rejuvenation and age spots. Most High Street brands have weak forms of vitamin A, which is a great start, but you should look at moving up the strengths to eventually using prescription strength vitamin A.

One of our most popular treatments in the clinic is anti-wrinkle treatment with botulinum toxin A, also known as ‘Botox.’ The treatment is safe, and no, you are not going to end up looking like a frozen plastic doll. It works by paralyzing muscles in the forehead or next to the eyes, so that the skin no longer has an opportunity to wrinkle, creating a smoother, more refreshed appearance in the face. The effect takes 2-3 weeks to fully kick in, and lasts on average three months after which time it is completely out of the body, and the toxin can be reinjected at this point. It primarily treats the upper third of the face, eliminating or reducing wrinkles in the forehead, frown lines and lines round the eyes called Crow’s Feet. Here at the clinic we also use it to treat excessive sweating of the scalp, underarms, hands and feet. It is also has a place for bruxism (excessive grinding of the teeth), sun-damaged neck and décolletage areas, migraines and neck pains.

Here at Face&Skin we want to provide you with some easy solutions which will ensure you look fresh and rejuvenated throughout the Christmas and New Year Period. Come in for a free consultation where we will go through your skincare regime with you, and offer you the best advice to help delay the ageing process for you.

Book in for a free skin consultation at the Welwyn Garden City studio: 01707-586498/ 07470-263383

www.faceandskin.co.uk

All services are provided by therapists on a self-employed basis.