We are all getting older and this sometimes becomes ‘painfully’ visible when wrinkles and lines appear around eyes and mouth. No one just wants to give in to this, although wrinkles just show that you have lived. A tight and smooth face at 60 comes across as strange. It is natural to have some lines and wrinkles. That said, many women (and men) like to keep this within limits. That’s why it’s best to start appropriate skincare long before those first fine lines appear.

What are wrinkles?

Wrinkles, lines, folds or furrows are permanent or temporary creases in the skin’s surface. How fast your skin ages is partly determined by your genes, but external factors such as sun exposure, pollution, smoking and stress also affect your skin.

Dynamic wrinkles are caused by making certain movements, e.g. laugh lines, frown lines, crow’s feet. These types of wrinkles can also appear at a young age and are not always disturbing. They suit a person’s character and appearance.

Static wrinkles are always there, even when your face is at rest. These kinds of lines are caused by a reduction in collagen or elastin, important proteins in the body, making the skin less elastic. From 20 to 25 years of age, collagen formation in your skin decreases by an average of 1% every year. So the older you get, the more static wrinkles will be visible. Think of lines around eyes, lips, nose and mouth.

Can you prevent wrinkles?

You cannot stop yourself from getting older and producing less and less collagen and elastin every year. But you can do something to keep your skin supple, hydrated and radiant.

What you can do from within

A healthy lifestyle is a good start for everything. Don’t drink alcohol, don’t smoke, eat moderate portions, eat fruits and plenty of vegetables daily, get enough sleep. ‘Beauty sleep’ is not called that for nothing.

Also try to avoid fast sugars. These can bind to collagen and elastin in the skin, causing it to saccharify and harden or damage the skin (this is called glycation).

You can support your skin from the inside by eating foods high in antioxidants. Drink lots of water (hydration!) and green tea, for example, which is high in antioxidants.

Consider taking a dietary supplement. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that catches free radicals and contributes to skin firmness. Vitamin E contains additional antioxidants. Vitamin A is popular for its anti-ageing properties. It works against fine lines, slows the formation of wrinkles and smoothes the skin. There are several dietary supplements with a specific mix of vitamins and minerals aimed at anti-aging or supporting skin, hair and nails.

 

What you can do from the outside

1. Cleanse Pollution is also associated with collagen breakdown and causes our skin to age faster. That is why it is important to thoroughly cleanse your skin daily, even if you do not use make-up. Clean your skin with a mild cleansing oil. Water dries out the skin.

2. Anti aging serum Look for an anti-ageing serum or cream that suits your skin. Today, the range of anti-wrinkle creams is vast. The shelves are full of jars in every price category. An expensive cream will therefore not work any better. Keep in mind that an anti-wrinkle cream only works for fine lines or wrinkles. And if you stop applying it, the wrinkles will come back.
   
   There are several (essential) oils that naturally have an anti-ageing effect.
   
   Olive oil contains lots of antioxidants, vitamin E, squalene, tocopherols, and so on. Substances that have a soothing and softening effect on the skin. Olive oil has an acidity level comparable to the pH of the skin. Therefore, it is an ideal oil to soften and relax the skin.
   
   Sweet almond oil is popular because it intensely moisturises, regenerates and restores the skin’s natural elasticity and softness.
   
   Essential oils have a protective effect on the collagen and keratin in our skin. Some oils that are effective against wrinkles are myrtle, basil, rose, sage, rosemary, sichuan, thyme, clove, oregano, turmeric and cinnamon. Just a few drops in a base oil (olive or almond oil) or cream are enough to nourish the skin. You will find all these in our anti-ageing serum Shangri-la.

3. Protection with a sunscreen The best thing is still to prevent your skin from getting damaged and looking aged. You can protect yourself by applying sunscreen or day cream with SPF daily.