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Ann Ruthenberg
HI there everyone, how is the weather treating you all. I am enjoying the hot summer months.
I have had many people writing to me asking me what they can do to stop or prevent ageing. Unfortunately, aging is a natural part of life for everyone, but that does not mean it is always pleasant. If you are worried about losing your youthful looks and demeanour, then you are not alone. There are plenty of things you can do to knock years off your image without destroying your bank account or getting surgery. Simple things like taking attentive care of your skin and changing up your hairstyle can make a world of difference. In this column I have outlined different ways in which one can slow down the signs of ageing, but not necessarily stop it. Whether we like it or not we are all going to age, no amount of science or nature can change that, unless a miracle happens. Lol!
Choose a gentle facial cleanser. Aging skin does not need harsh products like the ones teenagers often need to use, as there is not usually any excess oil. If your cleanser is too harsh, it will be stripping your skin of its natural oils and therefore drying out the skin and causing it to age more quickly. Look for ones that are aimed at your age group, or ones that describe themselves as gentle or moisturising. Whether young or old it is important to cleanse your face as you get older, as it removes traces of chemicals from your environment or any makeup which can cause aging if left on the skin.
Moisturise after cleansing. It’s important to give your skin a moisture boost so that it can look after itself. Dry skin ages more quickly if it’s not moisturised. Look for anti-ageing moisturisers with a high percentage of their active ingredient. If in doubt about which to buy (there are hundreds on the market), try looking at reviews or try to find scientific research supporting the product. Make sure that the product you decide on is rich and deeply moisturising, unlike the ones you may have used in your younger years. And remember, moisturising is not just for women, there are plenty of similar products on the market aimed at men.
Use sun protection daily. There are many moisturisers which already contain SPF protection in them. No matter what your skin shade, and this is because it is vital to protect your skin from harmful UV rays every day in order to avoid sun-damage. The sun is one of the main things that causes premature aging, so dermatologists recommend that you should wear at least SPF 15 daily to avoid wrinkles, brown spots and a dull complexion. As well as this, it will protect you from skin cancer. For those darker shaded people who do not believe the sun affects them, the next time you undress, just look at the difference in colour on the places exposed to the sun like your arms versus those areas covered up like your tummy area. I can almost guarantee there is a huge colour difference.
Exfoliate your skin. Gently exfoliating encourages skin cell renewal, therefore encouraging younger looking skin. Choose something that is aimed at older skin as they are more gentle and less likely to dry out or damage the skin. Exfoliation is also good to do as it leaves your skin feeling softer and looking brighter. Personally I am a fan of home remedies such as Mealie meal and Oats.
Manage your facial hair. For men, this will make you look better groomed and less scruffy allowing you to look good with age, and for women this will hide this side effect of aging. Here are some things to keep in mind for each gender:
Men: Keep your face clean shaven or neatly trimmed, and always trim your nose and ear hair. Letting this hair grow wild adds age and also makes you look more scruffy. Make sure to pluck those nose hairs too, if you want to avoid that old man look.
Women: Facial hair can sometimes appear in women after the menopause due to a change in hormone levels. To get rid of this, and therefore hide your age a little better, there are a few easy ways to keep it away including laser removal, waxing, depilatory/hair removal cream and threading. Women should also make sure to keep their eyebrows looking pretty thick. As you get older, your eyebrows may start to thin out, so make sure to colour them in with a pencil that matches the colour of your eyebrows so you continue to look youthful.
Maintain healthy teeth. Good teeth can immediately make you look younger and more attractive. Make sure you have a good tooth-care routine, this should include brushing, flossing and using mouth wash. If your teeth aren’t white enough, or if you have problems with your teeth, go to your dentist for advice. You could have professional whitening, or if you have problems such as decay, wonky teeth or stained teeth you could get these things treated. There are also over the counter whitening products which can also be effective, although you might want to talk to your dentist for advice beforehand. Teeth can give away your real age more than any other part of your body, so start early with your total teeth care routine.
Cover up your greys. This isn’t for everyone, as some people love to rock their grey or peppery hair. Continued next week ….
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Tip of the Week
Age is nothing but a number, but wisdom comes with age.
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