You will never naturally look as young as you do at 25, in fact, did you know your body actually stops producing collagen once you hit 25? All the more reason to not take that naturally glowing, smooth skin you have for granted and invest in your future now!
So here you have it, the following skincare rules to swear by that will help you maintain that naturally flawless skin in your 20’s as long as you can. Tips and tricks you need to know, to avoid the common mistakes that others often make is at your fingertips, no beauty filter required.
THE FIRST RULE: DON’T STRIP AND SCRUB!
Cleanser just gets rid of makeup, right? Does it really matter which one you use? Yes! It’s a common misconception that any old foaming cleanser that washes off your makeup will do, but that could not be more wrong. A good quality cleanser should gently, yet effectively, wash the excess oils from your skin, yet not rid your skin of all its natural moisturising factors. These factors help support your skin’s natural barrier, instead of harshly stripping it away. Stay away from alcohol based, foaming cleansers and coarse, gritty scrubs that can exacerbate inflammation and increase sensitivity. Instead, you want to use a gentle cleanser, like the CONCENTRATED CLEANSER twice a day, as well as start using AHA's and BHA's in your twenties. These will remove dead skin cells and keep your skin looking fresh and radiant.
THE SECOND RULE: PREVENTION IS NOT A SCARY WORD
While most 20 year olds don’t need injectables, particularly if they are taking care of their skin, you should still be on the look-out for the first signs of early lines in your skin. There are options to prevent fine lines from settling into deep lines such as a low dose of muscle relaxants, line filling with hyaluronic acid and facial treatments. Make an appointment for a consultation with us to explore what the best option for you is.
THE THIRD RULE: SPEND YOUR MONEY ON SERUMS NOT SALES GIMMICKS
Don’t get confused in your 20’s by all the marketing and sales gimmicks around, at this age sunscreens and serums are your best investment. When it comes to serums, don’t get fooled by advertising that promises a million miracles. You want to focus on a couple of go-to serums, one that will help exfoliate and one that will protect from pollution, prevent pigmentation and maintain your natural radiance.
THE FOURTH RULE: CELL RENEWING INGREDIENTS ARE YOUR PARTNER IN CRIME
Use AHA's each day to not only stimulate collagen but also prolong that 20-something year old glow for as long as possible. One product you need in your tool belt? Dr. Natasha Cook’s Concentrated Clarifier Cell Renewing Serum will promote new cell production, all whilst removing dead skin cells that make skin appear dull and lifeless. This will also stop congestion in its tracks to help with blackheads, whiteheads and breakouts.
THE FIFTH RULE: TRY AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET
You are what you eat. We all learn this line early on in school, but do we correlate that to mean, your skin can only look as good as what you choose to eat? It’s important to remember that as well as indulging occasionally with delicious pizza and a glass of red on a Friday, on other nights try and eat lots of vegetables with good fats. Think leafy green veggies, olive oil, avocados, and fish often, adding organic chicken and pasture-fed meat in once a week. I’m also a fan of lycopene, an amazing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Best source is in tomatoes BUT cooked ones with the skin on. Keep up hydration, water in place of wine where possible too and your DNA will be positively thanking you.
THE SIXTH RULE: SUN SAFE ALWAYS
Pigmentation and ageing prevention consists of pretty much two things, protection and Vitamin B3. Together these form a super duo to boost natural protection against environmental damage. The golden rule here? Focus on faking it, because the sun is the proven biggest cause of premature ageing. You might think it’s important to have naturally tanned skin now, but you will have deep regrets in about 20 years from now when all that damage shows in your skin. Arm yourself with a sunscreen such as the Concentrated CC+ with SPF 30 and invest in some Vitamin B3 like the kind found in Dr. Natasha Cook’s Concentrated Illuminator Lightening and Brightening Serum. It’s super rich in Vitamin B3 with 10% concentration and is one of the most stable anti-oxidants on the planet.