5 Tips for Optimum Skin Health
We’ve compiled a list of 5 things you can do to optimise your skin health. We share countless other skincare tips but these five should form the basis of a solid skincare routine.
1. Wear SPF daily! We can’t say it enough and in fact, we never stop saying it. Wearing sunscreen from a young age is the single, best thing you can do for your skin, in terms of an anti-ageing strategy. As Consultant Dermatologists, we will always recommend a physical sunscreen over a chemical sunscreen where possible but we are ultimately just happy when you are wearing any SPF 30+ formulation to protect your skin…even during the winter!
2. Embrace antioxidants. Antioxidants like Vitamin A (retinoids), Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Niacinamide, are the hardest working skincare ingredients there are. Not only do they reduce and counteract free radicals to promote a brighter, more even complexion, they’re also excellent at minimising the appearance of fine lines and pigmentation and keeping the skin looking fresh. Megan recently shared an information-packed video on Oxidative Stress, if you haven’t watched that yet, you can find it on our IGTV tab.
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3. Prioritise your beauty sleep! This might be easier said than done during these times of restlessness and increased anxiety but as well as being critical for your overall health and well-being, a good night’s sleep is the ultimate regenerative boost for your skin too. While you sleep, blood flow to the skin increases, damage from free radical production is repaired and collagen production increases. Sleep deprivation on the other hand affects collagen production, skin hydration and wound healing, as well as increasing cortisol, leading to inflammation of the skin and a deterioration in skin quality.
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4. Decrease your sugar intake. Simple carbohydrates like refined sugar, white bread and fizzy drinks cause insulin levels to spike which in turn leads to inflammation in the body and skin. Inflammation produces enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, which can result in sagging skin and wrinkles. Digested sugar permanently attaches to the collagen in your skin through a process known as glycation.
1. Wear SPF daily! We can’t say it enough and in fact, we never stop saying it. Wearing sunscreen from a young age is the single, best thing you can do for your skin, in terms of an anti-ageing strategy. As Consultant Dermatologists, we will always recommend a physical sunscreen over a chemical sunscreen where possible but we are ultimately just happy when you are wearing any SPF 30+ formulation to protect your skin…even during the winter!
2. Embrace antioxidants. Antioxidants like Vitamin A (retinoids), Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Niacinamide, are the hardest working skincare ingredients there are. Not only do they reduce and counteract free radicals to promote a brighter, more even complexion, they’re also excellent at minimising the appearance of fine lines and pigmentation and keeping the skin looking fresh. Megan recently shared an information-packed video on Oxidative Stress, if you haven’t watched that yet, you can find it on our IGTV tab.
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3. Prioritise your beauty sleep! This might be easier said than done during these times of restlessness and increased anxiety but as well as being critical for your overall health and well-being, a good night’s sleep is the ultimate regenerative boost for your skin too. While you sleep, blood flow to the skin increases, damage from free radical production is repaired and collagen production increases. Sleep deprivation on the other hand affects collagen production, skin hydration and wound healing, as well as increasing cortisol, leading to inflammation of the skin and a deterioration in skin quality.
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4. Decrease your sugar intake. Simple carbohydrates like refined sugar, white bread and fizzy drinks cause insulin levels to spike which in turn leads to inflammation in the body and skin. Inflammation produces enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, which can result in sagging skin and wrinkles. Digested sugar permanently attaches to the collagen in your skin through a process known as glycation.