We discover the best natural ingredients and skincare products to combat the common signs of ageing.

Signs & Causes of Ageing Skin
“As our skin ages it looses collagen, elasticity and firmness which results in thinner skin,” explains Ingrid Hume from Pravera. “Fine lines and wrinkles appear around the eye and lip areas, age spots and pigmentation are more noticeable on the skins surface, skin starts to sag and our complexion can become much drier (due to ageing skin being unable to retain moisture) and look dull.”

Unfortunately as we age our skin does too – which is something you can’t combat, but you can help to fight the signs of premature skin ageing. “Our skin naturally decreases with age; however, there are a number of factors that age the skin prematurely – such as sun exposure, under nourishment, environmental pollutants, low-grade skincare products, plus our diet and lifestyle. All of these contribute to the way our skin looks,” comments Hume.

Exposing skin to strong sunlight without a sunscreen is the primary cause of skin ageing: “During the day our skin is battling against the UV rays as it penetrates into the skin and can damage the elastin fibres which keep the skin firm and plump. The UV rays can reach you on cloudy, rainy and even snowy days so it is important to wear sun protection everyday with an SPF of 15 or higher,” advises Hume.

Our diet and lifestyle choices also have a huge impact on our skin. Judy Rocher, education manager and product advisor for Rio Health explains why: “Consuming excess alcohol and smoking both contribute to premature ageing as they dehydrate the skin and increase free radical production, which can result in damage to the delicate collagen fibres. Poor diet lacking in vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids can also leave the skin looking sallow and lifeless.

Rocher also believes that a poor skincare routine has damaging effects on the skin: “Inadequate skin cleansing, particularly at night before bed, can result in a build-up of environmental toxins and pollutions on the skin – leading to dull, lifeless skin.”

Good Skincare Routine
A good skincare routine is vital to help protect our skin and the way it looks and feels. So if you want to reverse the signs of ageing or prevent them, this should be your first point of call.

Follow the simple regime of cleanse, moisturise and protect. “Cleansing the face thoroughly morning and night is recommended to remove make up and other pollutants. Follow with a chemical-free, vitamin-rich moisturiser. A good moisturiser can help to protect the skin from the drying effects caused by temperature changes and central heating. Then protect it by applying a sunscreen daily, this will help you maintain a youthful complexion,” explains Rocher.

For those with mature skin, Evelyn Liddell from Weleda suggests adding some specialist products to the routine too: “More mature skin needs the same general day to day regime as any age skin – cleanse, moisturise, protect – but it is worth investing in a few specialist products such as a fine eye and lip cream and richer night cream rather than just using an everyday moisturiser.

“Pay attention to the upper lip, neck and décolletage where the skin is becoming thinner. More mature skin needs extra protection against the elements in the winter, or in the summer sun, as the skin is thinner and less resilient. Choose products that encourage healthy skin function, that help to rejuvenate the skin at a deeper level – fine facial oils and serums are great additions to daily skincare essentials.”

As well as introducing a good routine, Hume believes it’s important to use skincare products that are suited to your skin type and she recommends avoiding cheap products: “Low grade and cheap conventional skincare products can contain a whole host of chemical ingredients, most of which aren’t good for your skin. These ingredients can then fail to nourish, protect and care for the skin – which can then result in more wrinkles, fine lines and dryness.”

Important Ingredients
As Hume points out above, it’s all well and good having a good skincare routine – but it’s what you put onto your skin that’s important. So what ingredients should you look for in your beauty products?

“Natural plant extracts and oils that are high in antioxidants are great in helping to reduce the signs of ageing, such as ginkgo biloba, green tea, hyaluronic acid, pomegranate, vitamin E and C. These are naturally moisturising ingredients which penetrate into the skin and retains the skin moisture levels, boosts firmness and helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Vitamin E is also known to help strengthen and protect the skin and reduce the formation of free radicals from sun exposure.

“Another ingredient to look for is coenzyme Q10, which is a powerful antioxidant that stimulates cell production, encourages the skin to regenerate and helps to protect the skin from free radicals and wrinkles forming,” says Hume.

Liddell recommends looking for products that contain evening primrose seed oil and wheat germ oil: “Plant actives packed with nutrients that contribute anti-oxidative action are always valuable for anti ageing skincare. For example, evening primrose seed oil with an abundance of gamma linoleic acid inspires healthy skin function, cell growth and protection against moisture loss, and wheat germ oil is rich in vitamin E and antioxidants to neutralise free radicals. Both sesame oil and macadamia nut oil encourage healthy skin barrier function to combat moisture loss.”

Keith Allum, managing director of ArthroVite also recommends supplementing with collagen: “The most abundant protein found in our bodies, collagen is now a widely recognised route to beauty, promoting not only younger-looking skin, but also healthier hair and stronger nails. The surface of the skin becomes dull and lifeless from around the age of 25. Collagen can help change all of that, providing the amino acids which support the building blocks of skin, hair and nails, while helping to slow down the ageing process.”

Recommended Products
Hume recommends Lavera’s Basis Sensitiv Q10 Moisturising Cream; it contains organic shea butter, jojoba and coenzyme Q10 to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. As well as their Firming Body Milk, which contains organic green coffee beans and green tea extracts which keep the skin firm, soft and smooth.

Rocher recommends their gentle Cream Cleanser from the Rio Rosa Mosqueta range, which contains rosehip seed oil, avocado, shea butter and chamomile, and their Anti-Ageing Day and Night Cream, which contains shea butter, calendula, aloe vera, rosehip seed oil and macadamia nut oil.

Liddell suggests trying Weleda’s evening primrose age revitalising range, particularly the Evening Primrose Age Revitalising Day Cream, which contains macademia nut oil, primrose seed oil and sesame oil. Also the Evening Primrose Age Revitalising Night Cream, featuring evening primrose oil, wheat germ oil, inca nut oil, shea butter and cocoa butter.

Allum recommends Arthrovite’s new collagen supplement Beautivite, which offers 6000mg of pure collagen protein per serving. It comes in powder form and can be added to any hot/cold drinks or soups, cereals, yoghurts, etc for easy use.