Your skin can look great at any age, naturally it will change over time, but healthy skin always shines with vitality, even if it’s no longer ‘model perfect’.

Sun and UV Damage – Starts Young and Never Ends

Overexposure to sun and UV damages your skin (it’s up there with smoking and excessive alcohol.) One study showed 23% of sun damage was acquired by age 18 and then about 10% more every decade after that. Referred to as photoaging it changes collagen in the deep layers of skin called the dermis, resulting in wrinkles, fine lines, skin pigmentation and age spots.

If wrinkles and pigmentation don’t bother you, consider between 95 and 99% of skin cancers are caused by sun exposure, and it’s the most common cancer in Australians aged 15-44 years. Wear broad protection SPF every day; make it a basic skin care routine all year round.

Eyes Needs Special Care

The skin around your eyes is much thinner that the rest of your face, with fewer sebaceous glands, collagen and elastin fibers to provide natural moisture and lift. Working hard, with over 10,000 blinks per day this area quickly shows-up everything from poor sleep to drying elements.

A unique eye cream is essential. These are designed specifically for this delicate area, and won’t irritate or clog eye lash follicles. While it’s easy to spread your regular moisturiser over this area, it often has the opposite results, with increased puffiness and added baggage.

One Simple Step to Beautiful Hands

With daily doses of soap, water, detergent, cleaning products and sun hands are over exposed. But they are also easy to protect—simply cover them up. Always wear protective gloves, keep a separate pair handy in the bathroom, laundry, kitchen and for gardening. My favourites are driving gloves, a basic fabric version with the fingers cut-out. They protect hands from hundreds of un-clocked hours on the steering wheel, that later sneak-up on us as severe sun damage. Add a gentle hand cream underneath the gloves for a mini treatment. It’s a win-win.

Sleep. A Potent Beauty Routine

Yes, easy to say, harder to achieve but a good night’s sleep is nature’s beauty boost. When sleep deprived your body releases more of the stress hormone cortisol. In high amounts cortisol can break down skin collagen. Take this snooze time to also help skin from the outside, with deeply penetrating serums or night creams; you’ll wake up refreshed, with the bonus of smooth, plump skin.

Start a simple new routine today: wear sun protection daily, cover your hands, get a good night’s sleep and use the right moisturisers. This is the foundation to beautiful, healthy skin at any age.