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Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. These are the words that come from many beauty influencers with great skin. With celebrities alike recommending facials, anti-ageing creams and sunscreen – there’s a lot of information out there about how you can ‘reverse’ the impact of time on your face.
From Chrissy Teigen who swears by her aesthetician’s retinol serum, to Jennifer Aniston microcurrent facials, to Kim Kardashian more controversial not smiling hack – you may be surprised that there’s actually some truth to the messages the entertainment industry’s elite are saying.
But can you really avoid wrinkles?
According to some, having money can certainly help you be wrinkle-free and maintain good looking skin. The Atlantic reports that skincare “guidance usually comes from the wealthy, who have all the access in the world to the best skin products and treatments, and it tends to overemphasise the importance of lifestyle while sweeping under the rug the actual cost of tinkering with your facial chemistry”.
Cape Town-based dermatologist, Dr Matete Mathobela, says no one can really avoid ageing but she acknowledges both lifestyle and scientific methods to prevent ageing that is premature.
She says any facial movements can contribute to wrinkling, particularly habitual facial movements like squinting, frowning and smiling. This, however, does not mean we should all stop smiling. Dr Matete says there are other contributing factors to premature ageing.
Biology
Dr Matete says your genetic make up is something that can be a factor in terms of how you age. She says other contributing factors to how women age have a lot to do with hormones and the fact that women tend to have thinner skin that is less oily, which can contribute to how we age.
Lifestyle
As we have all heard before, a healthy balanced diet is best for your skin. Dr Matete says a diet high in sugar and carbohydrates is not the best option when pursing good skin. She adds that another lifestyle contributor to wrinkles is smoking, saying that this accelerates ageing.
READ MORE: Why you need a facial
Skin exposure directly affects the health of your skin. Dr Matete says protection against the sun and other forms of light like those from computer and phone screens is essential – this requires daily use of sunscreen.
Also, the doctor says don’t over cleanse your skin.
Products to use
Retinoids, according to Oprah.com, are “vitamin A derivatives that unclog pores, boost collagen to reduce fine lines and speed cell turnover to even out discoloration and smooth the skin”.
Dr Matete says it’s important to consult with a skincare specialist or dermatologist before using retinoid and other skin generation products.
READ MORE: The 60-second rule for washing your face is the amazing hack for glowing skin we've been waiting for
Dr Matete says you should also go for broad-spectrum sunscreens for protection against multiple types of light.
Antioxidant serums, according to Bustle, “have the power to protect your skin from the harmful effects of pollution by neutralising the free radicals in pollution that can cause skin damage”.
