Anti-Aging Skincare

“Anti-aging” has become a term loaded with meaning and interpretation. The beauty , health and wellness industries use it. Despite aging being a natural, healthy part of the lifecycle, “anti” age has come to suggest that the inevitable aging process is something we should avoid with all our might.

What if we could rather reframe it and use the term “graceful aging”? This would involve supporting holistic health throughout your lifespan and promoting longevity, and will include the health of your body, mind and spirit. When we are viewing it from the lens of promoting our health, we ultimately end up with our desired goal: we look better.

There are multiple rituals and habits I would recommend to assist the graceful aging process of the skin in particular. These would include, although not limited to: prioritizing sleep, tending to your gut health, choosing the right skincare, staying hydrated, practicing facial massage, limiting exposure to toxins, and managing stress. Let’s look at each of these:

Prioritizing Sleep

Without proper sleep, very few of the skincare and “anti-aging” practices will be of benefit. Sleep is meant to be a time of regeneration and healing of the body. Without enough sleep, cellular turnover is not much less efficient. This applies to both your skin and also to your other organs. You want to allow these organs as much time as possible to rest, heal and recalibrate, Seven to nine hours of sleep per night, with consistent wake times daily are still the recommended routine. 

Gut Health

Did you know that the skin and gut are intimately connected and imbalances within the gut are often reflected in the skin, particularly in the ways it ages? Even if you are eating a diet rich in all of the right ingredients, your skin will only be given a chance of success if you are properly absorbing these nutrients plus have at least one good quality bowel movement daily. Ask yourself: Do I suffer from unusual gas or bloating regularly? Do I have good energy upon waking and throughout your day? Is my skin free from acne, rosacea, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis? If you answered no to any of these questions, I would suggest you talk to a naturopathic doctor or functional medicine doctor to address the root cause.

Choose the Right Skincare

The beauty and skincare industries are the Wild West with far too many unregulated claims, and far too many people are told to use several products at once from various brands that have never been studied together. This can lead to bleak outcomes. Harsh ingredients like exfoliative acids, certain retinoids, abrasive exfoliators, and other chemicals can wreak havoc on your skin. Plus certain skincare products can leave the skin worse off than when it started and as a result, causes the skin to age more quickly. 

Unless used under the supervision of a professional, I would steer away from the above-mentioned ingredients and rather opt for a gentle and simplified skincare regime. Here is a suggestion:

Start your morning by rinsing the skin with cool water and only use a cleanser at nighttime. You don’t need it in the morning. I recommend an oil cleanser, because the foamy ones often strip the skin’s delicate and protective skin barrier. Also, limit the use of toners or serums that contain acids or other exfoliative ingredients. Look for the following ingredients to help keep the skin healthy and more youthful: glucans, algae (e.g. plankton), and lipids like ceramides, cholesterol and other fatty acids (found in quality oils, like our Facial Massage Oil).

And lastly, remember sun protection. Adequately protecting the skin from the sun is important to limit free radical damage. 

Hydration:

When you are hydrated your skin appears plumper, smoother, and has fewer fine lines and wrinkles. So although drinking water seems obvious, hydration involves more than drinking two litres of water each day. You should also consider the foods you are eating. Those that are rich in water will both naturally hydrate the skin, as well as offer essential vitamins and minerals to help your system stay healthy by utilizing the water inside the cells of these foods. Fruits and vegetables are naturally hydrating, therefore support the graceful aging of the cells. Healthy fat consumption is also important to help maintain hydration. Even two tablespoons of coconut oil, avocado oil or a high quality extra virgin olive oil, seeds and their butters, and avocado are great options for boosting your hydration. 

Facial Massage

The whole purpose of a facial massage is to help stimulate circulation. Then, when fresh blood and lymph are delivered to the cells, they provide essential nutrients and oxygen and help to remove waste. This practice can be done by anyone simply by using their hands. Try giving yourself a facial massage while cleansing your skin or applying serums, moisturizers, or oils. One of the simplest but most effective practices is to gently massage the skin in circular motions for five minutes. Start at the center of the face and move outward, from the nose and center of the chin to the ears and brows, to your hairline. Then end by doing the same motion from the jawline down the neck, covering the entirety of the neck. To add variety to this technique, try using a Gua Sha tool to further promote blood flow and lymphatic drainage. This also relaxes and tones facial muscles. Whichever practice you choose, consistency is key as always.

Limit Alcohol and Recreational Drugs

Alcohol and recreational drugs stress the system in many ways and the less you use them, the more gracefully you will age. 

Protein

Protein is incredibly important to support the health and graceful aging of the skin. Collagen powders have become extremely popular and are marketed widely, yet despite being somewhat useful, are not necessary. Focusing on consuming at least 0.8g of protein per kg of body weight is a great way to support your system. That means that a person weighing 150 lbs would require an average of 55g of protein, (for example, 100g chicken breast yields approximately 30g of protein). Note that, if you exercise regularly or vigorously, this needed amount may need to be increased to properly support your system.

Manage Stress

Stress leads to premature aging. That is because stress creates free radicals at a cellular level, which are damaging molecules that the body needs to work hard to “clean up”. Stress can come in many different forms, from emotional stress (e.g work, social, relationship, familial, financial), to over or under exercising, environmental chemicals, lack of sleep, and nutritional deficiencies. Some stress is normal even beneficial but chronic stress ages our systems faster. Stress management looks different to everyone and so it is best to find what works for you. A few suggested de-stressing activities would be walks in nature, cuddling with a partner, visiting with or calling a supportive friend, taking a bath without screens or distractions, being barefoot on grass or beach sand, or breathing deeply for a few minutes each morning. These practices will help reduce stress on the system and ultimately help to slow down the aging process.

If you are looking for tailored treatments that fit your body’s needs, it is best to consult a trusted health care provider. I would advice you to be mindful of the word “anti-aging”. Not all companies selling products with this promise deliver results. Most importantly, the most holistic approach to anti-aging is to focus on supporting your body in a way that promotes health, since this is the ultimate way to cultivate holistic radiance and age gracefully.