Anti-Ageing in Your Twenties

Tue, 17 July 2012 10:04AM

I’ve heard that it’s a good idea to introduce anti-ageing into your skincare routine after the age of 21 to prevent wrinkles and the like. I’m nearing my 22nd birthday and I’m wondering what products would be best?

Firstly, happy birthday! Secondly, the good news is you don’t have to stress about skin ageing that much just yet.

Generally you don’t need to take anti-ageing action until approximately your mid twenties. Another rule of thumb is to wait until you’ve actually started to see the first signs of skin ageing: when smile lines set into creases that remain even once you’ve stopped smiling; or pigmentation – whether in the form of mottled, dull-looking discolouration or larger sun spots. There’s sagging too (thanks, gravity), although this tends to be a concern for thirty- and forty-somethings.

But back to you gorgeous 21 year olds, such as Emma Roberts …

While you don’t need to be throwing anti-ageing actives at your skin at the moment, you can – and should – be using preventative-ageing products. And in your demographic, the key one is, of course, sunscreen.

Skin experts estimate that at least 50% of lifelong sun exposure occurs before we start full-time, office-bound work – so that means at least 50% of sun damage happens in your childhood and early twenties, when you’re spending more time outside. Another not-so-fun fact: around 80% of what we know as skin ageing (the lines, wrinkles, roughness, pigmentation) is actually environmentally induced sun damage. And therefore totally avoidable.

Enter said sunscreen. There are all sorts of fandangle formulations these days but your best bet right now is anything that is labelled as SPF30+ and broad-spectrum. You also want to make sure it’s nice and easy to wear. The idea is to get into a daily sunscreen-slathering habit that will take you through life.

When you do start to see some of those pesky signs of ageing, consider adding in an eye cream – to keep the crow’s feet at bay – and a serum, particularly one based on vitamin C. I can’t sing vitamin C’s praises enough. It’s a wonder-antioxidant that has a skin-tone-evening and illuminating effect, plus it also boosts the free radical-fighting powers of sunscreen. And it’s best in serum form because it’s higher in actives and absorbs more effectively into the layers where it’s needed.

 

I hope that helps … but let’s turn it over to the other Primpettes … Anyone got any other thoughts on anti-ageing in your early twenties?

Posted by: Katrina Lawrence

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Tags: anti-ageing, antioxidants, emma roberts, fine lines, pigmentation, sagging, sunscreen, vitamin c, wrinkles