That frown line on your forehead? The crow’s feet around your eyes or the sagging skin on your cheeks? No, sadly you can’t wipe those away. Really. That doesn’t mean, however, that skincare products won’t be able to make your skin look younger. It requires some persistence but it really is possible. And did you know that pigmentation spots and dull sallow skin, in particular, make you look older?
I am often asked if there are more interesting discoveries in the field of skin. And although magazines would lead us to believe that the latest ingredients and equipment can make you look ten years younger, there is little news to tell. Having said that, I am closely following a development which I think is pretty revolutionary. And that is the research into the role the intestines play in relation to the skin. It is, in fact, an old principle with a new approach, many doctors are not yet applying it and more research is still required for all the pieces in the puzzle to fall into place. I would still, however, like to share some of these insights with you, because I know that your skin (and your health) can benefit tremendously from them. (more…)
The link between diet and skin problems has long been ignored by doctors. However, what we already knew, and has now become evident, is that nutrition and your skin are not detached from each other. Sugars, for example, cause spots and wrinkles. Antioxidants, on the other hand, can protect your skin. Which nutrients come out on top of my list of favourites?
No matter how hard I try, I am still unable to convince people of the fact that miracle creams do not exist. Good skincare products can make your skin firm, smooth and radiant again, but that requires a good deal of patience. Wrinkles that just melt away like snow? There is no such thing; honestly! And yet, more and more people have assured me lately that the cream which was demonstrated recently in the shopping centre, the outlet centre, the new warehouse or at a cosmetics party made their skin ‘in no time’ beautifully smooth again.
Expensive products are sometimes better in quality, but very often you are paying purely for the beautiful presentation, an exclusive marketing campaign and a feeling of luxury. As with clothing, bags and sunglasses, cosmetics is also an experience. Yet, ultimately you want value for money when buying something because of what it promises. So: can it also be cheaper?
I wrote in a recent blog about how, in combination with the sun, quite a few ingredients in skincare products can cause irritating skin rashes. But did you know that certain sun filters can even cause problems under the influence of sunlight? It is a strange world. Does your skin suddenly become sensitive in the sun? Then you should check the ingredients list on your own (sun cream) products.
If there were a top ten of anti-ageing products which could shrink everything except your wrinkles, at most your bank balance, then stem cells in creams would rate highly. Although stem cell research actually can and should change medical science, research into the application is still in its early stages. Also in the area of skin rejuvenation.
My children have a small bottle of Yakult with their breakfast each morning. I initiated this routine after a fascinating reading by a Paediatrician about the advantageous effect of probiotics. My only concern is that the contents of the bottle of Yakult are not quite the same as that tested in the research world. In the meantime, my kids are enjoying that tasty sweet drink containing healthy live bacteria, so withdrawing it is out of the question!
An accident in the kitchen, falling off your bike, or that huge spot on your chin that you just can’t leave alone… Your skin protects your body against external damage, but sometimes it isn’t strong enough. And then it is important to know what you can do to help your skin heal. For scars are awful and prevention is better than cure!
The gloves and scarves have been recalled from the attic and the car windscreen has to be scraped in the mornings and then we all reach for the lip balm. And that is not always wise. Because you can turn, in no time, from an occasional user into an outright lip balm addict.