How to Slow Down Aging in the Skin

Ageing. Getting Older. Maturing. There we said it. As uncomfortable as it might make some of us, we’re all ageing. As we grow older (and not necessarily wiser), we might notice changes in both our body and our mind.

For example, we might begin to notice that our body composition changes, as we lose muscle mass and muscle function and gain fat as our metabolism and digestion changes. We might develop diseases such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. In terms of our brain health, we might develop an age-related decrease in our cognitive function and become concerned about dementia.

All of these things are very real and a worry for many of us as we seek to slow down the pace of aging and live longer. But what about our skin? Yes, healthy aging is all about physical activity and calorie restriction to help us maintain our weight and a healthy body and mind. But for many of us, younger-looking skin is a major concern as we consider our old age, or at least our older age.

And as age, our skin changes. So, taking care of our skin as it matures and adapting to its changing needs is essential if we want to maintain that healthy glow and avoid our skin prematurely aging.

Are there preventative measures we can take? Are there ways to slow down the inevitable passage of time and delay the increasing of our biological age? Are there things we can avoid that might actually accelerate premature aging?

Slowing Down the Aging Process

Fine lines and wrinkles, sagging and drooping as well as a darkening of the skin around the eyes are early signs of ageing skin. Whilst it’s important to embrace this natural consequence as people age, you aren’t completely powerless when it comes to keeping them at bay.

Regular exercise, consuming a healthy whole foods diet rich in antioxidant fruits and vegetables, seeking shade to protect your skin from UV related DNA damage, staying well hydrated and getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night are all preventive measures that can help increase your chances of a long and healthy lifespan with youthful skin.

But there are also other steps you can take that may help if you want to slow down the skin aging process and look younger.

We’ve put together a helpful guide to get you started.

Collagen, Skin and Aging

Don’t worry, we aren’t suggesting you start getting a substance such as collagen and Botox injected into your face (unless you want to, of course).

But collagen is one of those words that shows up whenever we talk or read about anti-aging products. So what is it? Put simply, collagen is a structural protein, which accounts for somewhere in the region of 30 percent of the body's total protein composition. Collagen is present in all of the body's organs and is the main component of connective tissue. Its primary function is to sustain and provide structural integrity to the skin, tendons and cartilage.

So, what does that have to do with fine lines and wrinkles?

As we age, alarmingly starting in our mid 20’s, the amount of collagen we produce starts to decrease – leaving our skin less full and firm.

On top of that, the quality of the collagen in our face starts to deteriorate. Collagen and elastin (another structural protein in our skin responsible for suppleness and tightness) become fragmented and thick. It’s this that leads to those pesky crow’s feet, fine lines and wrinkles.

As we age further, through our 40s, 50s and beyond, these cellular processes become more fast, leading to an acceleration in skin aging. Especially so, in women experiencing the menopause, as oestrogen levels fall, also affecting collagen reserves.

Interestingly, and annoyingly, this breakdown in elastin and collagen is more prevalent in facial skin, which is why our faces so often show signs of ageing before the rest of our bodies. And is why older adults look, well, older.

Boosting Collagen to Slow Down Aging

Whilst this deterioration in quality of our collagen and elastin is inevitable, there are a few lifestyle changes we can make to slow down the process. A healthy diet, keeping hydrated and not smoking will all help to keep your collagen working harder better for longer.

There are also a number of collagen producing and collagen containing products available. They work to slow down the deterioration of collagen within the body and attempt to boost overall collagen production.

Orally consumed collagen products have shown promising results in helping to improve the appearance of ageing skin. In fact, one study provides evidence of these kinds of products noticeably out performing a placebo and suggests that a supplement used in this way, can reduce the appearance of wrinkles by as much as 20 percent in eight weeks.

Then there’s the creams. So many creams. But do collagen creams work?

Many anti-ageing creams, night creams and eye cream products contain collagen boosting ingredients. Although conclusive evidence of the body being able to absorb collagen through the skin is lacking, some of these products do produce promising results in combating the appearance of ageing. Try a few, give them at least six weeks and find what works for you and what doesn’t.

Is it Possible to Slow the Aging Process with Silica?

Taking supplements to help boost the manufacture of collagen can also work to support healthy, youthful skin. If you’re looking to get started with collagen boosting products, many of the topical and supplemental products produced by us here at Sönd contain silica.

Silica is a building block of collagen and it's been shown to boost the body's production of collagen, enhance the skin's ability to retain moisture, strengthen the structure of the skin itself and soothe inflammation and irritation.

As a result, these products can restore elasticity and make skin appear and feel healthier. And they are particularly beneficial for those with sensitive skin types or skin conditions such as acne or rosacea.

As well as silica, some of the most notable ingredients to look out for when trying to keep wrinkles at bay are: lactic acid, phytosqualane, moringa oleifera, phytosqualane, hemp oil and hyaluronic acid.

In particular, Sönd's Calming Hydration Day Cream is a good option for a day cream, because it contains both silica and pentavitin, which work to strengthen the skin and keep it moisturised. Meanwhile, the moringa oleifera and phytosqualane contained within the product help to restore elasticity and soften the skin.

Can Beauty Sleep Reverse the Signs of Aging?

Dark circles are another common sign of ageing. And whilst it might sound obvious, if you’ve got dark circles forming under your eyes, you might just need a few more ZZZ’s.

When we sleep, our damaged cells repair themselves. When we don’t get enough deep sleep, small breakdowns in our cells don’t get a chance to repair and begin to accumulate, causing our skin to look tired and less healthy.

Sleep is also a magical time for collagen. It’s during deep sleep that the body releases growth hormones. These hormones aid new cell production and most importantly, collagen synthesis.

Just a few more hours sleep could yield a noticeable improvement in the appearance of your skin. In fact, studies have shown that sleeping sleeping seven hours as opposed to five can lead to a 50% reduction in the development of fine lines and wrinkles in the skin around the eyes. How about that for an easy win to improve the life span of our skin?!

Protecting Your Skin from the Sun and Other Lifestyle Choices

So, what can you do to improve your sleep?

• Don't eat a big meal too late in the evening, allow at least 2-3 hours between dinner and going to bed to help you restore your sleep patterns.
• Avoid using electronics in the bedroom such as your laptop or your phone, try to read a book instead.
• Have a chamomile tea before bed - it helps to unwind the mind and relax after a long day.
• Avoid using detergents with strong fragrances.
• Drink plenty of water during the day, but not before going to bed to help reduce trips to the toilet.
• Don’t use electronic devices 90 minutes before going to sleep. Electronic device screens give of blue daylight spectrum light which is the colour of the sun which is stimulating and energising to our systems.
• Reduce alcohol intake as it stops the body from being able to go into REM sleep.

Here's some other lifestyle tips to help prevent premature aging and even turn back the clock...

• Lie on your back when you sleep as lying on your stomach can cause liquid to pool under your eye throughout the night causing puffiness.
• Regular, moderate exercise will help to reduce inflammation in the body, that if left unchecked, can lead to cellular damage and aging.
• Take steps to protect your skin from the sun for as long as possible, be that avoiding the sun, wearing a wide brimmed hat and good quality sunglasses or using a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or above.
• Consuming a vegan or a mostly plant-based diet and intermittent fasting, a type of prolonged calorie restriction may help to support healthy skin cells.
• Training exercises to help work the muscles in the face may also work, but you may look a little silly doing them!

With all of this in mind, it’s important to love and take care of your skin at every age. You’re never too young or too old to start taking care of yourself, and a great skin care routine is as good a place as any to start.

Aging Naturally?

The Sönd range of alkalising skincare products has been developed with all skin types in mind, and contains skin-loving, nourishing ingredients.

Aging naturally or unnaturally, the choice is yours, but either way, let Sönd take care of happy, healthy skin!

This article is not meant to treat or diagnose. Please visit your doctor for advice about any health concerns you may have.