As much as many of us do not want to hear this, the truth is, as we age our skin does too (gracefully and beautifully) and I know that when I chat about my toxin free journey to my friends, especially beauty choices, these questions always come up – What about treatment of fine lines and wrinkles? No Botox treatment? Now I know it is hard to ditch creams, lotions and potions that you have grown a fond attachment to BUT the long term health benefits far out way anything else so it’s time to make the break and reap the benefits – ridding your beautiful body of toxins!  

So how can you still fight the signs of ageing without Botox, going under the knife or getting harsh chemical treatments? Let us delve into the natural realm of anti-ageing…

Alpha Hydroxy Acids

Don’t panic when you hear the word ‘Acid’, because even though they sound quite nasty they are far from it. In natural skincare products AHA’s are a group of chemical compounds that occur naturally in fruit, milk and sugar cane. Be aware, you may find so called Alpha Hydroxy Acid’s in a lot of non natural cosmetic products but unfortunately, these can be created with a range of synthetic AHA’s, so keep this in mind and more importantly read and dissect your ingredients labels very carefully!

The most common and effective AHA’s you will find in natural skincare are:

Lactic Acid which is a natural acid derived from sour milk, fruit, vegetables and other plants. This is an effective AHA because when applied topically to the skin it improves the skin's texture by encouraging the skin to slough off its old, dead skin cells revealing the glow of healthy skin cells hidden underneath, which in turn can also help reduce the appearance of acne scars, age-related spots and pigmentation. We recommend you try Skin Juice Berry Buff Body Scrub, this detoxifying creamy superfood smoothie deeply exfoliates and polishes away dead, dry skin cells using lactic acid, natural fruit acids and crushed walnuts leaving the skin nourished, hydrated and smoother with a bright and glowing complexion. If you are looking for a face exfoliating product try La Mav Cranberry Exfoliating Scrub with Lactic Acid. This product is a deep cleansing facial scrub that will leave your skin purified and invigorated whilst revealing a soft luminous, evenly-toned and smoother-looking skin. This scrub is perfect for those that have oily or combination skin types and perfect for dull and/or mature skin. We recommend using this product 1-2 times a week.

Glycolic Acid, which is another commonly used AHA in natural skin care is derived from sugar cane, it deeply and effectively penetrates the skin. This is why it’s so popular in skincare products and cosmetics. It works by removing that top layer of skin, leaving the newer (healthier) skin below, resulting in fresher, glowing skin!** We love Andalou Pumkin Honey Glycolic Mask  which helps to hydrate while gently removing dead skin cells from the surface. This product is formulated with a natural blend of pumpkin, Manuka Honey and Plant Stem Cells and is suitable for normal to combination skin. We recommend using this product 1-3 times a week. Applied to clean skin for ten minutes before rinsing off.

Another anti-ageing ingredient to keep an eye out for is:

Retinol – A derivative of Vitamin A This is an amazing ingredient as Retinol works to speed up cell turnover and stimulates collagen production. It can also help improve the appearance of skin texture and wrinkles to generally help restore an even skin tone. We recommend you try this 100% pure Rosehip Oil by Rosehip Plus, used daily the Rosehip Oil which is rich in Vitamin A (Retinol) and Vitamin C helps reduce the typical signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles by supporting the skin’s collagen and elastin. It also can significantly improve skin hydration, promoting smoother-looking skin. This product is suitable for all skin types and should be used daily.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid is a natural substance that can help naturally reduce signs of ageing by decreasing the skin’s water loss associated with sun exposure and skin dryness. Hyaluronic Acid is amazing because it is capable of holding up to 1,000 times its weight in water thus deeply hydrating the skin leaving skin smoother, plumper, more even-toned and generally more “refreshed” looking***. A fabulous product we highly recommend you try is La Mav Hyaluronic Hydra Max Serum this ultra-hydrating serum is designed to give dry and dehydrated skin a powerful shield to lock in moisture giving the skin a luminous complexion. The Hyaluronic Acid will leave your skin plumper and firmer. It can be used daily as part of your skin care regime, suitable for dry and mature skin types.

Zinc oxide

I know you probably know this one already but just a reminder that the sun is responsible for a whopping 90% of premature skin ageing, so wearing a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen when you're out and about is so essential. The most important thing you can do for your skin is getting into the habit of wearing a sunblock daily. One of the most effective ingredients that protect the skin against the damaging UVA and UVB rays is Zinc Oxide, a physical sunblock. Why so? It sits on the skin and reflects light, rather than the chemical sunscreens like Avobenzone, which absorb the sun's rays instead. We recommend Zinc Oxide as the natural option and it is also ideal for sensitive skin types, as zinc oxide is better-tolerated and less irritating than the chemical alternatives. The Well Store stocks a variety of natural Zinc Oxide based sunscreens.

Be Well xx

*Health.howstuffworks.com

**Glycolicacid.com

***Dr.Axe.com