Growing older may be inevitable, but looking your age doesn't need to be. The effervescent sparkle of eternal youth may be closer than you think. Here are some simple steps you can take to stave off the ageing process.
Sunny side up
Kate Di Prima, accredited practicing dietitian, says eggs are one of the best things you can eat if you want vital skin, hair and nails.
"Eggs contain protein, B12, vitamin D, albumen and a host of essential amino acids you can't get in any other one food."
Inside out moisture
Di Prima says avocados are her second top food pick for youthful skin.
"Avocados contain monounsaturated fats which nourish skin from the inside out."
Packed also with folate, vitamin E and antioxidants, the EFAs (essential fatty acids) in avocados are a potent anti-ager, maintaining collagen in the skin.
Five moves
Before yoga, before Pilates and even before qigong came the five Tibetan rites. Believed to have age-reversing properties and to open all seven of the body's chakras, the five Tibetan rites are simple exercises you can do anywhere you have a spare patch of floor. Start with three of each and build up to 21. No class fees required!
Mister T
The Japanese islanders of Okinawa enjoy one of the world's longest life expectancies, and a key factor is their diet. Three times a day they put the kettle on for green tea.
Research shows the polyphenols in green tea can reduce the risk of various types of cancer, lower cholesterol, and stave off obesity. So, why not pour yourself a cuppa?
Slather on the screen
David Segal, author of Skin: The Essential Australian Guide, says avoiding sun damage is one of the best ways to keep skin young and elastic. Segal says a daily broad spectrum sunscreen is essential. "Don't look at the SPF level on the packet, read whether it protects against UVA light, which is the one you can't feel but comes through even on a cloudy day and penetrates the collagen and elastin in your skin, contributing to wrinkles."
Protect your peepers
Segal advises adding an antioxidant based eye cream to your beauty routine as early as your twenties. "The eyes are the first place to show ageing because the skin around them is so thin," he says. Look for an eye cream which contains vitamin A, C, E and coffee berry or green tea extract.
Lose the stress
Ageing is caused by excessive free radicals, and many lifestyle factors can increase the damage from these nasties. "Things like grief, stress, smoking and excessive sun increase the damage from free radicals," says Segal.
Lighten your body's load by heading to a comedy club or watching some funny online videos every day, to release stress, improve your immunity, and lower your blood pressure.
A is for Amazing
Segal says Vitamin A — commonly manufactured as products called Retin-A, Retin-Ox, Retin Aldehyde, or Retinol — is the only product topically applied to skin that's been medically proven to reverse ageing.
"It's one of those ingredients that stimulates cell turnover, stimulates collagen (the building blocks of our skin), and evens out pigmentation issues such as freckles."
Hands off
The hands are the quickest way to determine a person's age, so make sure you wear gloves when washing up and cleaning to protect the skin from being damaged by harsh chemicals and hot water. Keep a tube of hand cream by every sink, and use leftover face cream on the backs of your hands. Keep sunscreen in the glove box of your car and apply every time you go for a spin longer than 15 minutes.
Keep it liquid
Melanie Burnicle, a Sydney make-up artist who works on fashion and television shoots across the country, says liquid make-up is a must if you're after a young, fresh look.
"Powder is okay to set the make-up but stay away from a powder base if you're over the age of 30, as it can set into the fine lines around the eyes and forehead and add emphasis."
Now read: Celebrity workout secrets.
