Many women find the whole anti-aging thing extremely confusing. Are you supposed to start thinking about it in your teenage years? In your twenties? When those first few wrinkles come through? Surely, the purpose of anti-aging is to slow the process down. So, why do companies only seem to advertise to those who are slightly older? Is anti-aging something I should be thinking about right now? I figured I’d delve into the whole thing a little, to see when is the best time to start thinking about sagging and crow’s feet.
When do we start to age?
I found so many different studies on this, with no real conclusive answer. The fact is, we all age at our own speed. There are several factors that can speed along the process, however. Smoking and exposure to the sun, for example. If you don’t look after yourself, then your body will age a lot quicker than most. Meaning there is no real average time for women to start aging. I did find some general information about the process, however:
-
Twenties – This is when your skin should technically be at its best. All those teenage hormones have calmed down, and you’ll stop getting breakouts. Or the breakouts will slow down, at least. Instead, you might experience dryness.
-
Thirties – This is when the collagen in the skin tissue begins to break down. Along with the elastin. If you’re a smoker, then you may already be experiencing the signs of aging. Most women will notice their first few grey hairs in their early thirties.
-
Forties – This is when the lines begin to deepen and take shape. Skin starts to get drier, and some women may find that it changes colour. Those who haven’t been looking after their skin may find it going sallow too.
As you get older, the skin will eventually lose its elastin and collagen. The lines will become ever deeper, and you might get age spots. Grey hair will be rife now, too! You may also notice sagging and dropping.
What do we do?
So, the findings left me a little bit uncomfortable. Surely, if we want to defeat the aging process we really need to start in our twenties. Or our earlier thirties at the very least. Women may find it increasingly difficult to hide the signs of aging as they enter their forties and fifties. Not that it’s ‘too late’, just that it will become harder to win the fight. So, what do we do? Mostly, we should be looking after our skin as much as possible. While also focusing on some of these critical areas:
-
Sun Protection – This is of vital importance, for so many reasons! Not only will the right sun protection stop you from looking too old, too quick. It can also reduce the risk of skin cancer and other harmful conditions.
-
Face AND Neck – A lot of women think just about their face when it comes to wrinkles. However, your neck is a prime suspect too. You can buy creams & serums that give your face & neck a lift. It’s a good idea to start using these in your late twenties to early thirties.
-
Eating and Drinking – What you eat and drink throughout your life can play a significant part in how well you age. Eating junk food 24/7 isn’t going to keep you looking fresh-faced. The same applies to those who binge drink Spanish wine on the weekends. Consider what you put inside your body, if you want to look good on the outside.
And so, to answer the question. Is anti-aging something I need to think about now?! It seems like it. We don’t need to go overboard with lotions and potions just yet. But it’s a good idea to think about how your current choice can impact your future self.
