There’s a reason why it’s called ‘beauty sleep’; getting the requisite number of hours of good quality z-time is absolutely paramount to how we will look and feel in the morning. As adults we need around 7-8 hours sleep a night, as this is when our bodies kick into action repairing, detoxifying and rebooting our system.
Ensure you’re allowing enough time to sleep and that the sleep you have is really good quality. All sorts of things can contribute to disturbed sleep including too much stimulus just before you go to bed as well as alcohol, caffeine and heavy foods late at night. Light and sound pollution can also play a part, as can the temperature you sleep at. Take steps to detox your routine by keeping your bedroom screen free, eating earlier and cutting out stimulants like alcohol and caffeine. Use sleep masks and earplugs if you get disturbed by noise and turn off heating at night.
Your skin is your largest organ and highly efficient as a protective barrier between the body and environmental aggressors. However polluted air holds thousands of tiny particles, like dirt and sulphur dioxide, that create free radicals in the body. These skin villains may damage collagen causing wrinkles to form and stimulating pigment production making your skin tone and texture uneven. This causes it to look dull as it doesn’t reflect light properly.
Pollution clogs the skin, causes inflammation and can disrupt the correct function of the skin barrier so it’s really important to cleanse away those dirt particles before you go to bed so that your skin can do its job properly. A wash-off cleanser such as Vichy Purete Thermale Fresh Cleansing Gel, is the perfect solution for city living. The lightweight gel is suitable for all skin types and contains the expert anti-pollution complex Purisoft in a glycerin solution. The formula purifies skin and helps cleanse dust, excess sebum and pollution from the skin.
Yes, stress really can age you! When you’re stressed the body releases a hormone called cortisol. At high levels this hormone contributes to the breakdown of elastic tissue and collagen (a protein that is key to your skin to looking plump and radiant) which all contributes to premature ageing.
Sometimes we can’t help going through stressful periods but we can ensure our skin is getting some extra help to stay balanced. Boost your skin’s natural glow with the Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector. This serum contains a high concentration of pure antioxidant vitamin C (15%), along with vitamin E and fragmented hyaluronic acid to help hydrate and smooth skin whilst combating oxidative stress and improving overall skin health. It’s a radiance boosting treatment that combats dullness and loss of firmness in just ten days.
The old adage ‘you are what you eat’ is very true when it comes to your skin health. A diet rich in processed food, sugar, alcohol and factory farmed meat and poultry is nutrient poor and going to play havoc with your skin (as well as your mood, weight and brain function, by the way). The result will likely be dull looking, problem skin prone to breakouts.
This is not rocket science! You need to feed your skin just as you feed your body, with a balanced diet rich in fruit and vegetables, preferably organic and as fresh as possible to fortify your body with antioxidants. Top up on good oils with plenty of nuts, seeds, and responsibly sourced fish to give your skin the nutrients it needs to regenerate and glow. Where necessary supplement with a good quality multivitamin.
We don’t need to tell you how important drinking enough water is to your general wellbeing. And this works for skin too. Our skin is the shield between our body and the external world, protecting it from daily aggressors such as pollution. In order for skin to function properly as a barrier it needs to be well hydrated (dry, cracked skin allows a much greater flow of free radicals to enter the skin). Plumper skin cells will also give you that magically dewy look.
As well as the obvious ‘drink more water’ adage, there is much you can do to keep skin hydrated with good quality products. Look for formulas which contain plumping hyaluronic acid such as Vichy’s Mineral 89, which contains 89% Vichy Thermal Mineralizing Water along with Hyaluronic acid, to visibly plump and strengthen the skin barrier and protect it from the environment.
As we’re sure you know already, sun exposure is responsible for most of the visible signs of ageing on your skin - more than all other factors combined. UVA and UVB rays from the sun are the primary cause of wrinkles, sun spots, pigmentation, sagging and degraded skin texture.
Before you set foot outside, make sure you’ve protected your exposed skin - both in summer and in wintertime as UV rays can cause damage even on cloudy days. Look for products that deliver high broad spectrum protection such as Vichy Ideal Soleil Range.
Can’t be bothered to get up off the couch and do some exercise? It’s hard to get yourself motivated but regular exercise will boost more than your muscles. Aerobic activity enhances circulation to skin, which helps in nutrient exchange and removal of toxins from our skin cells.
Plan in some regular exercise at least three times a week. It’s important to establish a routine of exercise that you really enjoy doing in order for you to keep it up long term. Whether you’re a gym bunny, swimmer, runner or yoga lover, do what you love and your skin will show the benefits.
This article is intended as general information only. You should seek advice from a professional before altering your diet, changing your exercise regime or starting any new course of conduct.
