I’m a skin expert – 3 skincare tricks you need to reverse ageing & the popular buy that does nothing for your skin
IT SEEMS that everybody is after youthful-looking skin nowadays, but it can leave you in a tizz trying to figure out what ingredients actually work.
There are plenty of anti-ageing tips and tricks online but skincare expert Alice Henshaw, 34 has revealed the actual skincare ingredients that’ll help you reverse the signs of ageing and banish wrinkles.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, the founder of Skincycles revealed the three top products to make sure you have in your beauty routine to fight off dull skin and restore elasticity to create the appearance of younger-looking skin. Plus, the one anti-ageing product the industry raves about that can actually make matters worse.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is raved about in corners of the beauty world and for good reason says Alice, who deems the product ‘magic’.
“Its antioxidant properties help to protect the skin against harmful free radicals, fighting against environmental pollution and damage from UV rays that contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin that causes wrinkles and sagging.
“It also has a brightening effect which reduces the pigmentation and dullness that comes with ageing – it’s literal magic,” she says.
The best part is that this super hydrating vitamin B3 ingredient works for pretty much every type of skin there is.
So whether you have acne, wrinkles, large pores or uneven skin tone – Niacinamide will benefit you.
The skincare pro adds: “Niacinamide is suitable for a wide variety of skin types including acne-prone skin and sensitive skin.
“Its anti-ageing effects help your skin appear healthier and more radiant, so it’s great for anyone over the age of 25 looking to achieve plumped, youthful skin.
“The benefits of niacinamide may be especially helpful for blemish-prone skin and mature skin, since this ingredient can help soothe skin and help minimise the appearance of wrinkles and large pores.”
Retinol
If you’ve been looking on tips and tricks to reverse ageing online then you’ve probably already heard of retinol – and it’s definitely worth adding to your routine.
Alice, who owns her own skincare line, swears by the stuff for reducing sun damage, including fine lines.
“Retinol is a powerful active ingredient which stimulates the skin’s cell turn-over and production of healthy skin cells, increasing collagen production and reducing sun damage,” she explains.
“It’s highly efficient in visibly smoothing the skin, softening fine lines and wrinkles especially under the eyes and across the forehead, leaving you with younger looking, smoother skin. It resurfaces the skin by encouraging cell turnover, helping to generate elastin and collagen which reduces age spots, fine lines and wrinkles.”
Hyaluronic Acid
We get it, any skincare product with the word acid in can appear scary, but this fits-everyone ingredient will do the exact opposite of what you think an acid would do.
Known for its ultra-hydrating properties, hyaluronic acid will keep your skin plump and moisturised with its savvy water-drawing properties.
The skincare expert says: “It works by acting as a humectant, drawing water molecules into deeper layers of the skin and the best products include long and short chain particles for ultimate hydration.
“Incorporating hyaluronic acid into your skincare routine long-term will help to protect your skin against dehydration which causes signs of ageing, as it strengthens your skin’s natural moisture barrier.”
You should always apply hyaluronic acid to slightly damp skin so that it can retain water and deliver it to the deeper layers of skin.
Alice recommends using a mask like her Skincycles Hydrating Bio-Cellulose Silk Mask for instant skin-cell penetration.
One to avoid
Exfoliating your skin is beneficial for skin turnover, but there’s one product that might make your skin age in the process, salicylic acid.
The chemical exfoliator works wonders on acne-prone skin to removed dead skin cells and reduce inflammation but can wreak havoc on mature skin.
“It’s not the most powerful ingredient for an anti-ageing effect and it can cause irritation on mature skin as it’s more sensitive,” Alice adds.
“You’re better off trying an AHA that is more suitable for an anti-ageing effect, like glycolic acid.”