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| | The skin under my eyes often looks puffy and swollen, what can I do?
This is normally due to fluid retention and looks worse first thing in the morning.
Use an eye gel to reduce the puffiness and firm the skin. Apply a little gel onto fingertips and massage lightly out from the bridge of the nose to the temples. (Do not drag the skin as it is very fragile here). This will help to dissipate fluid which has 'pooled' during the night.
You could also try a gel eye mask. Take out of the fridge and place over closed eyes. Relax for ten minutes to cool and calm revive the eye area.
I've noticed my skin looking older. How can I prevent lines and wrinkles?
There is no magical cure for ageing and prevention is always better than cure but you can do a lot to smooth the visible signs and keep wrinkles under control.
Moisturise and protect with a good quality lotion or cream even if your skin is oily. Keeping skin hydrated smoothes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Dry skin ages quickly and shows wrinkles more, so chose a slightly richer moisturiser. Use your moisturiser morning and night to maximise benefits. Specialist anti-wrinkle creams and serums are also effective to reduce the signs of ageing.
Protect your skin from Ultra Violet (sun) light even in the winter, (see next question). Use a sun cream whenever your face is exposed to the elements.
Always keep your skin clean and avoid chemicals especially from pollution.
Smoking is possibly the worst thing you can do to your skin. If it doesn't kill you first, it will certainly make you look at least 10 years older.
Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water as dehydration is really bad for your skin. Aim for eight large glasses a day.
Get sufficient sleep and try to relax. Stress really shows on your face and can damage the skin if it continues over a long period.
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Why is the sun so bad for your skin?
Ultra Violet rays from the sun dehydrate and age your skin. While most people think a tan is desirable, what you actually see is the pigment Melanin protecting the skin from serious damage. U.V. Light sets up a reaction in the deeper layers of the skin which causes cellular damage.
U.V. is believed to be the cause of 80 - 90% of skin ageing, so it makes sense to protect your face if you are worried about lines and wrinkles, or better still use a self tan cream. Over exposure to U.V. can also cause skin cancers which can be life threatening, so always take care to use protection in strong sun. Try the new Phytomer sun protection range which contains both UVA and UVB filters and effective anti-ageing ingredients.
My father had brown marks on his face when he was older. What are they and how can I avoid them?
These are known as age spots or liver marks and are also common on the back of the hands. They are caused by the Melanin pigment clumping together to form patches. This is normally the result of too much sun exposure. Protect the skin on your face and hands by wearing a factor 15 sun cream everyday if possible.
I have wrinkles at the side of my eyes. How can I make them look less obvious?
The eyes are particularly vulnerable to premature ageing. This is because the skin in this area is fine and delicate. The muscles around the eyes are used all the time for facial expression and the skin covering them can eventually become deeply lined. Certain expressions such as frowning and squinting can cause a particular problem.
Try not to frown, and wear sunglasses in the sun and glasses for close work to help avoid squint lines.
The lines at the side of the eyes are known as 'crows feet' or 'laughter lines'. We would never encourage you not to laugh! But you can use a good eye cream here to help smooth out the lines and keep skin supple.
Don't forget your sun protection cream here where it's most needed.
What are fruit acids or A.H.A.s?
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (A.H.A.s) are mild fruit acids or enzymes which are taken from grapes, lemons, pineapples, papaya, sugar or milk. They are used to gently dissolve the bonds that anchor dead cells to the skin. These cells can then be washed away or naturally exfoliated leaving the skin brighter and fresher. As well as giving an instantly more healthy look to the skin, the removal of dead cells encourages faster regeneration of those deeper down, bringing newer, younger-looking cells to the surface. A.H.A.s are commonly used in anti-ageing products.
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