What you put into your body is as important as what you put on your face if you are to keep your complexion smooth and youthful
Plump, smooth, radiant-looking skin can be achieved with the simplest of practices. Here, experts tell us some easy ways to take care of our skin.
When do you start using anti-ageing products?
Coleman pulls no punches. “The most important skincare product in your 20s is sunscreen. The sooner you start using it regularly, the less trouble you’ll have with your skin as you age. It’s the number-one anti-ageing beauty product, full-stop.”
After sun protection, the first active ingredient Coleman recommends is a glycolic acid cleanser. “Start at any age you can afford it in your 20s. It has a lot of very good properties. It doesn’t strip or sensitise the skin. Used properly, it’s not invasive and yet it cleanses and gives a lovely glow.”
In your 30s — or even in your mid-20s, if you have a lot of sun damage — Coleman recommends using a retinol as your second active ingredient. “It repairs previous sun damage and is anti-skin cancer.”
For those with extremely sensitive skin, who can’t tolerate glycolics or retinols, Coleman suggests a vitamin C serum. “You should also be able to tolerate the active ingredient, peptides, which are collagen-stimulators.”
Ryan agrees with introducing active anti-ageing ingredients in the mid-to-late 20s. “Most people can benefit from a retinoid then, because it’s when collagen production starts to decline: From the mid-20s, collagen reduces by about 1% per year.”
People with significant sun exposure may need to start sooner, adding antioxidants like vitamin C and niacinamide to protect against free-radical damage. “Skin type also plays a role. People with naturally thinner or drier skin may notice signs of ageing earlier and should focus on barrier support with peptides and ceramides.”