4 things you didn’t know were ageing your skin

There’s no escaping the fact that as we get older, we’ll start seeing the formation of lines and wrinkles. But there are actually a few factors at play that can accelerate your skin’s ageing process, leaving you with some fine lines before they should be there. The good news? Unlike the passage of time, these are things that you do have control over. And while you may be aware of some of them – sun damage, smoking and an inadequate skin care routine probably ring a bell – you probably didn’t know that these four things are getting in the way of your youthful skin goals.

#1 / Pollution

We all know the ill-effects pollution is having on the planet, but it’s also causing major problems for your skin. The toxic fumes that make up air pollution have been found to accelerate wrinkles and age spots – and it’s near impossible to avoid. But thankfully, it’s not impossible to protect your skin from pollution. Elizabeth Arden created its Prevage® range to combat this very problem that we face on the daily.

The hero ingredient you’ll find in all of the Prevage® products is called Idebenone, which is currently the most powerful antioxidant* to provide free radical protection and support the skin’s natural repair process. It also helps maintain optimal skin health – despite the attempts of your pollution-packed environment to leave it looking lacklustre and looking aged.

One of our current favourite products in the Prevage® line-up is the Elizabeth Arden Prevage® Anti-Aging Daily Serum. It’s the perfect first step in your daily post-cleansing routine as it works double duty to repair your skin while addressing visible signs of ageing such as age spots and discolouration, fine lines, wrinkles, roughness, sun damage and even redness and minor scars.

TOP TIP: Cover all your environment-fighting bases by finishing off your skin care routine with the Prevage® City Smart With Sunscreens Hydrating Shield. It offers broad-spectrum protection, so you’ll be fighting off the ageing effects of both pollution AND the sun.

#2 / Your makeup

No, we’re not talking about laying your foundation on so thick that it settles into your wrinkles and makes them look more prominent (although that’s completely true, so take note) or that the way you apply your makeup in general can make you look older than you are. In this instance, we’re talking about how not effectively removing your makeup at the end of the day can speed up your skin’s ageing process. You see, when you sleep, your skin is working overtime to repair itself and slough away dead skin cells, and when it has a coating of makeup getting in the way, you literally miss out on your beauty sleep. And besides impeding your skin cell’s renewal process, having your makeup on while you sleep means that you also still have a film of pollution and dirt on top of your skin (they just LOVE to cling to makeup) that’s causing oxidative stress and can lead to wrinkles and sagging. On top of that, you’re leaving your skin more prone to breakouts and skin irritations because it can’t breathe under all that foundation and grime.

If you really can’t muster up the energy to properly remove your makeup with a cleanser at the end of the day, then make sure you have a pack of makeup removing wipes on your bedside for those (very rare) occasions when you need a quick fix. Try Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths for those nights when you really can’t be bothered.

#3 / Your cleanser

Cleanser’s a funny thing – on one hand it’s essential for making your skin look younger because it removes dead skin cells, oil and dirt, and helps all your anti-ageing formulas to absorb into the skin better.

But on the other hand, if you’re over-cleansing you can actually accelerate skin ageing by disrupting your skin’s barrier. Bet you didn’t know that! So what’s the happy compromise? We’re strong advocates of double cleansing day and night, but just make sure you’re using the right cleanser formula for your skin type. You don’t want anything too strong or harsh that’s going to strip your skin of moisture or cause flare-ups and breakouts. We love a micellar water as a first step to remove makeup, followed by a gentle cleansing oil like Elemis Nourishing Omega-Rich Cleansing Oil.

#4 / Your sleeping position

Bad news: Sleeping on your side can cause wrinkles on your chin and cheeks to form, and sleeping on your stomach can lead to forehead lines. While you can’t 100 per cent control your body’s position once you’re asleep, when you hop into bed, lay on your back and try to drift off to sleep from that position. Also, swap your cotton pillowcase for a silk one as they are more gentle on your skin and won’t cause any skin pulling, which can lead to wrinkles over time. Plus, silk helps your skin absorb all those anti-ageing ingredients in your nightly skin care routine!

Try: Ecosa Silk Pillowcase

Are grey hairs giving away your age? Find out Chrissy Teigen's approach to dealing with grey hairs.  

Did you know all of these factors could be ageing your skin? Have you tried any of Elizabeth Arden’s Prevage® range? Share with us your thoughts below. 

*When compared to alpha lipoic acid, kinetin, vitamin C, vitamin E, and coenzyme Q10.

Main image credit: Getty