SKIN
Celebrate the fact that in your 20s, your skin is in its prime! Anastasia Achilleos, facialist to the A-list, says “Collagen and elastin levels at their optimum. Even with skin suffering from acne, you can feel the youthfulness of the skin around the blemish.” The bad news is that your wrinkles start developing at this age, even if they do not show up for another ten years, so it is essential to use a moisturiser with an SPF. Anastasia says it is all about routine. Wash your skin with cleanser every day, using a creamier product if your skin is dry, and a non-creamy product if your skin is oily.
“In our later years we become more knowledgeable about the importance of cleaning the skin, but by then we have ignored cleansing for too long, resulting in skin that is clogged and grey.” says Anastasia.
As we hit 30, the signs of sun damage become evident in the tiny lines and wrinkles forming. Worst-case scenario, you will also see enlarged pores, and perhaps still have some acne as a 20-something hangover.
“Cleansing should still be your priority,” says Anastasia. “Exfoliation needs to be weekly, or twice weekly depending on your skin type, and masks and serums can help boost circulation and brightness.”
If acne is a concern, Anastasia suggests trying a course of facials, and seeing holistic practitioners before turning to prescription measures. The good news is that for most of us, with the ready availability of effective skincare and our careful use of it, we may not see much change at all.
“If you have cared for your skin and wear a daily SPF, some intensive skincare with Vitamin C to boost collagen, or some night oils to nourish the skin, should be enough.”
Some of Anastasia’s clients tell her that hitting 40 is their worst nightmare. If that sounds a little negative, Anastasia says that at 32, she is already starting to know how they feel.
“Even though clients and friends will tell me I look nowhere close to this, I still know that I have signs of ageing!” If you look at your parents you will see what path the ageing process will take. “You cannot afford to be slack with am/pm routines as your skin depends on it,” says Anastasia.
It is a good age to start using vitamin-rich serums, and anti-ageing masks to hydrate and plump up skin. But Anastasia’s number one tip is something that involves no products at all.
“My clients swear by massage, and so do I. Thousands of years ago women used the most basic beauty tools of all: their hands.”
Run a face-cloth under warm water, add a few drops of lavender water and a large dollop of cleanser, then using large, sweeping, upward strokes, massage from your chest to your forehead, beginning at the breast bone and ending at the temples. Repeat this ten times, finishing by wiping off any cleanser.
AGELESS SKIN ESSENTIALS:
Trilogy Cream Cleanser Containing over 1/2 a bottle of certified organic rosehip oil and other nutritious goodies such as evening primrose oil, jojoba, almond and carrot oil.
THE Moisturiser by Anastasia for Urban Retreat Skincare. An all round moisturiser that protects from environmental damage and moisture loss for all skin types.
Evolu Moisturising Day Cream SPF15 Combines the protective properties of an SPF15 sunscreen with the antioxidant benefits of nourishing plant extracts, which gently replenish and soften. Includes New Zealand pure spring water, pure essential oils of Chamomile and Olibanum, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Geranium and extracts of Kiwifruit and Sweet Almond.
Ole Henriksen Energising Complexion Oil to boost the skins metabolic activity, enhancing oxygenation and purification, this pleasantly energizing formulation is infused with lemon, cypress, clary sage and tea tree oil.
TREAT: Visia Skin Analysis from Renew Medica an advanced digital analysis of your skin’s condition to sort fact from fiction when it comes to ageing.