Body & beauty

How to look younger naturally

If you want to stay looking young for as long as possible, discover the natural ways to turn back the clock and keep your youthful glow.

Growing older gracefully is laudable, but it doesn’t mean you have to stop taking pride in your appearance. Often it’s the women who grow into their age, rather than fighting against it, that retain a sense of elegance and style throughout their life, despite their aging skin. Think Helen Mirren and Judi Dench, who proudly embraced their natural grey hair and look fabulous. The true secrets to staying young are laughter, love and an open mind, but there is no harm in seeking a little extra help, if it can be done as naturally as possible.

The most common age giveaways are the décolletage, neck, hands, greying hair, poor posture, thinning lips and ageing makeup. Wouldn’t you love to know how to look younger naturally? Here’s our guide to ageing gracefully and staying young – naturally.

Protect your décolletage

Vertical lines, or tramlines, on the chest are caused by ageing and sun damage. The skin on the décolletage is delicate, so always use a sun block. A gentle exfoliant on the upper chest can improve skin texture and reduce wrinkles. Jurlique does an all-natural Herbal Recovery Neck Serum, which helps reduce lines.

Anti-aging for your face

Sea buckthorn oil, one of the most valuable oils on Earth, is the must-have anti-aging ingredient for facial skin. It is very hydrating, and tests have shown an increase in skin moisture of up to 76 per cent in as little as four weeks of use, and a reduction in wrinkles and fine lines by almost 30 per cent. You could try Alva Natural Skincare, which uses organic sea buckthorn to boost ageing complexions in its Moisturising Day and Night Creams.

Keep your skin moisturised while you sleep with hydrating night oils – apply these after cleansing your face to allow the luxurious products to really soak in. Choose items with anti-ageing ingredients such as retinol to maximise the benefits. Also known as vitamin A1, retinol boosts collagen production, reducing wrinkles and fine lines.

Don’t under-estimate the importance of the massage your skin gets whilst cleansing. Avoid dragging the fine skin around your eyes while you remove eye makeup as it can damage the skin’s elasticity. Tapping the skin around your eyes gently with your fingertips after cleansing has an excellent effect on eye bags.

Botox makes most health-conscious people rear back in alarm, but a less drastic solution is to minimise the appearance of wrinkles through cleansing. As wrinkles naturally deepen with age, any makeup or everyday dirt can collect in them, making them appear more obvious. You could try the Clarisonic facial skin brush, which cleans the skin deep down, removing makeup more effectively than lotion and cotton wool and brightening the complexion.

Helen Sher, founder of the Sher System, says that one secret to premature ageing could not be more natural: “Splash warm water on your face 20 times morning and evening, then immediately apply moisturiser to seal in the moisture.” This encourages cell renewal and improves circulation.

Always use an SPF

A bottle of sunscreen is a regular go-to when you’re heading out for a day at the beach, but what about on your trip to the shops or meeting friends for lunch? Even on overcast days our skin is being bombarded with UV rays, which damage skin cells and create an aged appearance. To protect against this, you need to wear an SPF every day – consider combining it with your daily moisturiser.

Try vitamin C skincare

Look for this brightening agent in your products and also up your daily intake to help boost collagen production, protect against UV damage, help to fade dark spots and revive tired-looking spots.

Make-up tips for older skin

Simon Hall, a colourist, hairdresser and makeup artist at Karine Jackson’s salon, says that the most common makeup mistake for older skin is wearing too much. Lighter shades with a light touch work best. Reflective particles in cosmetics are very flattering to older skins, so choose glimmering shades, but make sure it’s glimmer, not glitter. Nothing looks worse than glitter trapped in a wrinkle. The same goes for heavy foundations – mineral powders are more natural and sit more lightly on the skin. “Bronzer is more flattering than blusher,“says Simon, “and paler lipsticks also look good as they give the illusion of fuller lips. Just remember that when you use texture or colour you’re highlighting that feature, so you have to be comfortable with it.”

Dry flaking skin is an ageing giveaway. Thin, lined lips can give a pinched look. Paler lipsticks or glosses will help, and plumping up the lip and improving the lip line is possible with natural lip products that contain an element of chilli or mint oil, which promotes a rush of blood to the lips and increases their size.

Emma Doherty, head makeup artist for Jane Iredale mineral makeup, says that getting the eyes right is key to a younger look. “Eyelashes and eye definition fade as we age, so a clever solution is to ensure that brows are groomed and defined. Use an eyeshadow in a similar colour to the hair and apply with a small angled brush. This looks more natural than a pencil, but don’t go darker, as that can also look ageing.”

Layer your skincare and makeup

It’s no use applying product after product if you’re doing it in the wrong order. After cleansing, apply a pea sized amount of serum while the skin is still damp to help lock in moisture. Follow with a moisturiser, and then dab a tiny amount of eye cream to the delicate eye area. Top tip: eye cream also acts as a highlighter and naturally bounces the light which helps to diminish the appearance of wrinkles.

While we’re on the subject of fine lines around the eye area, swap your trusty black eyeliner for a softer hue. This will soften your face, and in turn, any unwanted harsh lines. We recommend a caramel tone for fair-skinned beauties and a chocolate shade for darker-skinned lovelies and those who just can’t bear to part with their everyday swish along the lash line.

Try a new hair style

A little coiffeur camouflage does not necessarily mean piling on the chemicals which can accelerate the production of free radicals, leading to premature skin ageing. Herb UK’s organic colour, available from salons like Karine Jackson in London W1, uses minimal bleach and the colour itself is derived from organic ingredients. “Hair ages as much as skin, and as the protein and keratin break down it will dry and frizz,” explains Karine Jackson, top UK hairdresser.

“If it begins to thin and lose volume, use a spray gel on the roots, then, using your fingers, rub at the roots. This ‘confuses’ them and makes the hair stand up, giving you the appearance of more hair. Finish with a light spritz of gloss spray. A colour that’s too dark or light can make your skin look heavy, instantly ageing you. Older hair needs to be coloured more frequently as the natural pigment fades, so I would strongly recommend organic dye.” Or you could always consider growing out grey hair!

The cut is as important as the colour for defying age. “If your neck is wrinkly, be careful not to cut the hair too short as this will highlight the area,” says Karine. “A gaunt and thin face will look worse if hidden under a lot of hair. Choose styles that are off the face but have some volume.”

Get some quality sleep

One of the most simple, natural and cost-effective steps to a youthful appearance is a good night’s sleep. Sleep expert Dr Neil Stanley says: “Keep the bedroom for sleep; this means avoiding discussing relationships, financial problems or other potentially stressful topics in bed. Thirty minutes before lights-out, switch off your mobile, turn off the TV and close down the computer. Remember, you cannot find sleep, sleep must find you.”

Exercise for better posture

As we age, our muscles begin to weaken. Exercise helps, and a ‘shoulders back, head up’ posture can take years off the appearance. Tim Bean, co-author of Turn Back Your Age Clock recommends combining “press-ups, leg lifts and an upright row” to help avoid the “loss in height and the stooped and round-shouldered appearance” that can accompany ageing. “Exercises should be performed with a weight heavy enough to allow two sets of 10-12 repetitions, but not light enough to allow 15.”

Try aromatherapy

Harness the power of different scents using aromatherapy to conjure a state of blissful relaxation. There are many essential oils that can be used around your bedtime to create the right conditions for revitalising slumber, but lavender oil is most commonly associated with improved sleep. One study found that lavender can help with mild insomnia, while another suggested that the essential oil lowered blood pressure, heart rate and skin temperature.

Feed your skin with a better diet

Feed your skin with the nutrients it needs such as omega 3 and 6 found in oily fish, flax seeds, avocados and walnuts. A high dose of this essential fatty acid not only helps to plump the skin to diminish the signs of ageing but can also prove beneficial to sufferers of chronic skin conditions such as eczema, acne and psoriasis.

Foods to help with pigmentation problems

There are many benefits to soaking up the sun, but warm, sunny days are also the perfect conditions for premature ageing. Although a rigid skin care routine is definitely worth pursuing, clinical nutritionist Suzie Sawyer says food can also be a wonderful way to heal your complexion from the inside out. “Rich in lycopene, tomatoes are loaded with health-protective antioxidants that can help reduce hyperpigmentation,” says Suzie. Alternatively, Suzie recommends cutting a tomato in half and rubbing the juices across your skin, but it’s best to include plenty in your diet first of all.

Now, we’re all aware of the importance of eating enough fresh fruit and leafy vegetables, but when it comes to reducing pigmentation and ensuring your vitamin C levels remain optimal, one fruit takes the crown – the humble orange. Like all citrus fruits, oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C, which counteracts damage caused by overexposure to pollution or sun damage. Oranges owe their vivid colour to a pigment known as beta carotene (also known as pro-vitamin A) which helps combat the visible signs of ageing. Other great ingredients with similar levels of beta carotene are carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato and all kinds of squash, while fruits with similar levels of vitamin C include lemons, kiwis and papaya.

Collagen-boosting foods

Sugar-laden foods can leave you with a blemished, dry complexion, but creamy highlighters aren’t the only ways to fix a dull appearance. “Collagen is a structural protein within the skin and is essential if you’re yearning for a natural glow,” says Suzie. Poultry and eggs are the best foods to encourage collagen production, according to Suzie.

“Avocados are rich in vitamin E and berries – specifically strawberries, which are full of alpha hydroxy acid, which helps to get rid of dead skin cells, boost collagen, reduce wrinkles, and lighten skin tone,” says nutritionist Dr Vijay Murthy.

A list of skin superfoods wouldn’t be complete without oily fish. The omega-3 fats that they contain are crucial for the health of the skin. They help to strengthen the cell membranes, facilitating the passage of water and nutrients, while keeping toxins out. Insufficient fat in the diet can lead to skin cells being less able to retain water, thereby losing their plumpness, resulting in a dry and lifeless complexion. Omega-3 fats are also anti inflammatory and can help with skin issues such as acne, eczema and psoriasis.

Beauty-boosting nutrients

When everything is ticking over nicely with your immune system, your skin reaps the benefits. However, when your immune function becomes weakened or impaired, it can sometimes spell disaster for your face, which can become more vulnerable to inflammation, hypersensitivity and other problems. Consuming foods with plenty of vitamin A, C and B6 is key if you wish to avoid succumbing to countless sniffles and colds. Vitamin C can help protect your body from infection and can even stimulate the formation of antibodies to fight off disease.

The only issue is that your body can’t produce vitamin C on its own, so it must come from the foods you eat on a daily basis. “Foods known for their high vitamin C content are red and green peppers, strawberries, broccoli and guava fruit,” explains Suzie. Vitamin A helps your body regulate its immune system and can help protect it against infection. Some examples of foods rich in vitamin A include sweet potatoes, broccoli, red bell peppers, and carrots. Plus, the prebiotic fibre in vegetables and fruit supports and feeds the probiotics that live in your gastrointestinal tract, helping them grow and thrive. Fish, poultry, whole grains, eggs and pork are rich in vitamin B6, which plays a vital role in cell replication – essential for immune system functioning.

Whether you’re trying to avoid getting sick, fighting a cold or plumping up your complexion, drinking plenty of water is a must. Downing fruit juices when you’re under the weather will only lead to a blood sugar crash. Since your body’s needs increase when you’re fighting infection, drinking your daily minimum plus a few extra glasses can help. Eating chicken soups or stews are not only a good source of protein, but can also feel soothing, while the heat helps with any congestion.

Improve your microbiome

Want a healthy gut? Your microbiome is a complicated mix of bacteria that lives in your digestive system as well as on your face and skin, and what you eat every day directly impacts and shapes its health. Research around probiotics is always changing, but maintaining your microbiome with certain foods is a good place to start if you’re looking to improve its health. “Eating a variety of fibre-rich foods including plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes will help keep your bowels running smoothly while feeding the good gut bacteria, which is essential for not just your complexion, but your overall wellbeing,” explains Suzie.

If you’ve never tried sauerkraut before, it can take some getting used to. But before you turn your nose up at it, you should know that it helps improve probiotic colonies alongside providing natural digestive enzyme support. As Dr Vijay Murthy explains, sauerkraut also contains fibre which aids digestion, balances blood sugar, and can help lower cholesterol. Adding fibre to your meal also makes it more satisfying and keeps you fuller for longer.