5 THINGS YOU CAN DO IN YOUR 30S THAT YOU WILL THANK YOURSELF FOR IN YOUR 50S

Eat healthily and drink lots of water. We all know that we should be drinking lots of water for all sorts of health reasons and hydration is essential for all of your vital organs to work efficiently. In the skin, hydration is essential for cellular functions and also helps to flush out toxins. If you are someone who always forgets to drink water (lets face it - a lot of us are guilty of this) then there are apps that can help to remind you and get you hitting your daily water intake. Try 'My Water' or 'Daily Water' to keep you on track. You can also top up your water intake by eating foods which have a high water content such as cucumber, celery and apples.

Inflammation in the body (and therefore the skin) can lead to premature ageing, so eating a diet which is rich in healthy protein, fats and antioxidants can help reduce the signs of ageing. These 'super foods' include foods such as broccoli, avocado, blueberries, sweet potato and pomegranate. Try to eat a diet which contains lots of fresh and whole foods and eat less processed foods.

Up your skincare game. When you get into your late 20s and early 30s it's really time to up your skincare game and start using products which have more active ingredients. It is important to note that 'upping your skincare game' does not necessarily mean upping your skincare budget (although if you are using a £2 moisturiser from the supermarket you may have to do this as well!) Many people are spending lots of money on luxury high street skincare brands which are massively underperforming in terms of results. How many times have you seen an ad for a new 'miracle cream', rushed out to buy it and then realised a few months later that your skin is unchanged? We've all been there. The best advice I can give you is to find your nearest professional skin clinic and have a consultation with a skin specialist. They are much better trained to give you advice than the sales person on the beauty counter in Harrods. Many skin clinics will also have a skin analyser so you can see exactly what's going on deep in your skin and what your skin REALLY needs. Skincare products bought in skin clinics are usually what we call 'cosmeceutical' (cosmetic + pharmaceutical) or prescription so you should notice a visible improvement after 6 weeks.

TOP TIP: Look for products with high levels of hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, peptides and retinoids. Many high street brands will contain these but not in the right formulation or dose.

Manage your stress levels. OK I know it's easier said than done - we are all feeling the stress of daily life but whilst there is no quick fix there are little things that you can do to manage your stress levels. Studies have shown that people who experience chronic stress will age faster, and just as stress can affect organs such as the heart and brain, it can also have a massive impact on the skin. There are lots and lots of ways to relieve stress such as meditating, resting, walking outside, deep breathing, yoga, adopting a pet, exercise, art, journalling etc etc. Even something as simple as sitting down for half an hour to rest can be beneficial. Sleep is also very important so try to avoid screens for a least half an hour before you go to bed to reduce stimulation and prepare your brain for sleep.

I hope this guide has been useful. If you would like to speak to one of our team about ageing or you would like a free skin analysis please click on the purple 'Book Online' button or give us a call on 01908 794174.

Nikki