Wrinkles are a natural part of ageing, but one that many people wish to minimise. Those looking to keep their skin looking as youthful as possible will come across plenty of useful anti-ageing tips. However, you’ll also come across some unhelpful myths that are spread around as facts. Here are a few you should be aware of.
1) Keeping a Straight Face Prevents Wrinkles
Certain facial expressions can cause facial lines to form, which has led many to falsely believe that they can stave off wrinkles by going through life largely expressionless. No matter how few smiles you crack, wrinkles are inevitable. Ageing skin becomes thinner, drier and less elastic, and this is what causes creases. While some lifestyle factors can have an impact on the visible signs of ageing, the extent to which your skin wrinkles is largely determined by your genetic makeup, which of course is out of your control. It’s virtually impossible to live life expressionlessly, and there’s no real reason to try.
2) You Can Fight Gravity By Standing On Your Head
It may seem silly, but some people really believe that regular bouts of standing on their head will help their skin defeat gravity and droop less. Unsurprisingly, this isn’t the case – standing on your head will have no effect on the amount of wrinkles you develop.
3) Squeaky Clean Skin Looks Younger for Longer
While keeping your skin clean is important, it doesn’t have an anti-ageing effect. In fact, over-washing your face might even have the opposite effect. Using harsh soaps to keep your skin clean, or washing it too often, strips it of its natural oils. This only accentuates fine lines and wrinkles. It’s best to stick to washing your face with a gentle cleanser and not doing it more than is necessary. You should also avoid harsh scrubbing motions and over-use of abrasive exfoliators.
4) Older People Can Stop Wearing Sunscreen
One dangerous myth is that people experience most sun damage to their skin before the age of 18, so their skin needs less protection as they get older. This is untrue, and there is no age at which you can safe stop wearing sunscreen. It’s important for everyone to try to prevent sun damage, no matter what their age. Exposing your skin to UV rays without the protection of SPF will make it appear to age faster. Make sure you wear a broad spectrum SPF every time you go out in the sun to avoid unnecessary extra wrinkles and, of course, to reduce your risk of skin cancer.
5) Pricier Anti-Ageing Products Give You Better Results
You don’t always have to pay a lot for effective anti-ageing skincare products. Don’t be sucked in by big brand names – pay attention to the ingredients. Some retinoids – vitamin A derivatives which stimulate collagen production – are available by prescription rather than on store shelves. To get the most from anti-ageing skincare products, you may want to talk to a dermatologist about which ingredients will be most helpful for you. This will save you from wasting money on pricey products with little impact.
6) The More Products You Use, the Better
It’s a common misconception that if anti-ageing products do some good for your skin, using more of them will do better. However, piling various products on your face is unlikely to give you better results. In the case of some products, mixing them with others will only have the effect of diluting them and actually diminishing the impact they have. Putting too many products on your face also increases your risk of experiencing irritation, so avoid over-doing it.
To avoid wasting time and money on pointless techniques, do your research on the most effective ways to minimise wrinkles. Get your information from a reliable source, and use methods backed by solid evidence. You can’t stop the ageing process, but taking care of your skin the right way will keep it looking healthy.
You may like to read our earlier article on 8 simple ways to minimise wrinkles by clicking on this link.
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