Theoretically, skin aging begins around our mid to late 20s. However, lifestyle and environmental changes as of late has been causing skin aging to happen a few years earlier that it should.
This phenomenon is termed premature skin aging.
While it’s common knowledge that our skin ages due to our surroundings and internal body processes, what specifically causes our skin to age prematurely? Read on to find out—
Blue Light Exposure, 24/7.
Even if you’ve tried your absolute best to stay away from computer screens, blue light is everywhere— from indoor lighting to LED ad displays on highways, and naturally, the smartphone screen you have to look at every day.
The good news is: blue light does not put you at risk for skin cancer. Bad news? Even a 60-second exposure to blue light can induce skin cell oxidisation and shrinkage, speeding up your skin’s aging process.
One way to neutralise this is by using skin essences packed with antioxidants (peptides, vitamins C and E, etc.) to combat the oxidative stress caused by blue light throughout the day. One such essence is the CLEF Radiant Gold Essence, enriched with copper peptides to de-burden your skin at the end of a long day.
Stress, Stress, Stress!
Recently ranked the third most overworked city in the world, it’s unsurprising that Kuala Lumpur dwellers may be observing tiny wrinkles on their faces as early as their early 20s.
This is how it happens: work causes stress, which releases stress hormones and inflammatory regulators in the body, triggering an inflammatory response. This disrupts the skin regeneration process, leading to reduced elasticity and wrinkle formation.
One way to enhance the healing of these flare-ups is by using an anti-inflammatory mask with soothing components i.e. ellagic acid, green tea polyphenols, or rosmarinic acid. The Pomegranate Instant Calming Mask contains all of those, and is suitable even for sensitive skin types.
Hello Stress, Goodbye Sleep.
Stress comes with many side effects. Lowered sleep quality included.
Our sleeping habit correlates with our skin’s health. Lower quality of sleep contributes to increased signs of ageing and retards the skin repair and regeneration process that only happens during the night. Beauty sleep, beauty skin is never a myth.
If your sleeping schedule fails to be negotiated, rehydrating skincare products can minimise signs of aging in the long run. CLEF Copper Peptide Mask provides your skin a hydration boost to slow down skin aging to an acceptable rate.
Smoking & The Environment
Whether you are a first-hand or second-hand smoker, the toxins in cigarettes will expose your skin to oxidative stress and destroy your epidermal layer of skin leading to dryness and wrinkles.
Skin-disruptive toxins can also come from environmental pollutants. Highly polluted areas like the city contain a concentrated level of dust and impurities in the air can damage your skin barrier through exposure alone.
While the ozone layer is on its way to recovery, its current weakened state allows more UV rays to penetrate our skin, inducing fine lines and hyperpigmentation at higher rates. Thus, it is always a golden rule to reapply sunscreen everytime before stepping out into the sun.
To minimise the effects of these external aggressors, use a hydrating cleansing gel to thoroughly cleanse your face and avoid drying out your skin. Formulated with Trehalose, the CLEF Hydrating Cleanser Gel deep cleanses your skin while imparting barrier repairing properties, leaving your skin fresh, free of irritation, and one more step away from premature aging.
-
While aging is a natural process that everybody goes through, it should be known that our lifestyle and environment has changed the way our skin changes over time. With good habits and preventative skincare routines, premature skin aging can be prevented, and you’ll look exactly the way you’re supposed to at your age.