How much of skin ageing is genetic? This may surprise you!

The first set of twins are 61 years old. Twin B has approximately 10 more hours of sun exposure a week than Twin A which is why her pigmentation is much deeper and her wrinkles are more pronounced.

The second set of twins are 52 years old. This time, Twin A has 7x the amount of sun exposure and has also smoked for 20 years longer. As both the sun and smoking cause dramatic collagen breakdown, the difference in their skin is undeniable.

Lastly, the third set of twins are 54 years old. Twin B had a difficult divorce after 27 years of marriage whereas Twin A has been happily married for 30. The increased stress has again accelerated the ageing process causing more pronounced lines and darker circles.

Although there is still much more research to be done on this topic, the majority of evidence proves that our lifestyle choices are hugely responsible for how our skin ages. We can literally determine the faces we have in our 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond. Which in my opinion, is absolutely incredible!

To do this, we need a thorough skincare routine like the Proactive Age Kit to help treat, reverse and protect against all aspects of skin ageing. This will keep your skin in the best shape possible through every stage of life.

It’s also important to make healthy lifestyle choices and we can do this by simply watching out for the 4 S’s…

Let’s start with the big one. The Sun has been proven to cause up to 90% of skin ageing. This means you need to apply your BASE Protection – SPF 50 every single morning as the last step in your morning routine, come rain or shine.

Smoking isn’t good for any area of the body, including your skin. The toxins in cigarettes cause collagen and elastin breakdown leading to deeper wrinkles and premature ageing. I know telling anyone to just ‘stop smoking’ is unhelpful, but if you’re struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out for help.

Sugar causes a process called glycation in the body. The excess glucose binds to collagen and elastin fibres causing them to become brittle and snap. Again this leads to the accelerated formation of lines and wrinkles. I’m certainly guilty of overindulging my sweet tooth, but the more we can keep it in check, the better!

This last one, we’re all susceptible to. Stress spikes our cortisol levels which also breaks down collagen and elastin and causes inflammation too. This means not only do lines and wrinkles form quicker, but breakouts can occur and skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis can intensify too.

To restore balance, dedicate yourself some 'me' time every single day. Whether it's yoga, meditation or a warm bath, do the one thing that makes you feel good and calms your nerves. Selfcare is of paramount importance so never feel guilty for it 🥰

I think this blog might divide the group. Some of you may be delighted that the power is in your hands and others might be a little gutted if your Mum (or Dad!) has beautiful, radiant skin.

If that’s the case though, chances are she followed her skincare routine religiously and took good care of herself. Just follow her example and you won’t go far wrong!