If you are discovering that your skin isn't as resilient as it once was, you don't necessarily need a bloomin' facelift. Here's how to tighten your face without going under the knife.
I wore a polo neck yesterday, and it made me face a difficult truth: I appear to be developing...jowls. My chin kept on touching the top of the polo neck, and now I can't stop examining the lack of definition.
Sagging skin was something I hoped I wouldn't have to face until I'm closer to my forties, but I'm 34 now, and it turns out that, yes, I have yet another issue to deal with. It's joined a long list including fine lines, frown lines, acne scarring, excess oil, dark circles, eye bags and massive pores. Then there are all the white hairs. I really don't want to say it's all downhill from here, but...
As I get older, I get increasingly angry about ageing. Don't get me wrong; I'm happy to get older, it means I'm still alive, but I don't want to look older. At least now, with all our lotions and potions and treatments, there's something we can do about it.
If you're bothered about how you're starting you look as you age, you may be considering a little helping hand. Full disclosure, I am 100% for a touch of Botox or fillers (I got Botox last year, and I'll admit it, I felt much happier when I looked in the mirror, and my trench of a frown line wasn't there).
You may not be ready for the help of a needle, though, or you might not want to go down that route at all, no matter what I say. Or maybe you're just doing some preemptive research for when the time comes. If you haven't experienced sagging skin yet, you're in luck.
Prevent
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The main reason your skin starts to look older is because it's losing collagen. When you lose collagen, you lose support, so lines and wrinkles begin to form and skin begins to sag. To prevent the loss of collagen for as long as you can, you've got to 'live clean'. Don't smoke, stay out of the sun, drink alcohol only in moderation, avoid sugar and exercise. EASY PEASY, eh?
'Cure'
Unfortunately, sagging skin can't really be reversed; it can just be, well, dealt with. Skin tightening methods at the doctor's office differ from person to person, but peels, laser treatments and micro-needling are common skin tightening remedies. Without going as far as a facelift, though, you could get fillers in your cheeks which lifts the skin back up, holding it there like a hanger.
At home
As we get older, not only do we lose our beloved collagen, but the skin thins out, too. You may have heard about a little ingredient called retinol which is king of the anti-ageing brigade because of its proven results. Retinoids improve collagen production and reduce pigmentation, too. If you find that your skin is starting to droop and it's just not as resilient as it was, consult a skincare expert and express your interest in skincare products containing retinol. Products containing retinol should only be used at nighttime, and if you use a retinoid cream, you must wear a strong SPF during the day as the retinol makes your skin more sensitive to UV rays. Serums with anti-oxidant ingredients like Vitamin E and vitamin C and ferulic acid can also boost ageing skin.
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Has your skin begun to let you down (literally)? What steps have you taken or plan to take to tackle the sag?
