Cellular beauty, the future of skincare

The anti-ageing battle continues, it is not one we will ever win but there are plenty of ways that we can ensure that we glow from the inside out whilst trying to slow down the inevitable. Healthy diet, plenty of exercise and sleep. This will all help to combat the decline of the skin but this may still not be delivering that youthful skin all the beauty advertisements promise that we can still have even when the ageing process is firmly setting in.  What else can we do?

The most promising development in skincare is that of cellular beauty, tackling the skin’s appearance from a cellular level. Actually it is not a new discovery, the Swiss have been working on it since the 1930’s, but of late it is becoming a mainstream concept which is accessible to all via a wide range of products as well as through natural alterations we can make to our lifestyle.

The theory behind cellular skin care is that the natural cell rejuvenation process begins to slow down with age. We have a twenty-eight day cell division cycle which is what is slowing down and causing cellular dehydration. Our body produces less collagen, which provides the elasticity to our skin, and therefore it begins to loosen over time. Cue wrinkles and saggy neck.

Cellular skincare combats this by naturally hydrating the cells and reinvigorating the cell division process which in turn ought to rejuvenate the skin – cellular therapy provides the necessary enzymes and proteins to hydrate and increase oxygenation, which then stimulated cell metabolism and our skin can once again renew naturally as it used to. All sounds rather simple, yet there is a lot of science behind this which we won’t delve too deep in to at this moment. More to the point, does it work? And how do we try it out?

Here are seven ways in which we can boost our body’s collagen production and improve cell metabolism…

Gut health

Yes we are back on the subject of the micro biome of the gut. It isn’t going away and we must pay attention to it! The best way to improve and maintain gut health is to consume a wide variety of plants – fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, etc. as many types as possible to boost the body’s immune system and in turn support a healthy outer glow.

Up the antioxidants

Free radicals can run riot within us causing all sorts of mayhem and negative impact in the body. Free radicals can be caused by sun damage, stress, and pollution. To eradicate the overflow of these – the damage of which can come in the form of ageing skin as well as other more serious health issues – we can increase our intake of antioxidants. These are not difficult to find and incorporate more of into your diet; blueberries, raspberries, any berries really, plenty of greens (and a variety of them – see above), lots of different types of nuts, legumes, apples, broccoli, carrots, etc.

Get some good fat

Healthy fats are required as a staple within our diet in order to aid healthy looking skin by improving its protection barrier and healing ability, reducing dermatitis induced issues, and protecting against sun-induced inflammation. Try olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, oily fish, avocado, cheese, yoghurt and even a little dark chocolate – all in moderation of course.

Anti-inflammation tactics

The skin does not fare well if it is subject to inflammation – premature ageing, and dermatological issues can be caused. We are back to the free-radical problem once again as inflammation can cause them to generate which in turn causes further inflammation – an ever increasing cycle of negativity. All this can go on to cause oxidative stress (see our previous blog) and destroy the cells ability to rejuvenate. Therefore, we need to avoid inflammation. Triggers can be within our diet so it is advised to avoid sugars, dairy, alcohol, trans fats, processed meat, processed anything, high-fructose corn syrup (this is in SO many things), refined carbohydrates (white breads, pastries, etc.), margarines, and deep-fried foods to name but a few culprits.

Drink more

And by this we mean water, and other healthy liquids. If we maintain hydration at all times our skin, and its cells, can physically look better, firmer and plumper. Aim for a minimum of the traditional eight glasses a day (add more for during and after exercise) and you may well be able to spot the difference! Add in some green juices, green teas, and effervescent vitamins in your water to mix it up a little.

Adapt with adaptogens

This is another natural way to prevent damage by oxidative stress on the skin’s cells. Adaptogens are herbal medicines that can aid in preventing the signs of ageing by slowing down oxidative damage – one of the major causes of premature ageing known to man! Preventing the oxidative stress in the first place would be the primary response to this knowledge, but if it is past that point then adaptogens may well be the answer.

Supplements

If there are any of the above that you may struggle to achieve then there are often supplements which can help to deliver the same effects. One possible route you may want to go down, when it comes to skin, hair and nails is a collagen supplement. There are many opinions on these and not quite enough research on the positive outcomes but plenty of people are happy with the results – firmer, plumper skin and a reduction in the appearance of ageing. Aim for a top quality product for best results and be warned that it can take time and dedication to get there, for some a few weeks, others a few months.

Other supplements that can aid in cellular skin care come in the form of astaxanthin – a collagen-protective antioxidant, vitamin A – helps to repair skin and keep it healthy by reducing free radical damage, vitamin C – helps to encourage and stabilise collagen production.

There are also many external and topical products on the market to aid in collagen production, light therapy treatments and collagen-based lotions are widespread, but be sure to do your research and try the natural route before you spend money on something that you could simply achieve with a tweak to your diet.