GET YOUR BEST EVER SKIN

Want to Accelerate Your Results?

If you want to get plump, smooth and glowy skin, you need ample collagen levels in your skin. If you're over the age of 25, the best way to build collagen is with a supplement. Get £5 off our Vegan Collagen Superfood (ranked #1 in the UK) with code NYFACE for a limited time.

THE PROGRAM

STEP 1: MAKE A PLEDGE TO YOUR FUTURE SELF

Make a commitment to yourself to be the best ever version of you. Like all good things in life, consistency is key. We'll help you build the right mindset to achieve results.

MAKE THE PLEDGE (DO NOT SKIP!)

Getting Your Best Ever Skin 

(No matter what your age) 


You've probably set goals for yourself or started various programs in the past, but seen very little in the way of results. Whilst we may be good at setting goals, most of us are pretty bad at the follow-through and staying consistent enough for long enough to actually get close to our target.


This program will help you to get more radiant, youthful and glowy skin but to get there, you will need to make changes to both your diet and lifestyle. Together these two levers will have a far greater impact on the quality of your skin than topical skincare ever can. However, without consistent effort, you're not likely to see consistent results. Step 1 is all about ensuring you have the right mindset for success and it starts with making a promise to yourself.



1. Make a promise to yourself


It’s all well and good to set a goal, but it’s so important to be working towards a goal for the right reasons. The more purposeful your goal is, the easier it will be for you to stay focused and committed. Have a think about the deeper reason you want to get your best ever skin - is it so that you have more confidence in the skin you're in, is it because you're interested in being as healthy as possible or is there another reason?


It may not seem like it now, but when it’s 9pm on a cold Friday night and you’re craving a piping hot chocolate fudge brownie (is your mouth watering too), your why will motivate you to opt for a skin- boosting bowl of dark chocolate covered almonds instead!


2. Make it emotional


The more you can emotionally engage with your goal, the easier it will be to achieve. The emotional intensity that you're able to attach to your goal will help you to stay consistent when you feel like slipping or stopping.


In order to create an emotional state connected to your goals, ask yourself these 3 questions;

1. What would it mean to achieve this goal? 

2. How would I feel if I acheieved it?

3. How would it feel if I never achieved this goal?


The more negative emotions you can connect to 3) and the more positive emotions you can connect to 1) and 2), the more likely you are to stay consistent and stay on-track.


3. Share it with others


If you want some extra incentive, we recommend sharing your goals with your friends and family. The more public your goal, the harder it is to slip. Alternatively, if you're looking for a support network, we recommend joining our Facebook Community, Raw Beauties, here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rawbeauties 



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DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM WORKBOOK

Download your program guide and workbook here

STEP 2: UNDERSTAND THE SECRET TO PERFECT SKIN AT ANY AGE

Up to 80% of skin ageing is caused by diet and lifestyle - not by the passage of time (as most people believe). Discover how you can harness the power of food and daily rituals to look remarkably younger and feel great.

WHY YOUR SKIN AGES AND HOW TO RADICALLY SLOW THIS DOWN

Why Your Skin Ages and How to Radically Slow This Down


What this module includes;


  1. How wrinkles form and the importance of collagen
  2. How to slow the visible signs of ageing 
  3. How diet and lifestyle can literally transform your skin 

1. How wrinkles form and the importance of collagen

There's a lot to love about the evolution that happens as we age: more experience breeds more confidence, relaxing into emotionally mature relationships, and hopefully achieving a little more financial security. But when it comes to fine lines and wrinkles, we're somewhat less enamored.

The first step to getting rid of wrinkles (and yes this is possible without invasive procedures), is understanding why they form in the first place. There are essentially three main components to your skin which keep it looking plump, glowy and youthful (and its these goodies that we aim to maintain as long as possible for youthful skin).


Collagen


Up to 75% of your skin is made from collagen and its the stuff that essentially helps your skin to look plump, elastic and wrinkle-free. If you want to combat ageing, boosting your collagen levels is the first place you should start. 


Your body produces collagen naturally, but from the tender age of 25, your collagen stores begin to deplete by about 1% per year, which accelerates during menopause.  As your collagen levels get lower and lower with each passing year, you'll see increases in the visible signs of ageing. Your diet and your lifestyle can also significantly accelerate collagen loss (more on this later).


A collagen supplement can help support collagen production naturally and have been proven to help visibly improve the appearance of fine lines, improve skin texture and elasticity and even boost skin moisture. Its a common myth that animal collagen products directly supplement your own collagen levels - they don't. Your body always has to break it down first, to build its own human collagen. This is why we prefer plant-based collagen products which provide your body with not just collagen building blocks but also powerful antioxidants that can protect skin from free radical damage, boost glowiness and skin moisture and even smooth fine lines in their own right!

Collagen Levels by Age

(WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTATION)

25yrs

100%

COLLAGEN

35yrs

86%

COLLAGEN

45yrs

73%

COLLAGEN

55yrs

48%

COLLAGEN

65yrs

39%

COLLAGEN

THE UK'S #1 

VEGAN COLLAGEN

 

Elastin


Elastin makes up a much smaller portion of your skin and represents between 2-4%. Similar to collagen, your elastin reserves will start to deplete after the age of 25. This process can be accelerated by too much UV, exposure to pollution, poor diet, or stress (essentialy the ills of a 21st century lifestyle).


You can protect your elastin from accelerated damage by taking a supplement rich in antioxidants to help protect against free radical damage or by ensuring you eat a diet full of brightly coloured fruits and vegetables (or you can do both!)


Hyaluronic Acid


Again, similarly to collagen, your body naturally makes hyaluronic acid (seieng a trend here? Your body naturally makes many of skincare's 'hero' ingredients). However as you get older, the amount that your body produces drops. Although decreased hyaluronic acid is a by-product of the natural aging process, some factors can accelerate the rate at which it's destroyed.


We lose approximately 1% of our hyaluronic acid stores per year after the age of 30 (or 10% per decade), which leads to crepe-y texture, visible fine lines and volume loss.

One of the most significant extrinsic factors is exposure to the sun. According to a report published in Dermato Endocrinology in July 2012, hyaluronic acid starts to break down with just five minutes of exposure to the ultraviolet, or UV, rays of the sun. 


Wearing a high SPF sunscreen is a MUST if you want to protect the hyaluronic acid in your skin. In addition, you can consume foods that help you to produce hyaluronic acid naturally (more on these foods later) or take a supplement like Vegan Collagen Superfood which will also promote hyaluronic acid production.



2. How to slow the visible signs of ageing


As you've seen, the main reasons why your skin ages is primarily due to collagen loss. Decreases in elastin and hyaluronic acid content in your skin will also contribute but will have a lesser impact.


Whilst you can't completely halt collagen loss, you can definitely slow it down which will help to  reduce wrinkles (and even fill them out), improve skin tightness and even improve skin pigmentation and smoothness.  


3. How diet and lifestyle can literally transform your skin


You probably grew up thinking that as you get older, wrinkles were an inevitable part of the ageing process. Wrong! A massive 80-90% of skin ageing is thought to be caused by diet and lifestyle - rather than just the passage of time.  


This essentially means that whilst we should all expect some form of ageing to occur, there is SO much we can do to halt the progression of the visible signs of ageing and it starts by targeting the biochemical changes in our skin (loss of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid). The first step is removing dietary and lifestyle factors that accelerate collagen loss and the second step is to reduce any existing damage through the use of dietary antioxidants and supplementation.

Diet

Sure, you eat everyday but how often are you mindful of what you eat? And how often do you slip cheat? Your diet has a HUGE impact on not just the quality and youthfulness of your skin but also on the overall ageing process. 


There is no such thing as a 'neutral food' - every bite we eat is either accelerating ageing or keeping us looking younger for longer.


The first step is understanding what dietary mistakes contribute to accelerated ageing. In Step 3, we'll explore the specific foods to avoid.


Foods high in AGEs

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are harmful ageing compounds that are formed when protein or fat combine with sugar in your bloodstream. This process is called glycation and not only destroys collagen and accelerates ageing, but can also lead to diseases like diabetes and alzheimer's. 


Your diet is the biggest contributor of AGEs - particularly animal based foods or foods that have been exposed to high temperatures, such as during grilling, frying, or toasting.


Fortunately, your body has mechanisms to eliminate these harmful compounds by neutralising them with antioxidants. This is why its important to include fruits, vegetables and superfoods in your diet which are rich in antioxidants.


Lack of antioxidants

- Why limited antioxidants are bad - essentially exposing you to harm fromf free radical damage and accelerated aging


Junk food

- Causes glycation


Alcohol

- glycation and dehydration. 


Dehydration

- Colagen fibre x% water. Dehydration damages collagen and makes wrinkles appear deeper


High animal protein

- Typically high in AGEs

Lifestyle

Your lifestyle also has a significant impact on skin ageing. 


Smoking: 


Lack of exercise:


Toxic skincare products:


Excess sun exposure:


Lack of sleep:


THE SECRET TO LOOKING YOUNGER FOR LONGER (NO MATTER WHAT YOUR AGE)

Recap of previous module

As we learnt in the last module, the primary reason your skin ages, develops wrinkles and loses its elasticity is due to collagen loss over time. You'll typically lose around 1% per year from the age of 25 which means by the age of 50, you've probably lost about half your collagen supply.


Your diet and your lifestyle can also have a significant impact on how much collagen you lose, or how much you retain - and therefore how young you look. Your body makes collagen naturally so there is a lot you can do to boost your collagen levels by either taking a collagen supplementor eating a diet rich in antioxidants and collagen-boosting foods (see Step 4)


Three enemies of youthful skin

There are three main nemesis to getting Cinderella skin - oxidation, dehyrdration and glycation. Think of these as the ugly trolls that hasten collagen decline and cause wrinkles to appear (and deepen) much earlier than they should. 


Oxidation

Oxidation is caused by free radicals - these pesky buggers are highly reactive and cause havoc to not just your skin and destroy collagen at a faster rate but can also harm vital organs. They are the key driver behind premature and accelerated ageing and are caused by a variety of factors;

- Excess sun exposure 

- Exposure to pollution

- Poor sleep

- Chronic stress


Dehydration

Most of us can probably relate to this one, with many failing to drink enough water each day. So why is this bad for your skin? Your skin is actually 64% water and collagen containing roughly the same amount. When collagen is inadequately hydrated, its strands start to crack and adhere to one another, leading to the formation of wrinkles on the skins surface.


Glycation 

Diets high in sugar can cause a process called glycation where sugar molecules stick to collagen and elastin proteins, to form advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). These damage collagen fibres and its ability to keep skin firm, and ultimately contributes to making us look older than we really are.


This process begins when we are about 20 and gradually intensifies. So, while it is a natural process, diets that are high in sugar accelerate glycation, causing more AGEs to form in the skin. This is why our face starts to “fall” and needs extra help to continue looking youthful.

 


Combatting the 'Ugly 3' to boost skin youthfulness

There is SO much you can do to combat skin stressor by choosing the right foods and making the right lifestyle choices.


Fight oxidation with antioxidants

The best way to neutralise free radicals and oxidation is by consuming a diet rich in antioxidants. Animal-based ingredients will have little to no antioxidant content - the majority of antioxidant power comes from plants. This means if you want to look younger for longer, its vital to include a diet rich in antioxidants or regularly consume a plant-based supplement that is in the most natural format possible (e.g. a freeze dried powder).


In addition, we'd also recommend staying clear of free-radical causing activities. Too much sun exposure always tops this list, so if you know you're heading outdoors make sure you use at least an SPF 30 sunscreen to protect your precious collagen and keep skin looking youthful.


Fight dehyrdration with water and water-based fruits and veg

Combatting dehydration is an easy one - drink more water! You should aim to drink 2L of water each day and you can also look to include water-based fruits and veg that are also rich in antioxidants such as watermelon or cucumber.


Stop glycation by reducing sugar intake

Sugar and processed foods are some of the worst offenders when it comes to glycation and early collagen destruction. We recommend cutting refined sugar and processed foods and replacing these with skin-loving wholefoods and plants. Step 3 explores the foods which create the highest amount of AGEs and should be avoided as much as possible to help protect skin.


WHY SKINCARE CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH...AND WHAT TO DO INSTEAD

So you've probably invested a ton into various skincare creams, serums and other potions, hoping for a transformation or some sign that things are actually working. 


Whilst the right skincare regime can do wonders for your skin - it can only do so much.  Skincare you apply on top of your skin, can only penetrate the very top layer (the epidermis) which accounts for less than 10% of your skin. The main, lower layer of your skin (called the dermis), makes up 90% of your skin, contains the majority of your collagen and is the place that wrinkles first begin to form. If you really want to have an impact on your skin and really transform how it looks, this is the layer you need to target and unfortunately topical skincare just won't cut it.


How to compliment your topical skincare to ACTUALLY get results

The best way to boost collagen, smooth wrinkles and tighten skin is to transform your skin's physiology within the dermis. The best way of reaching this layer of your skin is via your diet or through supplementation (or ideally both!)

1. Take a collagen supplement


Collagen is produced in the deepest layer of your skin known as the dermis, which can't be reached by the topical treatments you slather your skin with every day. Collagen supplements take the inside track and help nourish your dermis, the deepest layer in your skin, with vitamin C, amino acids and all the other essential nutrients required, to help it build collagen directly. These healthy nourished cells are then pushed up to your skin's surface, to adorn your skin with a gorgeous natural glow! 


2. Cut processed sugar and processed meat


Processed foods may taste great, but they are seriously harming your skin. Processed foods are stripped of their vital nutrients leaving the refined, great tasting, albeit unhealthy version that can seriously harm your skin. As mentioned in the module above, processed sugars attach themslves to collagen molecules to produce advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). Your body can't break down the sugar itself, and therefore breaks down the entire molecule, breaking down your collagen and increasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  Additionally, processed foods cause large spikes in blood sugar levels causing your insulin to spike. Sharp spikes in insulin causes excess sebum production by your skin, which clogs your pores. Not only do clogged pores lead to acne and breakouts, they also increase skin texture, increasing the appearance of wrinkles. 


3. Eat berries to help protect collagen from being destroyed


Berries are full of powerful antioxidant calld ellagic acid that can reduce the rate at which collagen is broken down in the skin. Environmental stressors like pollution and UV rays can damage your collagen by increasing the number of unstable free radicals that essentially function like a pac man, grabbing electrons from your collagen molecules to stabalise themselves, causing damage to collagen particles and breaking them down. Ellagic acid helps neutralise these free radicals, preventing them from damagign collagen and keepign yur skin looking plump and radiant!  


4. Eat brightly coloured fruits and vegetables for lycopene and beta-carotene


A 2017 study found that particular plant based antioxidants can help lessen wrinkle depth and smooth fine lines by supporting both collagen production and aiding in skin repair. A separate study with over 4000 women aged between 40 and 74 years of age saw a significant improvement in the appearance of wrinkles and as well as overall skin health from consuming plant-based antioxidants.


WHEN YOU WILL START TO SEE RESULTS

Getting results from a new regime

Whether your looking to get results from a topical skincare regime, trying a new skin supplement or experimenting with dietary and lifestyle interventions, you'll typically start to see results when your skin renews according to your skin cycle.


What is a skin cycle?

A skin cycle is the process where a new skin cell is formed at the deepest layer of the epidermis and works it’s way up to the surface of the skin. At this point the skin cell has matured and ultimately flakes off.


A skin cycle can vary with each individual and is affected by such factors as age, hormones, skin condition/health and stress. When starting a new skin care regime, it is advised to wait approximately 1-3 skin cycles to see improved results. This gives the skin care chance to work on making changes to the cell’s health, condition, vitality and strength. When the outer surface of skin is made of newer skin cells, skin feels softer and looks more vibrant. 

The length of the average skin cycle

In your early 20s, your skin cycle is typically around 14-21 days. By the age of 30, this has extended to 28 days and by our 40s it will likely take between 45-60 days for skin cells to renew. Your skin cycle can further slow to about 60-90 days in your 50’s and 60’s - but don't worry! No matter what your age, with consistency and patience you will see results.

STEP 3: AVOID FOODS THAT ACCELERATE AGEING

There is no such thing as a 'neutral food' - everything that we eat either accelerates wrinkle formation or helps us to look younger for longer. 

FOODS THAT ACCELERATE AGEING AND WRINKLE FORMATION

The Worst Foods Which Cause Skin Ageing

Overview of AGE products - compare to Banana 9 AGES kU/serving

Processed meats - 10,143 AGE kU/serving

Meat cooked at high temperatures - 9052 AGE kU/serving

Big Mac - 7801 AGE kU/serving

Thin crust pizza - 6820 AGE kU/serving

Krispy Kreme - 541 AGE kU/serving

SWAP FOODS HIGH IN "AGES" FOR FOODS HIGH IN ANTIOXIDANTS

Healthy food swaps

Having great skin doesn't mean having to live on brocolli for the rest of your life (trust me, I wouldn't do it either!) However, swapping out heavily processed foods for nutrient dense wholefoods (that still taste great) can help keep your skin looking plump, smooth and glowing much longer! Check out these healthy food swaps below:

Processed meats - 10,143 AGE kU/serving


Swap it for grilled chicken salad - 4360 AGE kU/serving

Meat cooked at high temperatures - 9052 AGE kU/serving


Swap it for raosted salmon - 2063 AGE kU/serving

Big Mac - 7801 AGE kU/serving


Swap it for a wholegrain seeded bun with a lentil patty: 198 AGE kU/serving

Thin crust pizza - 6820 AGE kU/serving


Swap it for italian pasta salad: 935 AGE kU/serving

Krispy Kreme - 541 AGE kU/serving


Swap it for strawberries dipped in dark chocolate : 235 AGE kU/serving

STEP 4: INCREASE YOUR INTAKE OF THESE ANTI-AGEING & GLOW BOOSTING FOODS

Discover the most powerful beauty foods to include in your diet with the power to take years off your face.

THE MOST POWERFUL ANTI-AGEING FOODS


Wholefoods carry the greatest array of nutrients are they are in their most raw form (i.e. unprocessed). Incorporating these foods into your diet will not only help nourish your skin with phytonutrients to help it buld collagen, it willl also help protect collagen from damage and degradation, increasing the collagen volume in your skin, keeping it plump and youthful much longer! Checkout these different fodd groups, and the most nourishing types of each food you want to include in your diet! 


Anti ageing veg

Watercress

Brocolli

Spinach

Red peppers

Avocado

Carrots


Anti ageing Fruits

Strawberries

Raspberries

Papaya

Blueberries

Pomegranate

Watermelon


Ancient grains

Quinoa

Chia seeds

Flaxseeds

Buckwheat

Oats


Nuts & seeds

Almonds

Sunflower seeds

Pumpkin seeds

Walnuts

Sesame seeds


Superfoods

Acerola chery

Cacoa

Baobab

Camu Camu 

WHY PROTEIN AND AMINO ACIDS ARE SO IMPORTANT


If you're hoping to hang on to your collagen as long as possible, amino acids and proteins need to be a staple in your diet! Keep reading to find out why these nutrients are so important to the health of your skin and what the best sources of protin and amino acids are!


Why protein and amino acids are so important


Amino acids are essentially building blocks that come together to produce proteins, which make up a significant part of our skin to keep it strong, hydrated and healthy. The two main proteins produced by the skin are collagen and keratin – collagen is produced in the deeper layers of the skin known as the dermis. Keratin makes up the outer layer of skin known as the epidermis.


There are 2 main types of amino acids:


- Essential amino acids: these are amino acids that can’t be produced by the human body. We have to obtain these amino acids from foods or supplements. There are 9 essential amino acids


- Non-essential amino acids: these are amino acids that can be produced by the body and therefore are ‘non-essential’ and don’t have to be obtained through your diet


How amino acids help your skin:


Different amino acids have specific roles in your skin.


- Arginine: functions as an antioxidant and also helps keep the skin hydrated.

- Histidine: functions as part of the skin’s immune system, protecting the skin from infections

- Methionine: functions as an antioxidant, neutralising free radicals so they don’t damage collagen

- Lysine: is involved in transporting water through the skin, helping to keep the skin hydrated.

- Proline, leucine and glycine: are involved in collagen production which can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles


How proteins help your skin:


Amino acids can help your skin from the inside out. First, they help you produce essential proteins such as collagen and keratin.


Collagen is a structural component of your skin. It helps to strengthen your skin as well as provide it with elasticity, making it soft, bouncy and youthful. These structural proteins also hold onto hyaluronic acid molecules in your deepest layers, helping to keep your skin plump and bouncy to push out and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen also determines the texture of your skin. Having a large volume of collagen proteins provides a smooth outer surface to your skin, which helps light bounce equally of the surface, and provides you with naturally glowing complexion.


Collagen is also involved in wound healing in your skin, absorbing any damage from blemishes, scabs, wounds to your skin to protect the rest of your body getting damaged.


Keratin helps protect the deeper layers of your skin from abrasion, environmental stressors such a UV radiation and pollution and harmful microbes by forming a protective layer on the outside of the skin. Keratin also helps to strengthen your skin barrier by causing the skin cells in your dermis to adhere to each other – this helps reduce the amount of water lost from your skin through trans-epidermal water loss, helping to keep your skin plump and hydrated. Topical treatments usually work on the skin cells in the epidermis.


STEP 5: HOW TO BUILD A SKINCARE REGIME AT ANY AGE

Start with beauty from the inside-out and then use topical skincare to compliment your anti-ageing diet and lifestyle program.

20s: HOW TO COMBAT ACNE AND GET A GLOWING COMPLEXION

The 2 biggest problems people in their twenties face are acne and acne scarring and dehydrated skin. Follow these skincare tips to help reduce active acne and acne scarring and restore hydration in your skin:


Use a gentle chemical exfoliant


Gone are the days where we took a grainy apricot scrub and literally rubbed out skin raw thinking, we were enhancing its cleanliness. If you haven’t jumped on the chemical exfoliant train yet, you and your skin are really missing out. Chemical exfoliants can help to remove the dead skin cells without damaging the deepest layers of your skin. Salicylic, glycolic and lactic acid are the most common chemical exfoliants in the skincare industry at the moment and have been proven to significantly reduce the incidence of active acne. If you’re new to the chemical exfoliant arena, start of with the smallest percentages and work your way up slowly to help your skin reap the most benefits without getting damaged.


Minimise the number of products you put on your skin at one time


As tempting as it is to jump on the new skincare trend, or try out your new skincare purchases, it’s important to limit how many products you are putting on your skin to stop overwhelming it. A lot of the time, especially when you’re struggling with things like acne, you want a quick fix and it’s a common misconception that the more products you put on your skin, the faster you’ll fix the issue. With skincare, less is definitely more so try and limit the number of products you’re applying to your skin. Not only will it save you time and money, you’re likely to get better results from your skincare as well!


Introduce azelaic acid into your routine


Azelaic acid has recently come into the lime light as a skincare product for those suffering with acne and with good reason. It is an acid derived from grains such as rye, wheat and barley. Azelaic acid is a great treatment option for those with acne and even acne scarring because it is naturally antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, which will help it gently remove any acne causing bacteria from your pores.


Protect your skin with sunscreen


Your twenties are when your collagen is at its peak – after your mid-twenties you start losing collagen by 1% each year! So, ensuring you religiously use SPF can help reduce the rate of collagen degradation, and keep your skin looking plump and youthful much longer. Make sure you’re using a broad-spectrum sunscreen that can help protect against UVA and UVB rays, and apply it generously as the last step in your skincare routine!


30s: HOW TO COMBAT EARLY SIGNS OF AGEING AND BOOST YOUR GLOW

By your thirties, your skin starts to lose collagen much faster, and ideally, you’d want to start your anti-aging efforts just before this time. It may seem to early to start using anti-aging creams in your late twenties or early thirties, but anti-aging creams primarily function in a preventative manner, and therefore should be started when your skin is at its peak! Check out how you can transition your routine to help prevent collagen loss in your skin.


Add a retinol to your skincare


Retinol is the gold standard for anti-aging serums in the skincare world. This is because it works by increasing skin cell turnover, and speeding up the rate at which young healthy skin cells reach the surface of your skin. The reason our skin looks dull and tired as we age is because our skin cycle slows down with time, increasing the number of old, dead skin cells on our skins surface. Retinol temporarily speeds up our skin cycle, so healthy new skin cells reach the surface of the skin faster, making your skin look fresh, plump and radiant.


Become religious with your vitamin C serums


Daily environmental stressors such as pollution and UV rays increase the number of free radicals in your skin, which wreak havoc by causing inflammation, hyperpigmentation and also damage and destroy your collagen. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help neutralise these free radicals to help reduce inflammation and brighten your skin. Just be sure to try and get a vitamin C serum in an airtight container with a pump dispenser, if possible, as Vitamin C is very unstable when it comes into contact with air and light!


Introduce a collagen supplement


Topical skincare is great for keeping the surface of your skin healthy, but it can rarely reach the deepest layer of your skin, known as the dermis, where collagen is actually produced. As your collagen is depleted over time, the foundation holding up your skin weakens, causing your skin to eventually start sagging, getting loser and increasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.


A collagen supplement can nourish the dermis directly through your diet and bloodstream, and deliver the ingredients required for it to successfully produce collagen and maintain the foundation of your skin to stop it aging. While there are many collagen supplements on the market, we are big believers of harnessing the power of wholefoods as they are incredibly nutrient dense, with natural vitamins and minerals that are well absorbed by the body as opposed to their synthetic counterparts. That’s why (shameless self-promotion aside) we’d recommend our vegan collagen supplement, designed with 9 superfood ingredients to help you build collagen.


40s: HOW TO GET SMOOTH, EVEN AND GLOWY SKIN

As your skin starts to mature in your forties, it starts losing moisture which can disrupt your skin barrier. Your skincare in your forties should therefore focus more on deeply hydrating your skin and protecting your moisture barrier and if possible, try and reduce the number of harsh actives you use during the week!


Switch to a more moisturising cleanser


It’s not a part of skincare most consider to make changes to, but cleansing your skin can sometimes be the most damaging part of your routine. Having that squeaky clean feeling after you’ve cleansed may make you feel like you’ve cleansed your face properly, but really, it could be stripping your skin off all its natural oils making it dry and tight and possibly damaging your skin barrier. So as your skin matures, try and switch to a cream-based cleanser instead – it may not give you that squeaky clean feel, but it can still be effective in gently removing the dirt and impurities on your skin without harming it.


Add hyaluronic acid to your routine


Hyaluronic acid can work wonders to hydrate your skin when used effectively. Despite what its name suggests, hyaluronic acid is not really an acid. It’s actually a gooey substance that your body produces naturally in your skin, joints and eyes to help retain water. However, with age, the level of hyaluronic acid also starts to fall, like hyaluronic acid, making your skin feel limp, dull and dry. Fortunately, a hyaluronic acid serum can work wonders to help restore the hydration in your skin. Just 1 gram of hyaluronic acid can hold up to 6 litres of water making it an incredibly water magnet. However, many people make the mistake of using hyaluronic acid on its own (i.e., without a moisturiser) which can harm your skin because the serum will actually start drawing water out of your skin! So be sure to use a thick moisturiser after using a hyaluronic acid serum to help lock in the hydration in your skin.


Keep up with the sun care


Dehydrated skin is much more susceptible to damage from UV rays than healthy skin, so keeping up with your sun screen applications is paramount to help your skin stay healthy. Additionally, older skin is more prone to developing sun spots, which are small dark patches of skin that can develop from unprotected sun exposure, so try and use a sunscreen to help protect your skin and maintain an even skin tone.


50s: HOW TO COMBAT SKIN SAGGING AND BOOST YOUTHFULNESS

In your late 40’s and early fifties, the female body goes through significant hormonal changes which can also affect the health of your skin. Your skin has a waxy waterproof layer courtesy of being stacked full of lipids that help it retain water and keep it looking and feeling soft and supple. However, the hormonal changes that come with menopause stop your skin synthesizing these lipids, making your skin coarse and textured. The aim for skincare in your fifties should be to try and replenish your skin with these lipids.


Use a rich moisturiser with peptides


Incorporating rich moisturisers can help you maintain the waxy coat to your skin, and keep your skin feeling supple. Look more specifically for moisturisers with ceramides, which are the types of lipids naturally occurring in the skin. Replenishing your skin with ceramides through your skincare can prevent trans-epidermal water loss (the loss of water from your body through your skin to the environment) and keep your skin moisturised and soft. Additionally, well moisturised skin can appear plumper and supple which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.


Add an occlusive seal over areas prone to dryness at night


Certain parts of your skin are more prone to dryness than others. While a single moisturiser for your entire face can be convenient, topping up these sensitive areas with a more nourishing, occlusive moisturiser can help keep them from developing fine lines and wrinkles. So, after you apply your moisturiser, go over areas such as you’re under eyes, the sides of your eyes, your lips and the sides of your mouth with an occlusive such as Vaseline – you can limit this to your night time routine because no one wants to go out looking like a greaseball!


Increase the number of plant-based foods in your diet


Not entirely to do with skincare, but as we mentioned the changes with menopause in this module, I wanted to touch upon the benefits of including more plant-based foods in your diet can have on your skin. The changes associated with menopause are mainly due to your body producing less and less oestrogen. However, you can combat these changes by adding more plant-based foods in your diet.

Plant based foods are full of Phyto-oestrogens, which mimic the functions of oestrogen in the body and can help reduce the impact of menopause on your skin. Foods such as soya, sunflower seeds, berries, and edamame are great sources of phytoestrogens. However, if you’ve got a busy schedule, you can get a generous helping of Phyto-oestrogens from our vegan collagen superfood supplement. It is full of plant-based superfoods that are rich in nutrients to help you build collagen but can also help against the symptoms of menopause. Check out our reviews here to see how it has helped women experiencing the symptoms of menopause.


60s: HOW TO BOOST SKIN MOISTURE, IMPROVE SKIN TEXTURE AND COMBAT AGEING SKIN

By your sixties, the effects of time may be visible on you face and neck as you lose muscle mass and your skin begins to thin. The aim with your skincare in your sixties should be to try and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but using gentler active ingredients that focus more on hydration and barrier repair.


Sunscreen


You’re probably thinking it’s too late now but it’s always better late than never with sun care!! As your skin becomes weaker and less able to protect itself, having a physical defence with a sunscreen becomes increasingly important to protect your skin, so try and keep up with it!!


Barrier repair


Your biggest focus as your skin ages should be repairing and maintaining your skin barrier, especially at night. Your skin repairs itself at night, so having a rich nourishing cream can help the healing process as you lock in moisture (most of the reactions in your skin, and body, occur with water as a medium, so keeping your skin hydrated can help the healing process occur much more effectively).


Turn to natural, gentler actives in your skincare


While ingredients such as retinol and vitamin C are still beneficial for your skin, as your skin mature it becomes much thinner and more sensitive, and these actives may be too harsh doing more harm than good. The good news is, you can still reap the benefits of these ingredients by switching to more natural, plant-based alternatives, that can help you get the same benefits, without causing any harm. Instead of using retinol serums, switch to bakuchiol serums, which work in the same way as retinol by increasing skin cell turnover, but is much gentler on the skin.


STEP 6: THE BEST ANTI-AGEING RITUALS TO INTRODUCE INTO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE

Improve your results by following these anti-aging tips and tricks
EXERCISE AS AN ANTI-AGING WEAPON

Several studies have indicated that exercising regularly can help reduce the rate at which your skin (and body) ages! Exercise works by temporarily increasing your heart rate, and consequently increasing blood flow to your face and skin – which is why after an intense workout, you don that flushed, tomato like appearance (and don’t we all love it!) 


The blood rush helps increase the amount of nutrient rich blood reaching the deepest layers of your skin (the dermis), providing it with the vitamins and minerals required for collagen production. Additionally, when you sweat, your skin is essentially able to clean out your pores, removing dirt and toxins trapped in the superficial layers of your skin. However, sweat can work against you if you’re not careful. Try and shower as soon as possible after finishing your workout, to wash all the dirt and toxins – not only will this prevent your pores getting clogged again, but as your pores will still be relatively lose, your skincare products will penetrate better, making it more effective!


What you want to do 


Try and get a 30-minute workout in most days of the week, focusing on exercises that increase your heart rate, such as HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) to help get your muscles pumping blood to your skin!


MINDFULNESS TO KEEP STRESS AND WRINKLES AT BAY 

When you’re rushing around trying to get things ticked off your list and you’ve had a long day, the last thing you want to think about is sitting still to meditate (especially when you could just sleep). However, being mindful and slowing down to process things, people and most importantly how you are feeling can significantly reduce stress, improve your mood and also increase general energy and wellbeing.


Additionally, excessive stress causes the release of the hormone’s cortisol and adrenaline. In the short term, these hormones can provide you with the energy and the ammunition to get you out of a bad or dangerous situation. However, chronic stress, and therefore the constant release of these hormones can wreak havoc on your skin. Cortisol increases sebum secretion in your skin, which can clog your pores and lead to inflammation and acne breakouts. Additionally, several studies have proven that cortisol breaks down collagen and elastin in the skin, which is why chronic stress can significantly accelerate the aging process.


What you want to do 


Trying to reduce your stress levels by being mindful can help delay the aging process, and help you look and feel better. While meditation can help, it isn’t the only way to be mindful. You could go for a long walk-in fresh air, take a hot bath (great for the winter months), or journal and get things that are stressing you out onto paper so they’re out of your mind. Find what works for you and try and incorporate it into your daily or weekly routines to help keep stress levels to a minimum!


GET ENOUGH SLEEP

Ah sleep. The thing we always want to get more off, but never actually get round to it. Sleep is incredibly important for the health of our skin, especially when it comes to aging because only when you sleep does your skin repair itself and build collagen.


Repairing your skin and producing collagen requires nutrients that you skin receives from your blood. However, during the day, your blood supply to the skin is relatively minimal as your muscles, brain and digestive system have the largest supply to support your daily activities. During the day, your skin is essentially in survival mode – trying to protect your skin against environmental stressors such UV rays, pollution and bacteria.


However, at night, when your body is resting, your skin gets a much more generous supply of oxygen and nutrients from the blood, allowing it to remove the build up of toxins and collagen damaging free radicals from the day as well as use the nutrients delivered by the blood to build collagen and elastin to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. While you sleep, your skin essentially comes alive.


What you want to do


Try your hardest to make sure you are getting a solid 7- 8 hrs of sleep and all of that should be spent sleeping, not scrolling through your Instagram until you fall asleep. Try and move away from laptop and phone screens closer to your bedtime, dim the lights and switch out watching TV for reading a book to prepare your body for sleep. Having a set routine will also help your body feel tired at a similar time every night, making it easier for you to fall asleep!


DRINK ENOUGH WATER

There is a reason why water is called the ‘fountain of youth’ because it is so important to helping your skin remain plump and hydrated. Of course, no-one wants to be walking around each day feeling like a human fish tank, but regularly sipping on water through the day can stop it from getting dehydrated. Aside from literally plumping up your skin from within (think of a water balloon with a lot of water and a little water – the one full of water has a smoother surface), water is also an integral part of the collagen protein. In fact, 60% of the collagen molecule is made up of water, making it essential for collagen production.


Remember, your skin is essentially a ‘low priority’ area of your body, so when you drink water, your muscles, digestive system and brain will probably have ‘dibs’ over the water supply.


What you want to do


To make sure your skin is getting an adequate supply of water during the day, try and drink about 2 litres of water each day – and by that, I mean water – not coffee or juice or energy drinks (if you’re having of these, I’d suggest drinking even more water because they’ll tend to dehydrate your body even more).


AVOID REPETITIVE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

It’s an odd one, but it’s usually the small things we overlook everyday that causes our skin to age, and repetitive facial expressions is one of them. When you make an expression, it requires the muscles in your face to contract and crease to produce it. Your muscles then relax and (usually) the creases and folds disappear.


However, excessively making the same expressions can cause those creases to remain ingrained in your skin, especially as you age and your skin loses collagen. The lack of collagen reduces your skin’s elasticity, making it harder for your skin to relax back into a neutral expression after the muscles in your skin relax.


While the most effective way to address this issue would be reduce how many facial expressions you make every day, no-one wants to walk around looking like an emotionless robot.


However, certain repeated facial expressions that you do as a reflex, or subconsciously while doing an activity can be avoided if you are mindful of when you’re doing it. Confused? Let me explain.


What you want to do 


Frowning while you’re working is a good example of a repetitive facial expression that could be avoided, especially if you are staring at a screen. Sometimes the numbers in front of you may not add up, but it’s very common for many women to frown while working. Be mindful and actively relax your face while you’re staring at a screen or example, and you can vastly reduce the incidence of getting the 11 lines on your forehead.


Another common example is squinting to see things when the sun is out in full force. This expression can cause the crows feet lines around your eyes to become much more prevalent as you hold this expression for long period of time, especially if you’re driving and you’re too short to be protected by the sun visor (who else can relate!).


Instead, try and keep a pair of sunglasses in your bag or car to protect the delicate skin around your eyes and stop you squinting for long period of time!

STEP 7: BOOST RADIANCE AND PROLONG YOUTHFULNESS WITH THESE RECIPES

Harness the power of wholefoods to help keep your skin youthful
BREAKFAST RECIPES 

Several studies have indicated that exercising regularly can help reduce the rate at which your skin (and body) ages! Exercise works by temporarily increasing your heart rate, and consequently increasing blood flow to your face and skin – which is why after an intense workout, you don that flushed, tomato like appearance (and don’t we all love it!) 


The blood rush helps increase the amount of nutrient rich blood reaching the deepest layers of your skin (the dermis), providing it with the vitamins and minerals required for collagen production. Additionally, when you sweat, your skin is essentially able to clean out your pores, removing dirt and toxins trapped in the superficial layers of your skin. However, sweat can work against you if you’re not careful. Try and shower as soon as possible after finishing your workout, to wash all the dirt and toxins – not only will this prevent your pores getting clogged again, but as your pores will still be relatively lose, your skincare products will penetrate better, making it more effective!


What you want to do 


Try and get a 30-minute workout in most days of the week, focusing on exercises that increase your heart rate, such as HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) to help get your muscles pumping blood to your skin!


LUNCH RECIPES

When you’re rushing around trying to get things ticked off your list and you’ve had a long day, the last thing you want to think about is sitting still to meditate (especially when you could just sleep). However, being mindful and slowing down to process things, people and most importantly how you are feeling can significantly reduce stress, improve your mood and also increase general energy and wellbeing.


Additionally, excessive stress causes the release of the hormone’s cortisol and adrenaline. In the short term, these hormones can provide you with the energy and the ammunition to get you out of a bad or dangerous situation. However, chronic stress, and therefore the constant release of these hormones can wreak havoc on your skin. Cortisol increases sebum secretion in your skin, which can clog your pores and lead to inflammation and acne breakouts. Additionally, several studies have proven that cortisol breaks down collagen and elastin in the skin, which is why chronic stress can significantly accelerate the aging process.


What you want to do 


Trying to reduce your stress levels by being mindful can help delay the aging process, and help you look and feel better. While meditation can help, it isn’t the only way to be mindful. You could go for a long walk-in fresh air, take a hot bath (great for the winter months), or journal and get things that are stressing you out onto paper so they’re out of your mind. Find what works for you and try and incorporate it into your daily or weekly routines to help keep stress levels to a minimum!


DINNER RECIPES

Ah sleep. The thing we always want to get more off, but never actually get round to it. Sleep is incredibly important for the health of our skin, especially when it comes to aging because only when you sleep does your skin repair itself and build collagen.


Repairing your skin and producing collagen requires nutrients that you skin receives from your blood. However, during the day, your blood supply to the skin is relatively minimal as your muscles, brain and digestive system have the largest supply to support your daily activities. During the day, your skin is essentially in survival mode – trying to protect your skin against environmental stressors such UV rays, pollution and bacteria.


However, at night, when your body is resting, your skin gets a much more generous supply of oxygen and nutrients from the blood, allowing it to remove the build up of toxins and collagen damaging free radicals from the day as well as use the nutrients delivered by the blood to build collagen and elastin to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. While you sleep, your skin essentially comes alive.


What you want to do


Try your hardest to make sure you are getting a solid 7- 8 hrs of sleep and all of that should be spent sleeping, not scrolling through your Instagram until you fall asleep. Try and move away from laptop and phone screens closer to your bedtime, dim the lights and switch out watching TV for reading a book to prepare your body for sleep. Having a set routine will also help your body feel tired at a similar time every night, making it easier for you to fall asleep!


SNACK RECIPES

There is a reason why water is called the ‘fountain of youth’ because it is so important to helping your skin remain plump and hydrated. Of course, no-one wants to be walking around each day feeling like a human fish tank, but regularly sipping on water through the day can stop it from getting dehydrated. Aside from literally plumping up your skin from within (think of a water balloon with a lot of water and a little water – the one full of water has a smoother surface), water is also an integral part of the collagen protein. In fact, 60% of the collagen molecule is made up of water, making it essential for collagen production.


Remember, your skin is essentially a ‘low priority’ area of your body, so when you drink water, your muscles, digestive system and brain will probably have ‘dibs’ over the water supply.


What you want to do


To make sure your skin is getting an adequate supply of water during the day, try and drink about 2 litres of water each day – and by that, I mean water – not coffee or juice or energy drinks (if you’re having of these, I’d suggest drinking even more water because they’ll tend to dehydrate your body even more).


SMOOTHIE RECIPES  

It’s an odd one, but it’s usually the small things we overlook everyday that causes our skin to age, and repetitive facial expressions is one of them. When you make an expression, it requires the muscles in your face to contract and crease to produce it. Your muscles then relax and (usually) the creases and folds disappear.


However, excessively making the same expressions can cause those creases to remain ingrained in your skin, especially as you age and your skin loses collagen. The lack of collagen reduces your skin’s elasticity, making it harder for your skin to relax back into a neutral expression after the muscles in your skin relax.


While the most effective way to address this issue would be reduce how many facial expressions you make every day, no-one wants to walk around looking like an emotionless robot.


However, certain repeated facial expressions that you do as a reflex, or subconsciously while doing an activity can be avoided if you are mindful of when you’re doing it. Confused? Let me explain.


What you want to do 


Frowning while you’re working is a good example of a repetitive facial expression that could be avoided, especially if you are staring at a screen. Sometimes the numbers in front of you may not add up, but it’s very common for many women to frown while working. Be mindful and actively relax your face while you’re staring at a screen or example, and you can vastly reduce the incidence of getting the 11 lines on your forehead.


Another common example is squinting to see things when the sun is out in full force. This expression can cause the crows feet lines around your eyes to become much more prevalent as you hold this expression for long period of time, especially if you’re driving and you’re too short to be protected by the sun visor (who else can relate!).


Instead, try and keep a pair of sunglasses in your bag or car to protect the delicate skin around your eyes and stop you squinting for long period of time!

STEP 8: HOW TO ACCELERATE YOUR RESULTS

Help your skin build collagen faster by adding a collagen supplement to your routine 
WHY SUPPLEMENTS ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR SEEING RESULTS

When you think about skincare and anti-aging methods, your mind usually goes to skincare and topical treatments. While important, topical treatments alone are not enough to prevent your skin aging prematurely. From leading busier lives to have more polluted air, the environmental and physiological stressors we impose on our skin have caused the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles appearing as early as our late twenties!

The good news is, several scientific journals have extensively researched how to slow down the aging process, with your diet and the nutrients obtained from it having the biggest results.


Why food is so important for healthy skin


Ever heard the saying ‘you are what you eat?’ – because this could not be more true for your skin. Your digestive system is very closely linked to your skin. In fact, the relationship between the 2 systems has been termed the ‘gut-skin axis’. Your skin requires specific nutrients to build collagen and repair damage caused by pollutions and UV rays. Your digestive system absorbs these nutrients from your diet and transports them to your skin via the blood.


So you’re probably thinking, if I can get all these nutrients from food, why do I need to take a supplement?

OUR MUST HAVE SUPPLEMENTS

When you’re rushing around trying to get things ticked off your list and you’ve had a long day, the last thing you want to think about is sitting still to meditate (especially when you could just sleep). However, being mindful and slowing down to process things, people and most importantly how you are feeling can significantly reduce stress, improve your mood and also increase general energy and wellbeing.


Additionally, excessive stress causes the release of the hormone’s cortisol and adrenaline. In the short term, these hormones can provide you with the energy and the ammunition to get you out of a bad or dangerous situation. However, chronic stress, and therefore the constant release of these hormones can wreak havoc on your skin. Cortisol increases sebum secretion in your skin, which can clog your pores and lead to inflammation and acne breakouts. Additionally, several studies have proven that cortisol breaks down collagen and elastin in the skin, which is why chronic stress can significantly accelerate the aging process.


What you want to do 


Trying to reduce your stress levels by being mindful can help delay the aging process, and help you look and feel better. While meditation can help, it isn’t the only way to be mindful. You could go for a long walk-in fresh air, take a hot bath (great for the winter months), or journal and get things that are stressing you out onto paper so they’re out of your mind. Find what works for you and try and incorporate it into your daily or weekly routines to help keep stress levels to a minimum!