Ageless beauty: how to embrace natural beauty, whatever your age

Getting older should mean just that. You have aged. You have lived another year doing the things you enjoy with the people you love. It doesn’t mean that you should be desperately clinging onto your youth and the face you had at 20 years old. The one you have now is more than good enough! So what if grey hairs begin to shine through or those laughter lines get a little more prominent? They’re just visible reminders that we have lived and are still living a good life. If we’re healthy and happy, who cares? It’s time to stop fighting the aging process and all the needles, potions, and lying about our age that comes with it. Instead, let’s put the focus on healthy aging and enhancing what we already have, naturally.

Feeling good isn’t age-dependant

Most of us are loathe to admit that aging sometimes knocks our confidence. Isn’t lack of self-esteem and confidence something we’re supposed to grow out of? In a perfect world, that would make sense; as we go through life and realise that looks aren’t everything, outer appearances should matter less. However, that mindset isn’t the reality for a lot of us, and the promotion and normalisation of anti-aging products has a lot to answer for. Everyone is bound to have good confidence days and bad ones. But some of the bad ones can be fixed by focussing less on the ‘imperfections’ we get as we age and more on being content and happy within ourselves. So what if a few new line appears around our eyes or a wrinkle gets deeper? As long as we’re looking after our skin and making the most of what we’ve got, there’s no need to be obsessed with looking younger.

The beauty world is changing

After decades of telling us how to ‘fight’ aging with various lotions and potions, the world of beauty is starting to change from anti-aging to healthy aging- and we’re so here for it! You can see this attitude change blossom in a number of ways, like when iconic model Lauren Hutton, aged 73, graced the Bottega Veneta runway. In addition to countless beauty bloggers in their 60s and 70s sharing their own ageless beauty secrets and advice. Sales in anti-aging products have gone down and people have started to favour ‘non-age’ products. A lot of us are seeking out moisturisers, lotions, toners and serums enriched with ingredients like vitamins A, C and E, acai berries and olive fruit extract with the aim to enhance what we have, rather than get rid of what we don’t like.

Ageless beauty skin care FAQs

Ready to make the move from anti-aging to healthy aging? Here are a few FAQs to help you on your journey:

What happens to our skin as we age?

Several things happen to our skin as we get older that change its structure and appearance: Collagen production: collagen is the structural support system of our skin, joints and tendons. As we get older, the amount of collagen our bodies produce declines, which is why our skin gets less plump and elastic, causing wrinkles and ‘looser’ skin. Pigmentation: sometimes its not wrinkles that make our skin look older, it’s pigmentation and changing skin tones. Dehydration: fine lines are more pronounced when we are dehydrated, and as we get older it gets a little harder to keep skin hydrated.

What helps keep our skin healthy as we get older?

Here’s a low down on the most nourishing ingredients for older skin and the ageless beauty products that contain them. Vitamin C: vitamin C helps to even skin tone, hide brown spots and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It can also promote collagen production for firmer and plumper skin.

• Try: VitaSkin Vitamin C Collagen Boosting Serum

Humectants: hyaluronic acid and glycerine are examples of humectants – products that attract water to the skin.

• Try: Q+A Natural Skincare Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum

Vitamin A (aka retinol): vitamin A helps to speed up the skin’s natural healing process, support your skin’s immune system and promotes natural moisturising. It can help to smooth the appearance of fine lines, promote skin renewal and exfoliate skin cells.

• Try: VitaSkin Vitamin A Resurfacing Mask

Ceramides: ceramides are one of natural fats in our skin that help to protect our skin’s barrier and reduce water loss. However, as we age, our skin starts to lose these fats, which is where ceramide-rich creams like shea butter can be helpful.

• Try: P’URE Papaya Ointment

Sun protection: always remember to put your sun cream on or use products containing SPF to protect your skin. UVB and UVA rays cause free-radical damage and break down collagen and elastin in our skin.

• Try: Holland & Barrett Natures Block Sun Cream SPF 30 & Aftersun Bundle

Need some more inspo? Check out these wonderful ladies who are advocates for healthy ageing and embracing everything that comes with it:

• Caroline Hirons: industry leader and beauty blogger, Caroline Hirons has a refreshing no-nonsense attitude to all things skin care. Check her out here
• Tricia Cusden: beauty vlogger and author, Tricia gives reassuring and instructive beauty advice for women over 50 on her website
• Melissa55: enjoy hair, skincare and make-up and hair tutorials / Q&As by Tennessee-based vlogger Melissa55

Any opinions and views stated on these sites reflects the views of the author and not necessarily those of Holland & Barrett. Shop Natural Beauty  Last updated: 24 July 2020 This article has been adapted from longer features appearing in Healthy, the Holland & Barrett magazine. Advice is for information only and should not replace medical care.