Can We Please Finally Stop Saying Anti-Ageing
- 9 hours ago
- 5 min read
The term 'anti-ageing' is a bit old hat now and I'm gradually working on removing it from my branding wherever I can. It just feels a bit... well, old fashioned.
Firstly, because the term doesn't really make sense. Nobody is actually anti-ageing, are they? We're all ageing. That's kind of how life works and, thankfully, it's generally moving in one direction only.
Secondly, because when it comes to topical skincare, there isn't a cream on the market that's going to make us look twenty-one again. Needles and scalpels might get you a bit closer, but a face cream? Nope, absolutely not.
Plus, the goal shouldn't be to look twenty-one forever either. Surely the goal is to have the healthiest looking skin possible for as long as possible.
That's why I much prefer the term skin longevity. In fact, it's something Nimue talks about a lot and it's a phrase that really resonates with me. Rather than trying to stop ageing altogether, which we all know is impossible, it's about helping the skin function at its best for longer. Think maintaining collagen, protecting elastin, reducing inflammation, supporting barrier repair and protecting the skin against everyday environmental damage.
Think less trying to fight every wrinkle that appears and more about building strong, resilient, healthy skin.
It's actually very similar to the reason I train in the gym. Yes, I like the way my body looks when I'm training consistently and doing all the things, but if I'm being completely honest, that's probably only about twenty percent of the reason I do it. The other eighty percent is because I want to be able to get myself out of a chair when I'm eighty without somebody having to pull me up. I want strong bones, a healthy heart and a body that still lets me do the things I enjoy. I want longevity in my body just as much as I want longevity in my skin.
Well... and maybe a slightly better bum too.
The term anti-ageing has always made me feel as though getting older is something to fear, as if wrinkles are the ultimate enemy and we're all supposed to spend the second half of our lives desperately trying to reverse time.
Skin longevity has a completely different feel to it. It makes me think about resilience, strength, consistency and looking after what I've already got instead of constantly wishing I looked like somebody twenty years younger.
I've said this for years and I'll happily keep saying it until people are sick of hearing it...
Wrinkles don't make us look old!
In fact, having no wrinkles at all can sometimes make someone look older, especially when their face doesn't move. Watch an episode of The Real Housewives and you'll spend half the programme trying to work out how old everyone actually is. Spoiler alert... it's probably a lot younger than you think.
What really makes us look older is everything that's happening around the wrinkles. If you haven't slept properly for months, you're stressed to the eyeballs, permanently inflamed, dehydrated, living on ultra-processed food, never moving your body, struggling in unhealthy relationships or simply feeling unhappy, it all shows in your face. We'd all much rather blame the wrinkles because they seem easier to fix, but our skin is often reflecting what's happening inside the rest of our body.
Oh... and while we're here... not having an orgasm for months probably isn't helping either.
Sorry not sorry.
All the Botox and filler in the world can't fix those things. I will quite happily die on that hill.
So, if we're thinking about skin longevity instead, where do we begin?
Well, firstly, we have to focus on the basics. Getting good quality sleep and managing our stress levels should always be at the forefront of our health journey, even though I know that's often easier said than done.
Then we need to move our bodies. It doesn't matter whether that's lifting weights, going for a walk, doing yoga or dancing around the kitchen while you're making tea. Just move. Take the stairs instead of the lift when you can, park a little further away from the supermarket and give your body a reason to stay strong.
Diet plays a huge role too. Fresh food, plenty of fibre and fewer ultra-processed foods are always going to benefit both your body and your skin. I know none of this is groundbreaking and I'm sure you know it already, but sometimes we all need a little reminder because it's very easy to get distracted by the latest miracle ingredient or wellness trend.
Then, once those foundations are in place, we can optimise things a little further.
I love using high-quality supplements to support the skin from the inside out. Skinade is something I've taken for years to support collagen production and overall skin quality, and Decoded GS-1 Inner Foundation is another product I'm genuinely excited about because it focuses on supporting the gut barrier, which plays such an important role in inflammation, nutrient absorption and ultimately skin health.
Daily sun protection is completely non-negotiable for me, whether it's the middle of summer or the middle of winter. Protecting the collagen and elastin you already have is far easier than trying to replace them later.
I'm also a huge believer in using well-formulated, medical-grade skincare with ingredients that have actually been researched properly. It's never about having the biggest routine or the most expensive products. It's about using the right products consistently.
Because, as much as we'd all love a miracle cream, let's face it, consistency will beat perfection every time.
If I had to choose a few favourites for supporting skin longevity, these would be at the top of my list.
Calecim Multi Action Cream is one of my favourite products for supporting collagen, elastin and overall skin regeneration. I love the science behind it and it's one of those products that genuinely excites me.
Nimue Sun-C SPF 40 and SPF 50 are my daily sunscreens of choice because they're beautifully formulated and contain antioxidant protection too, with the SPF 50 also offering infrared and blue light protection.
Skinade is something I honestly don't think I'd be without now. It's become such a part of my daily routine that I don't even think about taking it anymore. It's simply one of those things I do every day because I know I'm supporting my skin for the long term.
I've also taken Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Antioxidant for years. Free radicals are one of the biggest contributors to skin ageing and overall disease, so supporting the body with high-quality antioxidants from the inside out has always been important to me.
At the end of the day, I'm never going to look twenty-one again... nor do I want to.
At this stage of my life, my goal is simply to have healthy skin that heals well, glows from within and still looks like me for as long as possible.
To me, that's what skin longevity is all about.
If you'd like to move away from the whole anti-ageing malarkey and instead focus on helping your skin age as well as it possibly can, then I'd love to help.
You can either book an online consultation with me or fill out my free Skin Check-In form and together we'll create a routine that's tailored to your skin, your lifestyle and where your skin is right now.
Thank you so much for reading,
Emmaline
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