Glamour (South Africa)

Ingredient­s Checklist Get on the right track to younger-looking skin and hair

- WORDS / JESÉ-CHÉ lillienfel­dt John Frieda Hydrate & Recharge Deep Soak Masque R119.95

When it comes to the health of your skin and the hair on your head, you make a conscious effort to take care of it. But are you aware of the ingredient­s you’re pumping into your system? use this checklist to get on the right track to looking your best.

As your body’s largest organ, your skin has a big job. It’s your first line of defence when you expose yourself to the outside world. With this in mind, it’s time to take your skincare game to the next level.

anti-ageing

While it’s obvious to suggest the best anti-ageing supplement­s contain vitamins, you must get the right ones that specifical­ly target the ageing process. Gulping down a bunch of anti-oxidants from a cast of many won’t help you achieve glowing, radiant and youthful skin. Read the list of ingredient­s carefully, so you know what you’re ingesting.

Vitamin a

Known as a fat-soluble, this vitamin helps to maintain the integrity of your cells as you age. Found in some retinol, it’s a powerful and essential antioxidan­t that also combats free radicals. It has anti-ageing properties that hold your lining barriers in place and keep them healthy. A bonus: it’ll sharpen your eyes and improve the health of your hair.

Vitamin c

This water-soluble vitamin is a super-potent antioxidan­t that helps your body fight free-radical damage. It brightens your skin naturally, which is particular­ly useful for those who struggle with hyperpigme­ntation. By stepping up your production of collagen, vitamin C decreases roughfeeli­ng skin and the appearance of wrinkles. Those with dry skin should have a higher dose of vitamin C due to water loss.

Vitamin d

This powerhouse is one of the best ways to keep your skin looking youthful. It’s a naturally occurring fat-soluble that’s essential for your body to function optimally. Put simply, it maintains your body’s cells, resulting in brighter-looking skin. You feel healthier and look younger.

Vitamin e

The more you expose yourself to the sun, internal toxins and environmen­tal pollutants, the more the vitamin E levels in your skin decrease. So, if you spend lots of time in the sun and you’re starting to develop fine lines, this one’s for you. Vitamin E supports anti-ageing by helping to regulate your hormones, renewing skin cells, boosting your skin’s natural moisture content and healing it, and regulating your blood pressure.

Zinc

This antioxidan­t helps to repair your skin, heal wounds, and regulates your production of sebum (oil). If your body’s unable to produce it naturally, you can add it to your diet. It boosts your body’s anti-inflammato­ry functions, which play a significan­t role in controllin­g acne, and the overall management of skin conditions such as eczema and rosacea. Vegan and vegetarian diets tend to be low in zinc, so it’s advisable to add a supplement to your diet.

magnesium

Better known as the chill pill, magnesium has a phenomenal ability to balance the effects of your stress hormones, which ultimately reduces the harmful effects of anxiety on your skin. Excessive stress results in higher production of insulin, which can cause your pores to clog, leading to acne breakout in some people.

Pycnogenol or Plant-based collagen Powder

This helps you to maintain the natural collagen levels in your skin as you age. Pycnogenol is a natural anti-ageing ingredient that improves your skin’s collagen production and elasticity – which is fantastic if you have wrinkles or fine lines. Grape seed extract is another common ingredient that’s equally as effective. If you want to keep your skin looking and feeling as youthful as possible, then plant-based collagen powder is the best route to go. It contains a blend of rich antioxidan­ts to protect your cells from free-radical damage and supports collagen.

We’re all guilty of overindulg­ing in blowouts, dye jobs, perms and all the rest. It’s not always a question of how damaged your hair is, but how to fix it. Here’s how to revive lacklustre locks.

scalp Protection

A healthy scalp is everything. Keep your follicles clean as it prevents blockage and inflammati­on, which could lead to hair thinning. Weekly scalp treatments that contain salicylic acid, or even a dandruff shampoo (even if you don’t have dandruff), and massaging your scalp make a long-term difference.

a Balanced diet

A healthy diet means that the food you consume should be balanced and have all the vital nutrients your body needs. Go for green, leafy vegetables, foods that are high in protein to help your hair grow such as fish, eggs, chicken, and those that are rich in antioxidan­ts to boost your metabolism and, in turn, improve your blood circulatio­n for a healthy scalp.

supplement­ation

Hair supplement­s that are rich in vitamins and minerals such as biotin and vitamin D contain vital ingredient­s for a healthy scalp. Consult your dermatolog­ist if you’re unsure of the best supplement­s for your hair type.

Your wash routine

Try not to over wash your hair as it can cause it to lose moisture and your scalp to become dry – your scalp needs essential oils that travel from root to tip. Regular conditioni­ng keeps your hair free from knots, takes away the stress from your roots, prevents damage and leaves it feeling smooth and looking shiny. Use a gentle brush that doesn’t pull and tug on your hair too much, and avoid brushing your hair when wet as that’s when your roots are at their softest and are more likely to fall out. Always use a heat protectant before adding heat to your hair to avoid damaging it.

“read the list of ingredient­s carefully, so You Know what You’re ingesting”

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 ??  ?? Lamelle Vita-c Lipid Serum R849
Lamelle Vita-c Lipid Serum R849
 ??  ?? Tangle Teezer The Wet Detangler (Large) R335
Tangle Teezer The Wet Detangler (Large) R335
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