Anti-ageing doesn't have to carry the stigma of the negative connotations it once had – at Holland & Barrett we like to think of it as ageing well.
With a healthy balance of what makes you feel good from the inside and out, ageing skin doesn’t need to be so taboo.
Ageing is a natural part of life; we all get older and consequently we all age. But this doesn’t have to be a negative process. Ageing doesn’t have to be something we dread, or feel anxious about, when it comes to our appearance.
In 2007, a cosmetics brand conducted a study on 1,450 women aged 50 to 64 years old in 9 countries across the world and concluded that "Beauty has no age”.1
There has always been a lot of pressure around woman in particular feeling like they need to look younger and stay wrinkle free, with Botox and fillers etc. The truth is ageing is perfectly normal.
Although, there are things we can do to look after the skin we are in - through self-care and wellness. At H&B we offer a range of ‘no-needle’ natural skin care products that will help you to feel confident, and your skin to appear youthful.
Anti-ageing products are something most of us women reach for in shops or save to our baskets online, however some of us a feel a little dispirited doing so. However, wanting to keep your skin looking as smooth, wrinkle and blemish free as it can be comes as second nature.
The phrase ‘anti-ageing’ tends to carry a unconscious negative overtone. How about rather than thinking of something as anti-ageing and feeling as though you need to reverse the signs of getting older or correct any imperfections – we instead see it as healthy ageing.
The products are there for you and your skin, providing the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and protected.
“To heighten our anxieties a bit more, we link our age to our physical appearance, taking inventory of how our figure and muscle memory compare to younger generations. We do all of this rather than offer gratitude for all our bodies and minds withstand over time.”2
We should be kind to our bodies for all they endure. Taking care of our skin and supporting its needs to stay healthy, plump, and invigorated is all part of the fun. Anti-ageing products support your skins natural components whilst protecting and pampering - and there’s nothing ‘anti’ about that!
Woman are starting to embrace the skin that they’re in and feel empowered by their age. Anti-ageing and anti-wrinkle claims are becoming more and more outdated. The pressure for perfection is becoming less desired and healthy ageing is taking over.
As in both childhood and adulthood, the degree to which individuals compare to an ‘ideal’ body type or appearance may also play a role in body image concerns in older adults.
In Western cultures, this ideal is commonly associated with youth (e.g., smooth skin) and older adults tend to be underrepresented in the media. Ageing can therefore highlight differences between actual and ‘ideal’ appearance.5
We are now more than ever starting to see more representation around ageing and the shift from ‘anti-ageing’ to ‘pro-ageing’. Those with textured or aged skin no longer need to feel like they don’t fit the unrealistic ‘beauty standard’.
Taking ownership of who you are at any age is truly empowering. A little self-care and a supportive skin routine along the way can make you feel like a million dollars!
Top 10 Skincare Must Haves
We have put together a Top 10 of our favourite ‘must-have’ skincare products just for you! In no particular order you will discover and explore a range of beauty products and supplements that you could use to keep your skin in its best condition.
Expert Morning Collagen has been specially formulated to help energise and protect your skin. This advanced, high strength morning collagen contains clinically studied Verisol® Collagen, Lycobeads™ plus Vitamin C.
Verisol® reduces the appearance of wrinkles and improves skin elasticity, Lycobeads™ support the skin’s natural UV defences, and Vitamin C for reduced fatigue and antioxidant protection.
Our H&B Expert range is made up from products which include our most advanced ingredient formulas.
We’ve carefully curated this formulation to include some of the most advanced ingredients that support skin health.
Best of all, Expert Morning Collagen is totally flavourless so it can be added to any breakfast drink or food.
VitaSkin Anti-Pollution Glow Day Cream is packed with Kiwi Seed Oil and Sea Buckthorn Oil and Sweet Orange Oil.
These ingredients contain the highest levels of Vitamin C and Omega Oils to give your skin a layer of hydration, preventing pollutants penetrating your pores and keeping your skin looking soft and healthy throughout the day.
Sea Buckthorn Oil is reportedly one of the only plant foods that’s known to contain all four omega fatty acids.
Oil extracted from Sea Buckthorn provides polyunsaturated Omega 7 fatty acids, as well as Omega 3 (Alpha Linolenic Acid), Omega 6 (Linoleic Acid) and Omega 9 (Oleic Acid).
Vitamin C-rich skin products can help reduce the appearance of ageing skin. It can also help to tackle blemishes and dark spots.
It’s very important that we protect our skin from pollution just as we protect our skin from the sun’s UV rays. Finding a daytime face cream that contains anti-pollution protection will help to shield your skin from air pollutants.
The increase in air pollution over the years has had major effects on the human skin. Various air pollutants such as ultraviolet radiation, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds, oxides, particulate matter, ozone and cigarette smoke affect the skin as it is the outermost barrier.
Air pollutants damage the skin by inducing oxidative stress. Prolonged or repetitive exposure to high levels of these pollutants may have profound negative effects on the skin, such as extrinsic skin aging, premature and pigmentation.3
The triple threat! Our Skin, Hair & Nails Formula contains 24 active ingredients including Zinc, Biotin and Selenium; this formula supports healthier skin, hair and nails - in addition to all round health and wellbeing.
Biotin is a B Vitamin that contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and skin, helping to keep them healthy. Niacin - Vitamin B3 - is a water-soluble vitamin that aids normal skin and normal function of mucous membranes. Whilst Zinc helps to support hair and keep the oil glands surrounding the follicles working.
Selenium is an essential mineral that cannot be made by the body and must be obtained through our diets or supplements. It can help maintain healthy nails and hair by protecting the cells from oxidative stress.
Vitamin C is essential to produce collagen, which can be found in our hair, skin, nails, bones, joints, and many other parts of the body.
Do you want your skin to always be in its best, natural condition using vegan friendly formulas?
Native State face masks are formulated with specific plant-based actives, our Over Night Anti-aging Face Mask contains rejuvenating retinol, Paracress extract and Gatuline®, this active visibly reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Take control of fine lines and un-even skin tone with this Over Night Anti-Aging Mask; consisting of highly effective Vitamin A and Paracress extract, both ingredients are backed by science to help fight visible signs of ageing and to enhance skin wellness.
Native State exists to blend nature with science in order to create products that deliver exceptional performance based on specific needs and benefits.
Native State face masks are formulated with specific plant-based actives to target popular skin concerns and leave your face looking and feeling healthy, even on the most sensitive of skin.
Do you wish for your skin to have the benefits of Collagen but from a Vegan source? Bio-Structure skincare targets the signs of ageing to reveal radiant, smooth, healthy-looking skin naturally.
In controlled studies, skin measurements on women using the Eye cream showed significant improvements in wrinkles in just 4 weeks and women in the trial agreed their skin looked more youthful.
Our Eye Cream contains Beautifeye® containing Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract to reduce the signs of fatigue, stimulating Caffeine and natural Hyaluronic Acid to help the delicate skin around your eye hold onto precious moisture.
Formulated with powerful botanical ingredients, Acacia Collagen and Centella Reversa to help stimulate the skin's natural collagen production. As we get older our ability to produce Collagen decreases which leads to the skin becoming thinner, less elastic, and more susceptible to fine lines.
Our Bio-Structure Eye Cream targets the signs of ageing around the eyes for brighter, smoother skin and improved appearance of fine lines, crow’s feet, and even dark circles.
Boosted with hydrating hyaluronic acid and blueberry extract, our Pip & Pod Blueberry Tonic Face Mist offers a natural source of antioxidants, leaving skin feeling fresh and glowing.
This hydrating face mist perfectly moisturises the skin and leaves it feeling fresh and glowing with a natural radiance.
This Face Mist can also be used as a toning spray leaving your skin refreshed. Hyaluronic acid has developed a good reputation as a powerful hydrating ingredient, it is a molecule that we already have in our skin and is essential in helping the skin retain a youthful appearance. Hyaluronic Acid may also improve skin appearance.
At H&B, we’ve developed an exciting new skincare range that uses the very best ingredients to give you naturally healthy-looking skin; Pip & Pod skincare is enriched with superfoods and enhanced by experts.
Each product harnesses the power of nature to give you skincare that really works. Everything is vegan, against animal testing/cruelty and formulated with fruit extracts - for effortlessly glowing skin.
Evolve Bio Retinol Gold Face Mask is packed with natural ingredients designed to provide a wide range of benefits that give your skin the care and love it deserves.
This brightening face mask delivers the benefits of retinol; it does this by containing a natural, retinol-like plant extract from Bidens Pilosa that works on the skin to deliver the same rejuvenation benefits and cellular renewal without the added sensitivity that some retinol-based products can cause.
Rosehip Oil and Argan Oil make this indulgent mask rich in Omega 3 and 6, both of which help to nourish and moisturise, leaving you with glowing skin. The elegant golden shimmers come from a sustainably sourced mineral, Mica, making for an extremely luxurious face mask.
Unlike retinol, which can make your skin sensitive to the sun, this gold mask can be used at any time, year-round, making it the perfect way to enhance your summer glow. This face mask is suitable for all skin types, especially those with dry or ageing skin.
Isn’t it weird and wonderful how nature can step in and help you to look and feel your very best! Dr Organic Snail Gel is formulated with Helix Aspersa Muller - which contains skin-loving nutrients.
Supporting the skin, the ingredients are blended with the snail gel to produce a moisturising face gel that will leave your skin soft and glowing.
As it contains Aloe vera, this gel can be soothing for facial skin. The ingredients work together to hydrate, nourish dry skin, and to soothe skin.
Have you heard of Balmonds? Well, you have now!
These gorgeous blends of oils have specially been chosen for their properties; feeding tired, delicate skin with the vitamins and nutrients it needs to stay soft, healthy, and hydrated.
Try it overnight to soften blemishes and blotchiness, smoothing out uneven skin tone and caring for thirsty and dehydrated skin.
Formulated with nutrient-rich rosehip - which is packed full of antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, as well as Omegas-3 and -6 - this intensive facial oil also contains lavender, Roman chamomile, calendula and palmarosa to keep skin in beautiful supple condition, and can be used anywhere on the body, and by all ages and skin types.4
Free from fragrances means it’s also suitable for those who may be prone to itchy or dry skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea or psoriasis.
A little bit of luxury can go a long way (especially when it’s affordable). Touted by the everyone from Alexa Chung to Victoria Beckham, Fearne Cotton to Hailey Bieber and Claudia Winkleman to Winona Ryder.
Skin Food is packed with organic plant extracts and made using organic sunflower seed oil and offers the delicate fragrance of essential oils, including sweet orange and Lavendula.
Weleda Skin Food contains extract of wild pansy, helping to keep even the driest skin soft and supple, and gently soothing chamomile. Add to that rosemary leaf extract (chosen for its revitalising action) and calming calendula - and you have got the perfect little helper for your skin!
It can also be used to soothe skin after swimming and sunbathing, to ease dry, cracked, and neglected feet and will moisturise chapped lips.
Additionally, you can rub this ultra-rich cream gently into cuticles to soften and nourish, layer on and leave for a deeply effective mask or prep skin before putting on your make up - using Skin Food as a simple, effective primer.
Skin Food can even double as a highlighter, dabbed onto cheekbones and brow bones for a glossy glow.
Final Say
Take good care of your skin, but don’t take on the pressure from the airbrushed photos you may see in the media.
Find a skincare routine that works for you, enrich your skin’s structure, and give it the TLC it deserves to stay healthy and glowing.
At H&B we like to think we can help and empower both men and women. With a wealth of skin care products to choose from, you can treat your skin to the love and attention it deserves.
Using specialised products to perfectly match and support your skin’s needs.
P.s always remember to use an SPF on your face too; SPFs can easily be incorporated into your skincare or makeup routine – many products now-a-days even include SPF within their formulation.
Check out some of our SPF guides and articles here!
The advice in this article is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP or healthcare professional before trying any supplements, treatments, or remedies.
Before taking any supplements or minerals, it's best to make sure you're getting all the nutrients through your diet first. Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Last updated: 15 November 2022
- https://www.seppic.com/en/beauty-care-mag/pro-age-when-ageing-becomes-trendy
- https://www.byrdie.com/aging-stigma-essay-520471
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28195077/
- https://balmonds.co.uk/products/intensive-facial-oil-30ml-skin-salvation
- https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/research/body-image-how-we-think-and-feel-about-our-bodies/body-image-later-life