Skin Concerns | Age Spots

Age spots (often referred to as liver spots) are flat brown spots that begin to appear on the skin as you age. They can also be black or grey in colour and appear on the sun-exposed areas of the body, including the face, shoulders, back of hands, and upper chest.

The Beauty Myth: You Don’t Need To Use SPF During the Autumn & Winter Months

Beyond False. You always need a good SPF! Although the autumn and winter months are cold, damp and dark, UV rays are always hanging around and your skin will absorb them. UV rays are as harmful in the autumn and winter as they are in the spring and summer.

The Beauty Myth: The Higher The SPF Rating The Better The Protection

Verdict: Not really... SPF stands for 'Sun Protection Factor', referring to its ability to block UVB rays. It is UVB exposure that is responsible for sun burn and skin cancer.

A SPF rating indicates you how long you can stay out in the sun without getting burnt compared to how long you could stay out without it. For example, if you burn after only 15 minutes in the sun and you use a SPF15, you will be able to stay out for 225 minutes (2hrs 45minutes) before you burn.

So although a higher SPF offers protection for a longer period of time, the actual protection that you get within the specified time frame is no better than that of a lower SPF rating.

It is important to remember that as a SPF only protects against UVB exposure, you need to look for a sunscreen that also protects against UVA exposure (UVA exposure causes premature ageing). I recommend using the Decléor Aroma Sun Expert Summer Oil SPF30 150ml (£32.00 decleor.co.uk). Not only is this perfect skin-protector an oil, it also comes in a spray bottle, making application easy and speedy - just want you need when you're in a rush to soak up the sun! It also leaves skin deeply nourished and soft, which is an added beauty bonus.

Review: Antipodes Immortal SPF15

Antipodes Immortal Natural Sun Protection Face & Body Moisturiser is the perfect product for spring. Lightweight and hydrating but, most importantly, packed with a SPF!

I was excited to try the recently reformulated moisturiser as I am a big fan of Antipodes. The brand puts a huge amount of focus into creating scientifically validated organic beauty, so it's no surprise that a SPF moisturiser features in the range.

At this point you're probably thinking, “Surely a natural sunscreen isn't going to be that effective?”. Well a couple of years ago I would have thought the same, however using a natural SPF can actually have its advantages. Within sun protection, natural SPF refers to using inorganic ultraviolet absorbers like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. These have the ability to convert ultraviolet radiation into less damaging infrared radiation. Products with these mineral-based absorbers or filters usually have a maximum SPF rating of 15, and are considered more natural, milder and safer to use – especially on sensitive skin.

What makes Immortal great is the ingredients it contains. In addition to the expected zinc oxide (a common ingredient used in SPF creams), Immortal includes raspberry seed oil, reishi mushroom extract, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, apricot oil and Antipodes very own ingredient, Vinanza Grape and Kiwi Extract. These ingredients work together to protect the skin from UVA and UVB exposure, enhance cell turnover and keep skin firm and well hydrated. What's more, Immortal decreases redness and the effects of excess melanin production that leads to freckles and age spots. Click here to find out more about melanin!

Packaged in a medicinal style tube, the cream is lightweight with a milky texture. As one of the main ingredients in Immortal is zinc oxide, it is advised that you rub the product between you fingertips or palms before applying to make the application process easier. If properly prepped, Immortal goes onto the skin effortlessly, without leaving a greasy or sticky residue. To my surprise, my foundation applied easily over the product which is often a rare benefit when using a SPF moisturiser. 

The only downside to Immortal is its lack of scent. I'm not a big fan of scents in skincare products as I sometimes find them a little overpowering, however I appreciate this is often a big attraction for some gals.

Immortal is available in a 60ml (2.1 fl oz) tube from www.antipodesnature.com. The UK price is £28.95 and the US price is $45.00.

Understanding...Antioxidants

If there is one thing you expect to see in a great skincare product, it's a s**t load of antioxidants.

Antioxidants are natural molecules that are found in plants, fruits, vegetables and even meats, fish and dairy. What make antioxidants truly amazing is that they protect skin from damaging free radicals, which are unstable molecules caused by environmental nasties (for example UV exposure, pollution, and smoke). It is these free radicals that cause wrinkles, pigmentation and poor skin condition. 

In addition to protecting skin from free radicals, antioxidants can:

• Reduce the appearance of wrinkles 
• Reduce the appearance of scars 
• Firm skin 
• Treat sun damage 
• Calm the skin and reduce inflammation 
• Increase collagen production 
• Treat pigmentation 
• Treat acne

Due to their amazing benefits, antioxidants are considered active ingredients that are commonly found in result-driven skincare products. The most common and most effective antioxidants in these products are:

•           Vitamin C
•           Vitamin A
•           Vitamin E
•           Retinol
•           Alpha-lipoic acid
•           Polyphenol
•           Zinc
•           Selenium
•           Coenzyme Q10

So the more antioxidants a product contains, the better that product will be at achieving great results (see antioxidant-rich product recommendations below). Don’t forget that ingredients are always listed on the packaging in descending order of predominance - so make sure that the product's advertised antioxidants are listed as high as possible. 

It is important to mention that although antioxidants are beneficial when put onto the skin, they are even more beneficial when put into the body. For these reasons, make sure you have a balanced diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables to ensure your body is healthy from the inside out!

Recommendations

1. Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque 75ml (£34.50 Liberty / $48.00 ULTA Beauty)
2. The Body Shop Vitamin E Gentle Facial Wash 100ml (£8.00 The Body Shop)
3. StriVectin-AR™ Advanced Retinol Night Treatment 50ml (£79.00 Harrods / $109.00 www.strivectin.com)
4. Perricone MD Advanced Face Firming Activator 59ml(£99.00 www.cultbeauty.co.uk / $120.00 Sephora)