The fountain of youth may not be an actual, physical fountain, but that won’t stop us from giving what it takes to chase after it. It was one of those pit-of-the-stomach horror moments when you unwittingly caught sight of yourself in the rear view mirror and realised that the smile lines at the corner of your eyes and across your nose are beginning to look a lot more annoying, and a lot less cute. Well it probably didn’t happen overnight, and savvy women in the know are already taking notes if not already engaging in ways to fight the first signs of aging even before their sighting. From #lifehacks to product recommendation, ReadySetBeauty holds no reservations on letting you in on the latest anti-aging weapons you ought to know, if not for now they will certainly prove to be handy one fine day.

Debts incurring vices

Lifestyle habits and the choices we made will affect how the way we aged. A drag of ciggie or another shot of Tequila may give you a hit of pleasure at that moment in time, but they’ll do nothing to the way you look in the years to come. Days of hard living with many a night drinking and partying it up be reflected on your appearance long after those dancing shoes were hung.

If you grew up in the late 70s and spend hours upon hours at the beach, by the pool and in the solarium roasting yourself to a sickening golden tan that rivaled then poster girls, Bo Derek and Farah Fawcett, it’s most likely that you’re now faced with repercussions with a heavy price to pay. As we age, our skin tends to show sun damage that we accrued from a lifetime of sun exposure, and the UV destruction often starts deep in the dermis and surfaces many years later. Unlike natural aging which is characterized by thinning of skin and the accentuation of expression lines into fine wrinkles; accelerated photo-aging is distinguished by coarse wrinkles, leathery textural alterations, abundant freckling, lost of firmness and skin discoloration. While agreeably the warmth of sun rays is one of Life’s simplest pleasures which shouldn’t be denied, enjoy it in moderation and responsibly with the judicious use of sunscreen.

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Eat well to age well

Brazil nuts, pomegranates and dark chocolate are widely considered superfoods for anti-aging when consumed in healthy, moderater portions

You’re what you eat and the state of your complexion is reflective on how ‘clean’ your diet is. Refined sugars are the worst culprits standing in your way to healthy, glowing skin this spring. Aim to replace sugary sweets and snacks with nutrient-dense foods like fruit, vegetables and healthy sources of Omega-3.

“Sugar in the bloodstream attaches to protein in a process known as glycation,” explains Dr Low Chai Ling, founder of SW1 Clinic. “When this happen to the protein fibers collagen and elastin which help to keep our skin firm and elastic, they become dry and brittle, leading to signs of premature aging such as wrinkles and sagging. Simple carbs also messes up the immune system and exacerbates skin conditions such as acne and rosacea.”

according to Dr Low, to help retain a youthful complexion for as long as possible, aim to keep your blood sugar levels consistent with low-glycemic, high protein food, consumed in small divided portions to avoid insulin spikes and the nasty dermal destruction that comes with it.

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Anti-aging skincare regime with ingredients that matter

Retinol— a vitamin A derivative is one of the most potent anti-aging ingredient that’s approved by FDA for the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles favored by dermatologists all over.

We may not quite know how to stop the clock from moving forward, but we can help you fool the cameras and mirrors into thinking you’re a younger you with some skincare essentials for your daily routine. This may sound pretty basic, but if these key components are foster into your regime on a regular basis, it’ll go a long way in keeping your skin youthful looking. Dr Low recommends washing with the gentlest cleanser available; this minimizes big shifts in the pH of your skin. Use a physical or chemical exfoliant, pat, don’t rub, on your anti-aging serums, moisturize adequately, and always remember to wear a good sunscreen.

Retinols penetrate deep within the dermis and evoke stimulation right where collagen fibers are created, and is considered one of the most miraculous ingredients for smoothing the texture of the skin to soften fine lines and wrinkles.A gentle, yet potent preparation that can be used nightly to fight visible signs of aging is the aptly named, SW1 AGE DEFY, a rejuvenating and anti-aging lotion which combines retinol with a powerful, natural moisturizing agent packed full of hyaluronic acid and vital collagen. It therefore not only fights wrinkles, but also effectively tones, lifts and firms skin while delivering long-lasting hydration, repairing and rejuvenating aging skin while you sleep.

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Indulge in a medically inspired, scientifically based clinical facial

Clinical anti-aging facials are the latest spa treats to tackle the aging process based on scientifically proven medical findings that deliver. PDRN Cellular facial is one such great option, especially for those on the hunt for an alternative to fill the gap between your regular, run-of-the-mill facial and cutting edge aesthetics medical treatments or plastic surgery. PDRN is an acronym for a molecule also known as Polydeoxyribonucleotide, and this peptide unlocks the secret behind youthful skin as it works its magic at the DNA level, improving repair and rejuvenation processes that helps your complexion reboot and recharge itself. With the help of a special micron penetrator, PDRN is infused via Sonophoresis into the deeper layers of skin to effect vital cellular changes that will revive dull, tired skin to a more youthful state over the next few days. More than a short-term solution, this particular treatment works to stimulate your own collagen production for a longer-lasting plumpness, with visible improvement bolstering the skin changes that occur naturally with the passage of time.

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Anti-aging lasers that pack an extra oomph

While the latest advances in medical technology seem to offer a myriad of choices to turn back the clock, the results may not match up. Flipping through the glossy pages of tabloids and magazines documenting society events, there’s an emergence of a disturbing army of clones with what I would call “the old new face”— women with unnaturally smooth, over-inflated pillow cheeks and sausage lips from too much dermal fillers, often coupled with taut, expressionless mask-liked faces from over-zealous Botox usage. While there’s clearly still a place for anti-aging injectables especially in the right hands dealing with the right cohort of patients, we’re of late seeing a resurgence in the popularity of anti-aging lasers and other modalities which harness one own skin’s own capability to rejuvenate with the appropriate stimuli.

The Light Lift done as a standalone treatment or as part of the Luxe Lift Program, is designed to produce younger and healthier looking skin to counteract the visible signs of sun damage, inevitable ageing and stress reflected in our complexion.

Lasers of varying wavelength penetrate into the deeper layers of skin generating heat as an energy source for effective collagen remodeling and regeneration for skin lifting

By engaging FDA-approved CoolView technology, it treats all skin types, bypassing the surface to penetrate into the deeper layers of skin where it stimulates a collagen overhaul and skin repair for effective facial tightening and skin rejuvenation. Due to its remarkable safety margin, Light Lift can be used to revive tired slack skin not just on the face but over the neck and body such as the tummy and thigh areas. Besides serving as an excellent non-surgical modality for lifting and toning up aged skins, it is also highly efficacious as a preventive measure, slowing down the aging clock in younger skins. For optimal results, a series of 5-6 treatments done at 3-4 weekly intervals are often recommended, with intermittent follow-up treatments to prolong the longevity of results achieved.

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