Life has a habit of taking away all the things that make our skin youthful, fresh, smooth and soft. If the agents of premature ageing are not coming at us from the outside they are working their way to the surface from within. Yes, the world around us, with all its pollution, grime and UV rays are attacking our skin from the day we were born, and even sitting in humid or dry rooms will show eventually. From within, all those outbreaks of blackheads, whiteheads and acne, which might seem insignificant in isolation, have a cumulative effect on skin that can result in dry or rough patches, blotchiness or pitting.

With all this in mind, it’s no wonder that we spend so much time, energy and money on skin care products. And what was once the preserve of women is now becoming increasingly common among men, especially daily moisturising. Although nothing can stop the ageing process, there are plenty of things we can do to slow down its visible effects, and with a regular routine in place we can have young looking, healthy skin well into what used to be called old age.

Ever since the hole in the ozone was discovered in the late 1970s, or at least since it started being taken seriously in the 1980s, we have started to recognise the damage harmful ultraviolet rays can do to our skin. Our primary worry was naturally of developing skin cancers, and this remains a concern. But a secondary issue was the effect prolonged exposure to sunlight can have on our skin, particularly since it was clear that UV levels were being raised by ozone depletion. Sun creams, sprays and lotions became big business, and where they were once marketed as simply ways of avoiding getting sunburnt (and to a great extent ignored) they soon became a health and beauty product.

UV blockers also started becoming key ingredients in moisturisers, too. People moisturising daily would be giving themselves pretty effective protection against everyday exposure to sunlight, although it would not be advisable to rely on a moisturiser containing UV protection instead of a dedicated sun block when you expect to be exposed to strong sunlight. Some manufacturers have created specialist everyday products that combine the two with a relatively strong UV element, one of the best known being Cosmeceuticals’ Vitage Skin Protector spf30, which is a moisturiser and protector that can be used twelve months of the year.

Products such as this really are the best compromise when it comes to sun protection. We have developed a natural urge to slap some cream on ourselves and especially our children when we are off to the great outdoors on a sunny day, but it is easy to forget that even on an overcast day or when the sun is low in the sky in winter, there are still UV rays penetrating the atmosphere. Although they will be much reduced compared to a blazing hot summer’s day, it is precisely this drip, drip effect throughout our lives which can result in damaged skin as we age. With the heightened UV levels that now exist, we can’t necessarily use our parents’ and grandparents’ generations as a guide to what we will look like.

Debbie reviews skin care procedures and products like the vitage facial range and other problem-specific skin care options. Debbie is an experienced skin care specialist and is a regular contributor to a number of skin care websites and lifestyle publications.

Debbie reviews skin care procedures and products like the vitage facial range and other problem-specific skin care options. Debbie is an experienced skin care specialist and a regular contributor to http://www.skincare-online.com/ and other skin care sites.

Author Bio: Debbie reviews skin care procedures and products like the vitage facial range and other problem-specific skin care options. Debbie is an experienced skin care specialist and is a regular contributor to a number of skin care websites and lifestyle publications.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
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