Your Skin: 4 Things You Didn't Know About Aging

Nobody enjoys aging. Let's face it, most of us even have a phobia about it - ineverwanttolookoldophobia.

It's a technical term obviously :)

So I thought I'd do a little post about the myths and truths of aging!

1. Sunlight is the number one cause of aging - a lot of people know this already but most don't understand why or aren't aware of how damaging it can be. Here's how it works - there are microscopic cells in your skin that naturally produce collagen and elastin, which are the magical ingredients that prevent aging. When the sun shines on your skin, it turns these cells off permanently. The lack of the two ingredients is what causes the wrinkles. Aside from that, sun damage causes a whole host of other problems like skin cancer, melanomas and rosacea that won't be worth that tan. I feel I should also mention that in a cloudy climate like Ireland, where we don't get much sun we should still be wary. In fact; Daylight causes more sun damage then sunlight. Daylight that we see around us still comes from the suns rays. The only way to combat aging and stay safe outside is to wear sun block every single day. So, ditch the suntans girls and go for the bottled kind instead :)

2. Dry skin ages faster/worse(r?) then oily - dry or dehydrated skin doesn't produce enough of skin's natural oil to keep it moisturised and it doesn't produce as much collagen to prevent aging. Wrinkles appear far quicker on dry skin and you can even test it at home; if you gently push on your cheek and the pucker of skin ripples (similar to an orange peel), you are dry and prone to wrinkles. Drinking at least two litres of water a day and using the right moisturiser/eye cream/neck cream should keep the wrinkles at bay!

3. Exercise ain't just good for the body - if you think about it, people who are fit and athletic generally have younger looking bodies then those who aren't. The same applies to the face. Having good muscle tone prevents the skin from sagging and drooping. Facial exercises take 5 or 10 minutes out of your day and in the long run should keep your muscles taut to prevent wrinkles and that chicken jowl thing :)

4. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate - it's all well and good to say 'do this, don't do that and you won't get wrinkles' but what if you spent too long in the sun in your 20's and you have the oul fine line here and there? Unfortunately, short of going under the needle for botox/collagen injections or under the knife for a facelift; no home remedy we do will reverse the aging process once it has begun. We can however, reduce the appearance of any wrinkles we have. Think of your wrinkles like a deep ravine. If someone came along and removed 20 feet of rock from the top, the ravine wouldn't look so deep would it?

Exfoliation removes dead surface skin cells, making the wrinkle in question appear shallower. And for a fraction of the cost and pain of some grotesque surgical procedure, it shouldn't be sniffed at!

-Em

Guide: MAC Foundations

If you are new to MAC, sometimes the shop and the whole set up can be very daunting. There are so many shades and numbers and letters and types and bottles it can get confusing, so I've made this guide to sort it out (I hope) :)

So, most of the time, there are two types of MAC foundation; NW and NC.

NW means 'Neutral Warm' and NC means 'Neutral Cool'. NW shades have undertones of RED in them, NC shades have undertones of YELLOW.

Now, the undertones in foundations can work differently for different people. Generally, MAC advise that if you have red or rosy undertones in your skin, you should choose a foundation with red undertones, ditto with yellow undertones, etc. But sometimes if you have a lot of red, (for example; someone with

rosacea) probably wouldn't want more red in their foundation and they might choose an NC shade that has yellow. It all depends, but that is how it usually works :)

The number on a MAC foundation stands for the shade. The lower the number the lighter the shade. MAC have a large range of both NC and NW shades that usually run from 15 to 55.

If you are having trouble matching yourself, ask to be colour matched. They will apply some on your jawline and then its a good idea to go out and see how it looks in natural light. Store lights can be deceptive.

Also, keep in mind that colours can change with formula. So if you are NW30 in Studio Fix Fluid, you may not (and probably won't) be NW30 in Mineralize Satinfinish.

If you aren't sure about a colour or formula don't be afraid to ask for a sample. Most of the assistants will happily give you a sample for you to try yourself.

Here's a quick run down of each MAC foundation :)

Studio Fix Fluid: Probably the most well known MAC foundation; medium-high coverage, powder based formula, SPF 15, matte finish, oil-free.

Studio Sculpt: MAC's newest foundation; medium-high coverage, gel based formula, SPF 15, satin finish, hydrating.

Mineralize Satinfinish: Luminous foundation; quite low coverage, mineral based formula, SPF 15 UVA and B safe, satin finish, hydrating with vitamins to nourish the skin.

Select: Medium coverage, water based formula, SPF 15, matte finish, oil-free.

Face And Body: MAC's 'professional' formula foundation; low-medium coverage, water based formula, satin finish, hydrating.

Studio Moisture Tint: MAC's tinted moisturiser; low coverage, has SPF 15 but only comes in five shades.

Studio Fix Powder: MAC's powder foundation; medium coverage, matte finish, absorbs oil. I would not recommend on-going use of the sponge that this comes with because it is impossible to clean and can breed bacteria, which you don't want on your face.

Mineralise Loose Powder: MAC's loose foundation; medium coverage, mineral formula, SPF 15, satin finish, hydrating.

Studio Stick: MAC's stick foundation; medium coverage, cream formula, SPF 15, non-oily.

Studio Tech: MAC's cream-to-powder foundation; low-high coverage, matte finish, dermatologist tested.

Select Moistureblend: MAC's cream foundation; medium-high coverage, SPF 15 UVA and B safe, satin finish, hydrating, dermatologist tested.

I hope this has helped anyone who was wondering, or just really, really confused about MAC foundations!

Happy shopping :D

-Em