Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, but not everyone shares the skin conditions of the thirty-four million people of Irish ancestry. Those with this pale, ruddy skin have been described in books as a “pale lass”, a “sweet colleen” or a “fair maiden”, but what the books don’t talk about is that while the iconic Celtic complexion is fine textured and beautiful on youth, it is often prone to redness, burns easily and can show signs of aging earlier. In order to keep the skin looking fine and free of blemish, those of Irish ancestry must use alternative products than what is normally found on store shelves.
Jennifer Devlin Waller, founder of Celtic Complexion Luxury Artisan Skincare shares these tips for keeping skin beautiful all year round.
1. The foundation of beautiful skin starts with a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, polyunsaturated fats. Avoid processed foods, sodas, alcohol, dairy and grains as these will all cause puffiness, inflammation, and under eye circles. Additionally, a poor diet contributes to rosacea, which is a common skin disorder that causes redness in the cheeks chin and nose area.
2. A good physical zinc-based sunscreen should be applied daily to protect the skin from prematurely aging. Fair skin has the least amount of melanin, a naturally occurring sun-block that protects our skin cells from the harmful effects of ultra-violet radiation from the sun and those rays are unavoidable. Think of sunscreen as anti-aging insurance. Look for a physical sunscreen with a high percentage of zinc oxide as the active ingredient.
3. Avoid synthetic chemicals, dyes and fragrances in your skin care products as these contribute to sensitivity. Look for products with plant and marine based ingredients instead.
4. Easy on the exfoliants. While it’s true that exfoliation does increase cell turnover, being overly aggressive strips the skin of its natural defense layer (called the acid mantle), which weakens delicate skin over time. Skip the Retin-A and glycolic acids, and opt for gentle exfoliants such as lactic acid and enzymes and use no more than twice per week.
5. Use high quality supplements designed for anti-aging. A good diet is the preferable source of vitamins and minerals, but modern day farming practices rob the soil of vital nutrients needed for mineral-rich crops. Plants do not create minerals. Minerals have to be absorbed through the soil, and if they are not present in the soil, then the plant’s roots cannot take them up, and therefore they will not be present in the plant. These are the most preventative anti-aging supplements for the skin:
a. Vitamin C: Prevents sagging skin by strengthening collagen and elastin, the structural substances which give your skin tone and resilience.
b. MSM Sulfur: MSM is necessary for collagen production. Sagging skin and wrinkles, as well as dry, cracked skin are all developed through a loss of collagen. MSM works together with Vitamin C to build new, healthy tissues.
c. Selenium: Protects skin from free radical damage, increases the elasticity of the skin and safeguards the skin against uv damage.
While there is no stopping time, skin’s aging process can be slowed when skin is taken care of properly, when healthy turnover is promoted, and moisture is introduced to the skin.