What are face wrinkles and why do they appear?

Posted by Liz Earle Beauty Co.

May 16, 2024

3 min read

As we age, the skin naturally loses elasticity, becoming drier and thinner due to decreasing collagen and elastin levels. This leads to the development of fine lines, creases and wrinkles appearing on the skin. Youthful skin has the elasticity to bounce back, but as we age, flexibility diminishes, resulting in a loss of volume and bounce. While wrinkles are commonly found on the face and neck, they can appear anywhere on the body.

Factors contributing to wrinkles

Wrinkles are an inevitable part of the ageing process. However, there are various external and lifestyle factors that play a pivotal role in how skin ages at a faster or slower rate.

Frowning and squinting: Find yourself regularly squinting or frowning? Repeated facial movements and expressions can lead to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as the skin is pulled tight and then loosened, which can produce lasting lines. For example, squinting can cause crow’s feet around the eyes to appear, and frowning can cause deep wrinkles to appear, especially on the forehead.
Too much sun exposure: Exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight can cause changes to the skin, damaging the skin’s collagen, making it lose elasticity and drying it out. Too much sun exposure can prematurely age our skin, causing appearance of deep wrinkles, along with red blotches and skin discolouration.
Genetics: The genes you inherit play a bit part in your skin, which also determines the amount of collagen and elastin you produce. This impacts how slowly or quickly your skin starts to age.
Pollution: Air pollution and toxic fumes, found particularly in big cities, are small enough to enter skin. This can result in the appearance of skin alterations, such as compromised barrier function, brown spots, fine lines and wrinkles.

Liz Earle Environmental Defence Cream SPF25

Tips to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles

Certain lifestyle factors can play a key role in helping to prevent and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, keeping skin looking youthful and voluminous for longer.

Protect from UV radiation: Limit the amount of time you spend in the sun. When you are in the sun, wear protective clothing, such as a hat and sunglasses. Also, apply a high SPF sun cream daily to help protect against sun exposure. Our Environmental Defence Cream Mineral SPF 25, formulated with naturally derived mineral UV filters and antioxidant plant extracts, helps protect the skin from the elements, such as UVA and UVB rays, blue light, and pollution, while enhancing the skin’s natural defence barrier.
Moisturise daily: Hydrated skin is younger-looking skin – moisturising increases water content in the skin, making fine lines and wrinkles appear less visible. Our Superskin™ Moisturiser with natural neroli helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to leave skin looking plumper and smoother, while delivering up to 72 hours of hydration.
Eat well: Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidant compounds which help protect the skin from cellular damage, in turn helping skin look more youthful and radiant and reducing the appearance of fine lines. Similarly, fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel and herring are not only a great source of protein (a main component in younger-looking skin), but also rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are necessary to help keep skin feeling thick, supple and moisturised.
Get adequate sleep: Both deep and REM sleep have been linked to cell and tissue repair, therefore getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep a night will help give your skin an extra boost. Plus, collagen is produced when you sleep, so getting more sleep can help fight the appearance of wrinkles.
Stay hydrated: Be sure to drink enough water per day, the recommended amount is to consume 6-8 glasses per day, or around 1.5 litres in total. Herbal teas which contain antioxidants are also a great addition to your diet as they help to support skin health, in turn helping to reduce visible signs of skin damage and the appearance of wrinkles.
Use hyaluronic acid: Regularly incorporating products in your routine that contain hyaluronic acid can support firming the look of facial contours and help with the appearance of tightness in the skin, resulting in a more youthful appearance. Our Skin Repair™ Hydrating Serum is supercharged with plant-based hyaluronic acid and snow mushroom to leave skin feeling instantly refreshed and deeply replenished.

Step-by-step guide to reducing the appearance of wrinkles

As we get older, it’s important to find a tailored routine to keep skin looking plump and well-hydrated. While there’s no one-size-fits-all routine, there are essential steps that should be added into your personalised skincare routine. Here’s our recommended routine on how to help reduce appearance of wrinkles.

Liz Earle Superskin Nourishing Cleansing Balm

Step One: Cleanse

Cleansing is an important first step in any skincare routine – it’s great for gently removing dirt, impurities, make up and SPF from your skin, leaving it feeling clean and hydrated. Superskin™ Advanced Nourishing Cleansing Balm helps skin regain the look of youthful volume in one ultra-nourishing cleanse. Our luxurious formula gently removes impurities whilst boosting moisture to reveal instantly plumper, smoother-looking skin.

Liz Earle Superskin Microdermabrasion Polish

Step Two: Exfoliate (optional)

In this optional second step of your skincare routine, exfoliating gently buffs away the outer layer of dead skin cells, enhancing the absorption of skincare products for more effective results. Our Superskin™ Microdermabrasion Polish offers a three-in-one solution, combining naturally derived chemical and physical exfoliation in a nourishing formula, to reveal a soft and more youthful-looking complexion.

Step Three: Serum

Serums usually contain a higher concentration of active ingredients compared to moisturisers, helping to penetrate the skin deeper to deliver effective results, while reducing skin dullness and the appearance of fine lines. Our lightweight Superskin™ Face Serum contains powerful plant extracts that help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for a radiant, visibly revitalised complexion.

Step Four: Eye Cream

Typically, the skin under the eyes is thinner and more delicate compared to the rest of our face, making this area more prone to developing fine lines and wrinkles. Our targeted Superskin™ Eye Cream works to visibly lift and firm the skin around the eyes, while reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and puffiness.

Liz Earle Superskin Advanced Firming Serum in Moisturiser

Step Five: Moisturise

The next step is to lock in the extra hydration we’ve given our skin. Using a lightweight moisturiser in the morning and a night cream in the evening effectively helps support in the renewal process. Our Superskin™ Advanced Firming Serum-in-Moisturiser instantly plumps skin with moisture to help regain the look of youthful volume. Skin feels more resilient, firmer and the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles are reduced after just two weeks.*
*Consumer study

While you may not be able to completely reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the face, you can manage the appearance of further lines and wrinkles by being mindful of your daily habits and incorporating the right products into your routine. Check out our Superskin Guide, where you can discover more about the botanicals behind our powerful, pro-ageing skincare range.

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