With no better way to get the lowdown on British beauty today than ask women themselves, Hada Labo Tokyo has commissioned a research poll of 1,000 UK women aged 35 and older to explore their attitudes to skincare issues with data reviewed and analysed into a new report about to be published: Fresh Faced: Mapping Out The Secret To Lifelong Healthy Skin.
According to the research poll, six in 10 women over 35 want their skin to look the best it can for the stage of life they’re in. Yet on a less positive note, fewer than one in 10 of us (just seven per cent) always feel happy with our skin’s appearance.
The good news is that most women (60 per cent) say they want to look good for themselves rather than for anyone else, and almost two thirds want to look good for their age rather than trying to look younger.
Indeed, role models who’ve embraced their age were chosen as examples of women ageing well, with 57 per cent of respondents naming Helen Mirren as their skincare goddess, with Joanna Lumley second (42 per cent), and Davina McCall (40 per cent) third.
Common skincare issues
Fewer than one in ten of us (just seven per cent) always feel happy with our skin’s appearance.
So what’s causing us to feel uncomfortable in our own skin? The survey poll shows that women in the UK can experience a wide range of different skin health issues. For around a quarter of us, sunburn (27 per cent), acne (24 per cent), or eczema (24 per cent) are a problem, while almost a fifth of us (18 per cent) get cold sores and nearly one in 10 suffer from psoriasis (9 per cent) or rosacea (8 per cent).
What is perhaps even more concerning is that the research shows that even women who aren’t necessarily suffering from a skin disorder were conscious of certain issues with their skin including:
Dryness: 60 per cent
Dullness: 42 per cent
Dark eye circles: 35 per cent
Fine lines: 27 per cent
Uneven skin tone: 27 per cent
Redness: 27 per cent
Itchy skin: 26 per cent
The new report – Fresh Faced: Mapping Out The Secret To Lifelong Healthy Skin – reveals the pandemic’s impact on our everyday lives.
Pandemic living has caused more than a quarter (27 per cent) to drop their daily skincare routines, but over half (55 per cent) have managed to maintain one, with a surprising number of us (18 per cent) finding that their commitment to a routine has improved. Getting back out into the world with fewer restrictions is also prompting more of us (64 per cent) to bring our skincare back into sharper focus.
According to the Hada Labo report 68 per cent of British women take time out for skincare with over half following a cleanse-tone-moisturise routine, and 38 per cent using a scrub or wash followed by a moisturiser. Around 17 per cent of women opt for just soap and water and 25 per cent use a facial wipe instead of a cleanser.
As well as the natural ageing process both the perimenopause and menopause can have a considerable impact, with over a third (34 per cent) per cent of women saying that their skin felt drier then.
Skin expert, Gina Akers explains: “Dehydration of the skin is a very real issue, especially as we get older. To keep skin looking healthy and supple, we need to add hydration. We need water-lock formulas to ensure deep hydration that actually lasts.”
GOOD TO GLOW
Here are five top tips for radiant skin from the experts:
1. Eat the rainbow: what you consume can make a real difference to your skin. Try to eat plenty of different coloured vegetables and fruits for a good mix of antioxidants and nutrients that will help skin repair.
2. Stay hydrated: drinking enough water is crucial for healthy skin but be careful not to overhydrate. How much you need to drink every day will depend upon several factors, including your activity level. One of the best ways to see if you are drinking enough is to check the colour of your urine – the optimum is the shade of straw.
3. Regular exercise: doing a workout increases blood flow around the body. This helps skin cells by nourishing them with oxygen and carrying away waste products, like free radicals, from working cells.
4. Wear sunscreen throughout the year: most people assume that sun damage only occurs in the summer, but that’s not always true. Using sun protection on a daily basis will help boost your complexion as you age.
5. Use hero products on your skin: help nature along by choosing the right skincare products for your skin. Hyaluronic acid is a key product to include in your routine.
The benefits of hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is a clear gel that’s made naturally within the body. Its job is to lock in water to keep our skin, connective tissues and eyes hydrated.
Leading women’s health expert, Dr Catherine Hood explains why a moisturiser alone just won’t cut it: “With increasing age the body starts to produce less hyaluronic acid and what it does produce is lower quality. This results in drier, more dehydrated skin and stiffer, creakier joints. To keep skin looking healthy, smooth, and supple, we need to add hydration and it is important to realise that a moisturiser alone will not do that particular job.”
She adds: “Hyaluronic acid, is an effective hydrator but the size of the molecules is key. Large molecules moisturise the surface of the skin, but for deeper skin penetration smaller molecules are necessary.”