Karen Tee
CNA – If you were one of those people who saw the recent photographs of actress-singer Jennifer Lopez’s wedding to actor Ben Affleck and wondered why the media was suddenly dredging up 20-year-old pictures of the couple, you are not alone.
After all, she certainly looks ageless with dewy, glowing skin, a wrinkle- and blemish-free complexion and an envy-inducing lithe and toned body.
But surprise! These pictures of Bennifer were actually taken earlier in July when the couple, who reunited just months ago, got hitched in a super secret ceremony in Las Vegas – two decades after they initially called off their wedding in 2002.
And even though it is easy to assume that the 53-year-old diva has an army of trainers and doctors to keep her looking not a day over 30, Lopez herself has actually spilled her tricks to looking younger.
She shared on her On The JLo newsletter that her secrets to achieving that “ageless glow” are what she calls The 5S’s – sleep, supplements, sunscreen, serum and sano. The last word is derived from the Spanish term vivir sano, which means living well.
Remarkably, these are actually fairly common sense methods that can help keep ageing woes at bay. Here’s how us non celebrities can take a cue from her routine so that we, too, can look and feel youthful for as long as possible,
SLEEP
Lopez has always talked about the importance of sleep and has said that she tries to get a solid eight hours every night. In fact, experts have long been espousing the wonders of a good night’s sleep in staying healthy and yes, young.
This is because this is when the body repairs itself at the cellular level and new cells are formed. This is also when hormones that regulate metabolism, supports one’s immune function and rejuvenates the organs are released, so that you wake up feeling refreshed.
No wonder then, that sleep deprived individuals tend to sport dull skin and dark eye circles and often feel lethargic through the day.
To try to catch more shut eye, even with a busy schedule, consider cutting back on revenge bedtime procrastination such as late night Netflix binges.
Instead, put your phone away as the blue light emitted from screens is said to induce wakefulness. Read a book instead.
Other activities to put you in a relaxed mood for better sleep include enjoying simple pleasures like sipping a cup of chamomile tea or taking a hot bath.
SUNSCREEN
Besides protecting against skin cancer and sunburns, it is known that SPF protection helps to prevent signs of skin ageing such as wrinkling, formation of spots and the loss of skin elasticity caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation.
The key is to use enough sunscreen and to wear it daily. Beauty educator and makeup artist Larry Yeo suggested using SPF of 50 and above, because most people tend to apply too little product.
Hence a higher SPF will ensure you have enough coverage even if you end up under applying by accident.
You will need to squeeze two to three finger lengths’ worth of sunscreen for enough coverage on your face, back of the ears and neck.
“Spread the sunscreen on your hands and apply the product evenly from the centre of the face outwards to the rest of your face,” said Yeo. “You should also feel like there is a layer on your skin, or else that means you are not getting sufficient protection.”
SERUM
Of course, the savvy Lopez, who has her own beauty brand, will say that she is a fan of serums. Indeed serums – which are typically easily absorbed by the skin and are packed with higher concentrations of active ingredients compared to creams – are a good way to nourish the skin.
Naturally, she says her brand’s serum visibly tightens and brightens her skin like no serum she’s ever tried before.
Or take it from the skin experts and read the ingredients label when you are choosing a serum. For best results, look out for tried and tested anti-ageing ingredients including retinoids, vitamin C, hydroxy acids, niacinamides, ceramides and peptides, the next time you are on the lookout for a new serum to add to your beauty regimen.
SUPPLEMENTS
Beauty starts from within, said Lopez, which is why she reportedly fought to include a supplement in her skincare range. It contains olive extract, vitamin E, manganese and copper to help support the body’s collagen production.
That said, do remember that it is best to adhere to a healthy, balanced diet to meet your nutritional needs, which will naturally keep you looking and feeling in tip top condition. And if you would still like to give your complexion a boost, supplements that have vitamins C, E and K are known to have beneficial effects on the skin.
