These days, anti-ageing seems to be all gadgets, scientific ingredients and laser treatments, but as looking young is an age-old pursuit, perhaps it would be better to look to the past. 2000 years ago, the Empress of China was on top of anti-ageing wellness, as a youthful appearance was responsible for a large part of her power. She handed down her rejuvenating programme to the princesses who followed, and many of these beauty secrets still live on today.
1. Keeping your face toned with facial exercises
To keep those facial muscles tight and toned, repeat these exercises twice a day for five reps. Firstly, raise your eyebrows as high as possible and then relax. Then, try to move your nose from side to side. Puff out you cheeks as much as you can, and then relax. Next, open your mouth as wide as possible and then stick your tongue out as far as it will go and hold for five seconds. Finally, gently stroke your face with a circular motion, and then pinch along the contours of your face with your thumb and first finger on both of your hands.
2. Skin-supple supplements straight from the sea
As you age, your skin starts to lose elastin and collagen, which is why it becomes saggier. However, the empress passed down a skin-beautifying recipe to her princesses which contained sea cucumber. This is actually an animal, rather than a vegetable, which contains essential amino acids that are the building blocks of collagen and elastin. You can find sea cucumber dried in Chinese food stores (for use in soups) or else in supplement form. Remember to consult your doctor before taking any supplements.
3. Get rid of age spots
In traditional Chinese practice, age spots and unwanted skin pigment are wellness problems that need to be treated from the inside out. This means taking supplements, herbs and foods to take care of the wellbeing of your kidneys, as Chinese medicine regards these skin spots as a reflection of a kidney imbalance. Therefore you should try eating black beans, sesame seeds, mulberries, anchovies, sardines Chinese yam, Asian cornelian fruit, and goji or lycium berry. Helpful supplements include alpha-lipoic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine, and quercetin.