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Sprightly skin: how to tighten your skin

A holistic approach to tighten your facial skin

Ageing is a natural part of life but practising mindful skin habits can help combat skin sagging and with the right approach, achieving healthy and glowing skin is a definite possibility.

Start by cutting down on your sugar intake, because sugar equals skin sagging. To keep your skin looking youthful, remember to 'eat the rainbow' i.e. Consume a variety of vegetables and fruit in different colours. Another essential trick is to control your stress levels and get at least six to eight hours of sleep per night. Sleep is incredibly important and healing for your skin health. Long-term sleep deprivation can actually lead to skin sagging as the collagen in your skin is broken down.

Daily mediation is scientifically proven to slow down the ageing process, by increasing your oxygen intake. Oxygen helps to balance your body, regulate your hormones and rejuvenate your skin from the inside out.

In order to maintain a youthful complexion, remember to cleanse your skin at night before going to bed. No matter your gender - wearing make - up or no make-up- it is absolutely essential to cleanse your skin and take off the day.

Another essential product to prevent ageing skin is sunscreen. It's not just the uv rays from the sun but also the blue light from our phones and screens that cause photodamage. Adding retinol to

Your skincare routine will also help to boost your dermal levels and improve skin elasticity, collagen production and firm your skin.

Pick products that support your skin journey, such as a serum and a product-specific for your neck.

For those looking to define and sculpt your jawline and facial features, look out for the gua-sha. It helps to release muscular tension, improve circulation and lymphatic flow. A lot of people tend to hold a lot of tension in the muscles of their face, which can lead to fluid retention and enlarged muscle tone.

Applying some jojoba oil will help you create this slip and glide while working on your skin. For creating a firming and lifting effect - use upwards motions. If you feel puffy, use downwards motions on the neck all the way to your clavicle bones.

Men who are looking for a sharper and more defined jawline should shave the upper part of their beard on the cheeks. By doing so, their face will automatically look narrower and make the cheekbones pop.

One of my favourite DIY masks for keeping pores tight and skin firm is:

1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup yoghurt and 1/2 cup mashed strawberries. Add in a few spoons of fresh avocado and a splash of organic olive oil for extra hydration. Leave on for five to ten minutes and remove with a damp muslin cloth.

Your mental health and thoughts also play a very important role in how your facial skin looks. So be kind and gentle to yourself; start your day by mentioning three things you love about yourself. Do that for a week and try to notice the shift that will occur in your body and mind.

Remember skin care and skin health is a marathon - not a sprint. Be happy, consistent and make self-care a priority for life.]

Julie Lemke is a holistic medical aesthetician at HER skin studio