Are children really using anti-ageing products? Our children fear hitting 30, let alone 50. And it has become increasingly apparent that anti-ageing products and plastic surgery is rife amongst Gen Z and Alpha.

A quick look at TikTok will horrify you on this score. Many young people and even children touting and posting the use of anti-ageing products. But with all the positive ageing messaging we have now, why are our kids terrified of ageing? What is going on?

We’ve faced our fair share of beauty standards across the decades. And we know that some days it’s easier than others to embrace the fine lines and love the wrinkles. But we also know ageing has its own beauty. The tales of laughter, late nights talking, and a life well-enjoyed are in every laughter line. We are increasingly able to celebrate the evidence of a life well lived.

Even mainstream media figures are saying a big eff-you to outdated beauty messages

Over the past decade or so, our acceptance of the ageing process has powered a pro-ageing movement. And this is particularly evident in the beauty industry. Products now support maturing skin with a pro-ageing message, rather than shaming it with ‘anti-ageing’ ranges.

Even mainstream media figures are saying a big eff-you to outdated beauty messages, and the idea that women become past it once they hit a certain look or age. Check out Nicole Kidman in 2022’s Vanity Fair cover, or And Just Like That normalising women over 50 wearing bold prints and trendy items and unashamed grey hair. We’re – thankfully – getting miles away from the phrase ‘dress your age.’ And hey, Pamela Anderson, I’m looking at you, with your fresh-faced confidence… you go girl!

So why is it, that with a generation of older women – older people in fact – to look up to, who are openly embracing maturity and challenging the idea that beauty is reserved for the young, we’re seeing under 30s getting Botox and plastic surgery? Meanwhile, even more worrying, under 18s are so afraid of a single fine line, they’re putting anti-ageing skincare on their Christmas wish lists.

Packing plastic

People are cutting and injecting themselves for cosmetic purpose more than ever before. Plastic surgery procedures increased by 102 per cent in 2022. With breast augmentation, tummy tucks, and liposuction being the most popular among women, who made up 93 per cent.

Nose jobs, chest reductions, and eyelid adjustments were top dog among the men who went under the knife. Under 34s are the highest demographic undergoing breast augmentation procedures.

The number of young people investing in preventative Botox has also increased, with many in their mid-twenties getting the injections to keep wrinkles at bay.

‘Preventative Botox’ has become a hot topic online. The hashtag for Botox has over one million videos on TikTok, with the top videos amassing 2-4 million views.

Over two-thirds of TikTok’s usership is made up of 18-34-year-olds. Young people are engaging in content which positions Botox and other cosmetic procedures as standard, common even. When you’re seeing countless people sharing their experience or recommendations for fillers, it’s gradually going to become as trivial as trying the latest viral foundation. Perhaps it’s just a way to try and get a face that looks like it’s filtered in real life?

Attainable attraction

In the eighties and nineties, you’d really only see augmented beauty in magazines, or posters. These days, Gen Z and Alpha open their phones and are confronted with endless images of influencers and celebrities. Many of these faces are supporting plumped lips, refined noses, and sculpted jaws. Never mind the filters that give you flawless skin, or even a full face of makeup. With this pressure from infinitely tweaked faces, it seems young people have become afraid of their natural, asymmetrical beauty, warping what is considered attractive.

Once considered an exclusive and unattainable way to update appearances, treatments are far more accessible to the wider population

The invention of silicon and cosmetic technologies in the sixties led to the rich and famous adjusting their appearance through cosmetic surgery. Once considered an exclusive and unattainable way to update appearances, treatments are far more accessible to the wider population. Botox injections can set you back by as little as £100 in the UK (essentially the price of a new coat, or a pair of trainers). Plus, medical tourism offers cheaper prices for these procedures, making for an appealing option – after all, you get a built-in holiday too.

Over the last decade, we’ve seen the discussions around medical beauty treatments everywhere. The Kardashians discussing their lip fillers, surgeons online breaking down a celebrity’s latest cosmetic work, and Love Island contestants sharing what they’ve had done. When you feel like everyone’s doing it, it’s understandable more people will gravitate towards it. Attitudes change, as cosmetic surgery has gone from being perceived as exclusive to something everyone can do.

Alpha’s anti-ageing frenzy

Although these treatments are illegal to perform on under 18s, that hasn’t stopped Gen Alpha from getting involved with anti-ageing effects. Earlier this year, dermatologists spoke out about the dangers of parents buying their children skincare products with highly active ingredients.

This comes from the recent boom of tweens pining after expensive retinol and vitamin C serums. Online trends where young women share their ‘get unready with me’ (GRWM) routines are packed with colourfully packaged products with fun names, like Watermelon Glow Serum, which contains hyaluronic acid. These products aren’t necessary for young skin, and can damage their sensitive faces.

Whilst part of Gen Alpha’s motivation may be to assimilate with the online community of women sharing their routines, the attraction to ‘anti-ageing’ results is worrying. Children shouldn’t be worrying about signs of ageing; in fact no one should be worried about it. For far too long youth has been equated with beauty and worth, and it’s causing anxiety and harm to our children and grandchildren.

I can’t help but wonder, with existing concerns of social media impacting mental health and self-worth on the young now, will that intensify as they do age and develop a tapestry of life experience on their skin? I can’t believe children are already using anti-ageing products I’m only in my 20s and I feel the pressure. It’s everywhere.

Impacts on ageism

Fears of ageing shouldn’t be intensifying, but lessening. I’d hoped that the next generation would learn from the OGs here. After all, maturity should be championed and seen as a blessing, rather than something to slap plaster on. And certainly not something to be avoided by pumping chemicals into your face before you’re barely in double figures.

Young people’s desperation to take up whatever’s available to slow ageing is a disheartening sight.  We know that ageing skin isn’t a curse, but our young people might not reach acceptance of that fact until the damage is done.

Perhaps we need more untouched and mature faces online to counteract young people’s perceptions of what normal is. I don’t think it’s the entire responsibility of over 50s to resolve this issue. However, there could be a positive influence made by sharing the beauty and comfort of silver skin and drowning out the noise of filtered faces and altered bodies. The fight against ageism continues, and we’re going to keep on flying the flag. Whatever our age. We never thought we’d see children using anti-ageing products, but here we are.

Lana Hall

Lana can usually be found spinning her collection of records, or writing odd poems in her phone notes. Her mixer of choice is a ginger beer, and you’ll never find her away from the sea for more than a few weeks.

The post Why are school children using anti-ageing skincare products appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Having spent time asking you, we know that you feel skin, body, and wellbeing products are aimed at younger people. So we decided it was time to address this. Silver Lifestyle includes a new pro-ageing products range that includes skincare, shower and bath, smellies, hair stuff. The Silver Lifestyle brand also now includes Silver Retreats.

…we know that you feel skin, body, and wellbeing products are aimed at younger people

Those of you who already know us will know the Silver Retreats are not going to be like other retreats. Yes, there will be yoga and meditation, but we’re going to change up the dynamic a bit. Want to know more? Read this – and sign up for the Silver Lifestyle newsletter, where you’ll get info about all this first.

All the Silver Lifestyle options have been created with you in mind. That is, if you are over 45 and bored to tears of everything being focused on younger people.

There are MILLIONS of us!

As of 2021, there are approximately 20 million people in the UK aged over 45. And roughly the same number of people aged between 20 and 44*.

Arguably, that means nearly half the adult population is over 45, and it’s growing.

High time there were products and events created especially for you, right?

Want to be the first to know about the products and retreats before anyone else? Get money off stuff? Join the Lifestyle group newsletter list HERE.

Silver Lifestyle

We’re launching a beautiful range of beauty, body, hair, and happiness products. We made them with natural ingredients, 100% cruelty-free, and almost entirely vegan.

The range has been designed to be suitable for all skin types – we love it, and we hope you will too. We will be starting off with a small range, see what you all like, and build from there.

We’re not full of hot air

Let’s be clear though. We aren’t here to make any wild claims about ‘turning back the clock’ or working miracles. Nothing in a jar is going to make you look 25 again.

The Silver range is here to enhance your skin. To support, love, and nurture you. To make you feel lush; to plump your skin a bit, and make you glow. We treat you with the respect you deserve, and so do our products.

We are pro-ageing, not anti-ageing

Ageing is a natural part of life, and your skin is a testament to your journey. Give it some love.

Every little line on your face is part of you –the life you’ve lived; your adventures, your journey. We embrace our age, as it brings not only wisdom and experience, but character and grace to your face.

We don’t judge. You do you. But our beautiful skin and body range is here to love you, not fix you. Think of it as a heavenly-smelling, luxurious hug for your skin and body.

Silver Lifestyle Shop site

Get your Silver on! Sign up for Silver Lifestyle news, special offers, giveaways, all that jazz…

Read more: Want to generate more collagen using diet and nutrition?

Sam Harrington-Lowe

Sam is Silver’s founder and editor-in-chief. She’s largely responsible for organising all the things, but still finds time to do the odd bit of writing. Not enough though. Send help.

The post Silver Lifestyle has launched – skincare and retreats with a difference. Step this way… appeared first on Silver Magazine.

If you’re keen to boost your collagen but you’re not mad for going the marine route, and would rather something vegan or vegetarian, don’t worry. What you eat can really make a difference.

If you want to know more about how to generate more collagen in a vegan or vegetarian diet, read this article.

This tasty and easy-to-make tofu rice bowl is vegan and includes lots of the nutrients needed to help your body boost its collagen. It’s a superfood meal that packs a delicious garlicky, gingery punch.

Vegan Collagen Bowl (serves 2)

Ingredients

• 100g short grain brown rice (or brown basmati if you can’t find short grain)
• 1 vegetable stock cube
• 300g firm tofu
• 2tbsp cold-pressed olive oil
• 3-4tbsp tamari or soy sauce
• 1/2 thumb fresh ginger, grated
• 1 bulb garlic, minced or finely chopped
• 100g green beans
• 1 onion
• 50g pine nuts
• 200g spinach
• 1-2tbsp tahini
• Approx. 1 cup water

Method

Ideally soak the rice overnight in water then rinse well before starting.

1. Bring the rice to the boil in a pan of water with the vegetable stock cube crumbled in then simmer, covered. It will need about 40-45 minutes

2. Slice the tofu into cubes and marinade in a mixture of olive oil, tamari or soya sauce, ginger and garlic

3. Top and tail the green beans and chop them into 2cm lengths, and add them to the cooking rice about 15-20 minutes in

4. Finely chop the onion and fry until soft and starting to caramelise – then keep in a small bowl ready to stir into the rice later

5. Gently stir fry the tofu and pine nuts until starting to brown – you may not need any extra oil as the marinade coating the tofu may be enough – keep the marinade separate for the sauce

6. Steam or boil the spinach for 1-2 minutes, until it softens

7. Vigorously stir the tahini into the marinade, gradually adding water until the consistency is of a thick but pourable sauce

8. Time for assembly: drain the rice and beans, stirring in the onions, and serve into bowls; layer the spinach on top, sprinkle the tofu and pine nuts to make the final layer, and serve with a jar or small bowl of the tahini dressing.

Kirsten Chick

Kirsten Chick is a nutritional therapist and lecturer, and author of Nutrition Brought to Life.

www.kirstenchick.com

The post Vegan collagen-boosting bowl recipe appeared first on Silver Magazine.

Wrinkles and fine lines are signs that we’re still here, have lived to tell the tale, and perhaps gained some wisdom and insights along the way. One of which might be that it’s totally fine to want to keep your skin looking and feeling vibrant if you want to. The benefits of collagen can do just that, even if you’re vegan.

In fact, nourishing your skin can not only make you feel and look great, it also keeps you healthy. Your skin is an integral part of your immune system, forming a physical barrier to many toxins.

The same nutrients that keep your skin youthful are needed for flexible joints, strong bones and a healthy gut, too. They’re all made of connective tissue, and so all require the same raw materials. The largest of which is collagen.

What does collagen do?

The underlying layer of your skin (your dermis), is made up of 95 per cent collagen proteins, and these are what enable your skin to ping back if you tug at it. You tend to produce fewer of these as you age, and your skin starts to lose its ping-back-ability. Instead, gravity wins out, causing sagging, drooping and wrinkling. When you frown, laugh and express yourself, your face stops smoothing itself out again as fully as before.

There are now lots of studies showing the benefits of marine and bovine collagen supplements

Added to this is photoageing caused by sun damage: those pesky ultraviolet rays. Year in year out, your skin works hard to repair itself, each time creating tiny layers of scar tissue. This scar tissue builds up to form wrinkles, rough skin, brown spots and other pigmentation changes. Cigarette smoke and pollution impair collagen fibres further, and you might also be genetically structured in a way that makes you more susceptible to collagen damage.

The good news is that adding ready-made collagen can help. There are now lots of studies showing the benefits of marine and bovine collagen supplements on dry, wrinkly and damaged skin.

But what if you’re vegetarian or vegan?

There are new vegan laboratory-engineered products, like Vollagen that contains the same range and ratios of amino acids as collagen, and PrimaColl, which mimics its structure. These are very new, and initial reports seem promising. You can also increase your intake of nutrients that help you to make more of your own collagen, as well as protect the collagen that’s already there. Here’s how you can do that on a vegan or vegetarian diet.

Silver’s Pro Ageing Stem Cell Regenerator Serum is vegan, 100% natural, and collagen-free

Collagen ingredients

The actual ingredients you need to make collagen are fairly simple, as it’s a protein structure – so you just need amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.

Amino acids

Eating more tofu can help

Collagen is made of 18 different amino acids, and you should be able to consume or make plenty of those from a vegan or vegetarian diet – but not everyone does. So here are tips for getting enough amino acids into a plant-based diet:

• Have tofu, tempeh, beans, chickpeas or lentils with every meal
• Also include a variety of nuts and seeds
• Vary your grains: wheat, oats, rice, barley, rye and millet all contain small amounts of protein, as does quinoa
• The more different kinds of all of these things you include over a typical day or week, the more different kinds of amino acid you will have
• This will also provide a better variety of plant fibres, which should help your microbiome do a better job of keeping your skin healthy

If you are vegetarian, the same applies, but you can also include eggs and dairy products, such as cheese and milk, as these are also rich in amino acids.

Your body will use vitamins and nutrients, like vitamin C and iron, when repurposing these amino acids into collagen. It’s likely that you’ll already have a some of these nutrients in your diet already. However, if you don’t have enough, you’ll need to make some changes to your diet to increase these nutrients. 

Learn how to get more of these nutrients in part 2 – How to generate more collagen in a vegan or vegetarian diet.

Kirsten Chick

Kirsten Chick is a nutritional therapist and lecturer, and author of Nutrition Brought to Life.

www.kirstenchick.com

The post The benefits of collagen in your diet – and what if you’re vegan? appeared first on Silver Magazine.