FROM luxurious face creams to surgical enhancements, many of us have spent thousands over the years in a bid to stay young.
But longevity expert Leslie Kenny, who has a partner and two daughters, aged 18 and 20, is living proof that you don’t need to spend a small fortune to be wrinkle-free.
Instead, the mother-of-two, who is 60 but has a biological age of 20 according to a science test, has revealed her top five ways to stay young inside and out – and we’re talking no wrinkles and not a grey hair in sight.
And perhaps the best part of all? Her top recommendation costs as little as just 60p.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, Leslie says: “I’m often told that I look much younger all the time.
“At 60, it tells me the sacrifices I make in my lifestyle are paying off in ways that are visible for others.”
For Leslie, those sacrifices came about when, aged 39, in the middle of her 5th IVF round, she was diagnosed with Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
It was so bad that she was told she only had five years left to live, and that she should forget about having children.
But today, she’s autoimmune disease-free, naturally conceived at 43 and is looking and feeling as youthful as ever – so, what are her anti-ageing secrets?
REACH FOR THE AVOCADOS
To keep herself looking fresh, there’s one 60p product that Leslie eats every single morning without fail.
“For a quick beauty hack, beauty really is in from the inside out – so for me, what we eat really does show up on our skin,” she says.
“I reach for avocados in the morning.
“Eating avocado has lots of potential health benefits but what makes them so great for beauty and looking younger is the high levels of glutathione they contain.”
She continues: “Produced in the liver, glutathione is the body’s master antioxidant.
Jojobo oil can help your skin elasticity and adding in a drop of neroli (orange blossom oil), which is cheap, can help with dull skin
Leslie Kenny
“It can help to even out your skin tone and pigmentation and can soften the look of dark age spots too.”
TEA TIME
And if you’re a tea drinker, then we’ve got good news for you!
According to Leslie, oolong tea or green tea, which can be bought for as little as 75p from Sainsbury’s, contains powerful autophagy-activating compounds which are great for age-reversal.
“Catechins are a type of polyphenol, which are natural plant compounds known for their powerful antioxidant properties,” she explains.
“Found abundantly in tea – especially green tea and matcha – catechins help protect cells from damage caused by oxidative stress and inflammation.”
GETTING LIPPY
To keep her skin supple and moisturised, Leslie swears by an organic coconut oil lip balm, which can also be rubbed on hands.
“Jojobo oil is cheap and is great because it’s moisturising but not greasy,” she explains.
“It you can help your skin elasticity and adding in a drop of neroli (orange blossom oil), which is cheap, can help with dull skin.”
TAPE UP
Leslie is also a huge fan of face tape, which she claims can “prevent wrinkles from forming.”
The ‘Real Japanese Face Tape Japana’ by The Natural Faces costs £13.20 for a one-inch roll.
Made in Japan, it utilises “advanced secret Japanese technology” and claims to “improve fine lines and wrinkles naturally”.
HAIR THIS
Leslie continues: “Another thing I do is rinse my hair with cold water – it gives extra smooth and shinier hair!”
As for how cold water helps hair, it seals the hair cuticle, which creates a smoother, shinier, appearance and also reduces frizz and moisture loss.
It can also enhance scalp circulation, which in turn potentially supports hair growth, and helps to preserve the natural oils that keep hair hydrated and prevent dryness.
However, the cleansing power of cold water is limited, and the benefits are temporary; a final rinse with cool water is often recommended rather than washing hair entirely in cold water
She goes on to explain how having a diet rich in spermidine is also a great for looking young and keep those greys away.
“Spermidine is a wonder compound that can be naturally found in many inexpensive foods including shiitake mushrooms, peas and hard or fermented cheese, so I always look to eat spermidine-rich foods early in the day,” she notes.
I’m 60 and I’m proof you don’t have to go grey
Leslie Kenny
“Spermidine is a special combination of amino acids which can induce autophagy (our body’s natural cellular renewal process which declines siginificantly as we get older).
“So, including spermidine in our diet is so important in helping us look younger and an added bonus is that it can also increase the synthesis of elastin and collagen in the skin.”
She adds: “I’m 60 and I’m proof you don’t have to go grey – with good health, spermidine itself has been shown to increase melanin production and has been linked to grey hair reversal due to this.”
RISE AND SHINE
Not only this, but Leslie makes sure she looks after her skin through both SPF and sleep too.
“I wear SPF every day, even if I’m mainly in the house, because you’re still exposed to UV rays when you’re by a window,” she explains.
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She told Fabulous: “The science is evident that we all have the power to make simple life changing alterations to better our future selves – no matter what genetic hand we might have been dealt with.
“The reality is, we all sometimes indulge in unhealthy eating habits like processed foods, smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol, inhaling city pollutants, and even drinking water from plastic bottles – none of this is good for us.
“All this does is promote the ageing process, but we all have the potential to change this.”
It may be hard, but try to keep away from sugary carbohydrates, because they feed chronic inflammation, which is one of the worst enemies of reversing ageing.
Now only will you end up putting on weight if you consume them regularly, but your energy and hormonal levels will be affected and this will influence how you look and feel.
Whatever your age or state of health, it’s never too late to reverse how quickly you are ageing and embrace the energy and vigour of a younger you.
Antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C, and E, are essential in neutralising free radicals—the culprits behind premature ageing.
Integrating a spectrum of colourful fruits and vegetables into your diet provides a potent source of antioxidants.
Omega-3 fatty acids, abundant in fatty fish like salmon and flaxseeds, are vital for maintaining skin elasticity and hydration.
Omega-3s act as nourishment for your skin, locking in moisture and diminishing fine lines and wrinkles.
Collagen, a structural protein dwindling with age, can be replenished through collagen-rich foods like bone broth and lean protein sources.
“And sleep can’t be underestimated for beauty – most of our growth hormone is made during the deepest stages of sleep.
“This acts like a natural repair signal for the body; helping our skin make more collagen and elastin to keep it firm and plump.
“When you don’t sleep enough, this can show as thinner, more fragile skin and your wrinkles become more visible.
“One of the first things I do when I wake up is get outside, as to get enough sleep we actually have to expose our eyes to morning light within the first hour of waking – this cleverly sets our internal timing to make melatonin late afternoon.
“We know this is a sleep hormone but it’s also a powerful antioxidant that helps protect collagen and elastin in the skin.
“It also helps stimulate glutathione, which is a powerful ally in reversing grey hair.”
The 60-year-old also revealed the face tape she swears by[/caption]
