A 40-year-old mum who "can't stand the phrase anti-ageing" prefers to view the process as "ageing backwards/ageing well", and has now shared her top tips.
Skincare and beauty content creator Lauren O'Connell regularly gets compliments about her youthful appearance, but regards the ageing process as a "privilege and a blessing".
With this in mind, she's shared her wisdom on "ageing well at 40 years old", and many have been left taking appreciative notes.
Kickstarting her video in a refreshingly age-positive way, Lauren began: "For me, ageing is a privilege and a blessing and I'm doing it well – I am ageing well.
"And, to be honest with you, I think I'm ageing backwards. I feel younger both inside and outside and I look younger than I ever have."
In her vid, Lauren, who shares content under the username @lauren.o.connell, revealed that how she's incorporated a number of beneficial things into her "daily practices".
When it comes to her diet, Lauren, who lives in Dubai, has cut back on both sugar and whey protein, and eschews both caffeine and alcohol as she found that these were "killing her complexion".
The Dubai based mum-of-two, who works as the beauty editor for Cosmopolitan Middle East magazine, also makes sure to care for herself on the inside, as well as the outside.
She advised: "The number one tip is something I've had to work on so hard for the last five years of my life and that is confidence and self-advocating.
"I just did not do this for the majority of my life – I always let people make decisions for me, and I was a people pleaser."
After listening to fellow YouTubers about issues surrounding self-doubt, Lauren began to "build herself up" and is now filled with confidence and self-belief.
Lauren continued: "Going into this whole confidence and self-advocating avenue has been incredibly gratifying for me and it really has helped me to age well."
Although she isn't religious, Lauren also makes sure to have a "spiritual connection", and makes sure to meditate daily.
Opening up about she incorporates this into her routine, Lauren, who wrote the ebook Manifest Like Lauren, said: "I actually have a morning ritual where after I get the kids to school, I then meditate for about 10 to 20 minutes, and I journal every single morning.
"I write down what I'm grateful for and I'll pick three or four things that have happened to me within the last 24 hours that I'm grateful for."
Lauren then went on to share her tried and trusted skincare routine, revealing: "I have studied the ingredients that go into skincare for quite some time.
"Having the right ingredients in my skincare routine has just changed my entire look, my skin and truly has made me age backwards.
"It's using the right Vitamin C, the right Retinol, peptides, antioxidants and the right moisturisers and hydraters."
The skincare guru is particularly fond of CeraVe’s Hydrating Facial Cleanser and The Ordinary’s Squalane Cleanser.
When it comes to getting enough exercise, Lauren, who also shares her beauty wisdom via her Instagram and TikTok accounts, has found that she doesn't actually like gruelling workouts such as running and burpees.
Instead, Lauren opts for exercises that she does enjoy and encourages others wanting to age well to do the same.
Do you have a story about 'ageing well' to share? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com
