Trends

Is biohacking the secret to youthful, ageless skin?

1 August, 2024 . 0

Want to reverse ageing? From superfoods to smart skincare, biohacking provides powerful tools to keep your skin looking young and vibrant.

Our eternal quest for longevity is long documented, and although life expectancy has steadily improved over the years, there are always promising new ways to dial back the biological clock.

Biohacking is the latest trend.

This involves holistic and science-backed wellness habits designed to “hack” the body to be its very best.

But as well as improving and extending the quality of life, “biohackers” now hope to reduce the signs of premature ageing.

Eating for your skin

You may have seen, via BeautyTok, that superfoods such as bone broth, which is collagen-rich, and sea moss gel, thought to support collagen production, are trending.

What’s this all about?

With age, our collagen levels decline and wrinkles appear, and many believe these superfoods will benefit their skin.

While there’s a lack of research showing eating collagen directly benefits skin health, some high-protein foods are believed to nurture collagen production in the body, including fish, eggs, meat, legumes, dairy and soy, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Diet has also been linked to living longer.

You may have heard of the blue zone diet, which has strong ties with the world’s longest-living populations.

According to nutritional scientist and dietitian Dr Tim Crowe, the three core pillars of the blue zone diet centre around eating mostly plants, staying physically active and keeping socially connected.

“Choosing mostly seasonal fruits and vegetables and a variety of legumes, nuts, seeds and grains is the cornerstone of the blue zone dietary pattern,” Dr Crowe explains.

New skin technology and devices

Adequate sleep and exercise have long been known to support good health, but it wasn’t until sleep and fitness trackers came along that many people really started to prioritise their sleep quality and how many steps they were clocking.

The beauty industry is witnessing a similar techno embrace in the form of at-home cosmetic light therapy masks, which aim to rejuvenate the skin, and microcurrent devices such as NuFace, which are being touted as tools to tighten and lift the skin, although further research is needed to substantiate such claims.

BeautyTok has also emerged as an educational platform for skincare, equipping everyday Australians with an understanding of the evidence-based ingredients that are linked to improved skin texture and reduced fine lines, such as retinol, vitamin C and chemical exfoliants.

Holistic approaches

Also on the rise are non-invasive body treatments such as massage and dry body brushing.

Massage may improve blood flow and relieve stress, subjectively contributing to a more youthful appearance, while dry body brushing can exfoliate rough skin and increase blood circulation for a radiant glow.

Holistic practices such as mindfulness, meditation and playing soothing chakra music intertwine with the calming massages Sunshine Coast beauty therapist Katie Brigette offers clients.

“We’re inundated with new products in the beauty industry, but I like to keep things simple with lovely oils such as jojoba and coconut oil, in conjunction with Japanese skincare such as rice polish, which is a great gentle exfoliant,” Katie says.

Preventative mindset

Beauty Hub Sydney founder Sheryl Perez is a proponent of biohacking, and is keen to see how the beauty industry will navigate the longevity movement.

“Biohacking and the desire for longevity adds another dimension to the services we provide at my clinic,” Sheryl says.

“More clients are coming in with a preventative mindset ahead of the desire for enhancement, which of course involves different treatments and services in turn.”

She predicts biohacking could give rise to more individual-based beauty services that offer a more targeted approach.

“This approach allows individuals to tailor treatments to their unique biological needs, moving away from the traditional one-size-fits-all approach,” she says.

What began as a wellness buzzword has grown into a global movement already said to be worth billions.

Biohacking beauty might be in its infancy, but it’s clear that our insatiable quest for longevity isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

More on skincare and ageing:

Written by Charlotte Brundrett.