Longevity expert says little-known molecule slows ageing, ‘great alternative to Botox’ could prevent new wrinkles

A longevity expert has revealed the must-have products to combat the signs of ageing without Botox.

Among her tips is to add a teaspoon of a lesser known molecule to your face mask to boost collagen and elastin.

Leslie Kenny, who divides her time between California and Oxford, is the founder of supplement brand Oxford Health Span.

She also runs a nonprofit dedicated to making longevity research accessible to all.

In an interview with The Sun, she revealed the secret she relies on to maintain her youthful appearance.

Perfect food

Kenny said focusing on nutrition helps keep her skincare routine to a minimum.

She frequently eats “collagen-rich foods” like bone broth and takes supplements like Davinia Taylor’s Will Powder, which is made from grass-fed Swedish beef.

She also takes four tablespoons of collagen every day.

The amount of collagen intake varies from person to person depending on age and needs.

“You’ve probably heard of collagen, but you may not know about spermidine,” she said.

“This is a powerful longevity molecule that we all produce naturally when we’re young, but it declines as we age.

“The main mechanism is to address the underlying causes of aging, such as stem cell dysfunction, inflammation, and gut microbiome dysbiosis, and promote cell regeneration.”

Kenny revealed that he’s a “huge fan” of Living Libations, the beauty brand founded by philosopher and Renegade Beauty author Nadine Artemis.

“My go-to is to mix a sea buckthorn face mask with half a teaspoon of Primedyne Spermidine powder,” she said.

“Healthy bacteria on the skin increases spermidine, which in turn increases collagen and elastin.”

Kenny said that while it’s important to wear SPF every day, you can also protect your skin from the inside out by eating foods rich in astaxanthin, such as wild-caught salmon.

Healthy eating, daily exercise, social interaction, a sense of purpose and stress management are the foundations – without them, other measures will be less effective.

Leslie Kenny

“Sunscreen is your number one tool in your anti-aging skincare routine, and applying it from the inside out will cover you if you forget to apply sunscreen,” she says.

DIY Treatments

Mr Kenny said face taping was a “great” alternative to Botox.

She uses Japanese face tape from The Natural Faces, which is made from “gentle” materials.

“It uses special tape to stop your face from moving while you sleep, which helps prevent new wrinkles from forming,” she says.

She also uses an electrical stimulation device called the Nu Skin AgeLoc Boost System to keep her skin looking youthful.

“Just a few minutes a day can help strengthen the muscles that give your face structure,” she says.

“Think of your skin as the clothing and your muscles and bones as the hangers on which you hang the clothing.

“When the hangers start to rust and break down, the skin also rusts and breaks down, causing sagging and drooping.”

Beauty Basics

Kenny said a healthy diet, daily exercise and stress management were the “cornerstones” of slowing the signs of ageing.

She claimed that the popular supplement resveratrol wasn’t necessary to see visible results.

“To get a minimally effective dose of this molecule, you need at least one gram per day, and that’s prohibitively expensive to obtain,” she said.

“There is a better product you can use to get the same effect: spermidine.

“Don’t believe the myth that red wine contains so much resveratrol that you can drink a bottle of it every week.

“The amount is very small.

“If you want to drink, drink to feel happy and be sociable with your friends.”