'I'm approaching 40 but look younger than I did in my twenties'
A woman approaching 40 looks younger than she did in her twenties - and claims it's all down to turmeric and not stressing over things out of her control.
Adriana Krzesniak, 39, credits the spice with helping her look so youthful - and also says smothering her skin in SPF and maintaining a healthy mindset have helped too.
She says she looked "so much older" when she was in her twenties - "cooped up and miserable".
Adriana felt she was given a "second life" when she left her husband at the age of 32 and moved to Stuttgart, Germany, to pursue her dream career in fashion.
She started reading self-help books and decided to stop stressing about things out of her control.
Struggling to get pregnant throughout her twenties, Adriana has battled fertility issues but is still trying for a baby with her new husband, Kamel Krzesniak, 32, a film maker.
Adriana says she owes her perfect complexion to a healthy mindset, a simple skincare routine and a nutritious diet - which includes turmeric on most meals.
Adriana, a visual merchandiser, originally from a small town outside of Warsaw, Poland said: "In my 20s I always had this impression I had something to prove and there was so many expectations and now I am more at peace with myself and I have stopped stressing.
"I started reading self help books and decided to stop looking for validation in other people.
"My skincare routine is very simple, I swear by superfoods, water and SPF.
"The last time I was stressed was when I went through my divorce in 2016.
"I’ve been through IVF and have miscarried twice, but I keep a positive mindset as is something so out of my control.
"Kamel and I are still trying but plan to adopt if it doesn't work."
She added: "I spent my twenties trying for a baby
“I feel like I have had two lives, my first life was so different.
“When I was in my twenties I was stuck in my hometown where everyone knew everyone.
“I had my own business selling shoes which was very successful but I always wanted to get out.
“I felt like I was living for my ex-husband instead of myself.”
Six years ago she divorced her ex and moved to Warsaw, Poland, and then on to Stuttgart, Germany to start her career as a visual merchandiser.
“The move transformed my style and social media helped me to curate my own style," she said.
"When I was younger I always wanted to look older, I would wear high heels and dresses to look more feminine.
"Now I have my own original style, I love the 2000s aesthetic and oversized clothing, people often stop me in the street to compliment how I dress."
The fashionista also has 1ml of hyaluronic acid in her smile lines every two years and 0.5ml in her lips each year.
"I look younger than I did in my twenties now I'm approaching my forties," Adriana said.
“My smile lines have changed the shape of my face and have made me look younger.
“A 24-year-old at work asked me out on a date the other week, I said I have a husband and was too old for him.
“When I told him my age, he was shocked, he thought I was 22.”
Adriana also owes her youthful look to her petite stature - and is only 5ft 4ins.
She also wonders if the fact she sleeps without a pillow has stopped her developing wrinkles.
"When I was 12 I had scoliosis and my mum told me to sleep flat on my back without a back, and that is the way I have slept ever since," she said.
"I don't wake up with sleep lines so maybe this could have had an effect."
She swears by drinking lots of water - drinking at least two and a half litres a day - and plastering on suncream for a flawless complexion.
Adriana says she wouldn’t say no to Botox - although she claims she has never had it before.
She has undergone radiofrequency therapy - a non-surgical skin tightening procedure - and has even bought her own machine so she can do it at home.
Adriana says she stays young with a healthy balanced diet - eating lots of superfoods including: turmeric, black cumin oil, millet and nutritional yeast.
She only eats meat two to three times a week and won't touch processed kinds.
Every day she tucks into buckwheat porridge, with millet and turmeric - followed by something light such as avocado on toast.
Later on, she will eat a healthy cooked dinner - her favourites are vegetarian chilli con carne and vegan paella.
She also uses retinol serum every day after she has cleansed with micellar water and a moisturiser - and she uses a face mask once or twice a month.
When going through IVF treatment, Adriana can't use retinol as much and has to use a
Adriana added: “I had never washed my face with tap water until the age of 35 but when I went for radiofrequency therapy, they advised me I should.
"I only used to use micellar water."
The fashionista’s style has even changed, she says she dresses more fashionably now and is less shy to wear what she loves.
She said: “As 40 is around the corner I’m apprehensive but I’m so happy I have found stability in my life and self-confidence.”
Adriana's top tips for youthful looks -
- Eating turmeric, millet, nutritional yeast and black cumin oil
- Drink at least two and a half litres of water a day
- Protect your skin from the sun
- Strop stressing about things out of your control