Between the stresses of work, parenting, being a good person, and other daily stresses, you’ve probably developed a few age marks. Wrinkles are inevitable, and although you’ve probably earned every single one of them, you probably don’t want them showing too early.
Wrinkles are a natural part of aging, but if you often laugh, frown, raise your eyebrows, or participate in other repeated expressions, lines can permanently form on your face. Once they’re present, it’s not easy to get rid of them.
These wrinkles can’t be avoided forever, but there are some things you can do to slow them down without a lot of time and effort on your part.
1. Try Natural Remedies
Over time, skin loses its collagen, which makes it less flexible. The tight surface gives way to wrinkles, and some of the harsh chemicals often found in facial products can exacerbate the problem.
Natural remedies can help to reverse this problem. Some of the best wrinkle-fighting home remedies include
• Oils such as olive or coconut
• Foods high in anti-oxidants like blueberries
• Banana and oatmeal face masks
• Egg white face masks
• Lemon juice and honey
• Aloe Vera
Any of these remedies applied a couple of times per week can help to minimize pores and banish wrinkles.
2. Minimize Risk Factors
Certain things accelerate the formation of wrinkles. Exposure to ultraviolet light (the sun) is the number one cause of wrinkles. People who like to tan, naturally or in a tanning booth, are at a much higher risk for developing wrinkles. You can save yourself a lot of trouble by simply skipping the tanning bed, especially at a young age.
Smoking can also contribute to increased wrinkles. A study from St. Thomas Hospital in London discovered that those who smoked had more wrinkled skin, and they were 40 percent heavier than non-smokers. Eliminating this bad habit can make a huge difference for your skin and overall health.
3. Wear Sunscreen
Obviously, you can’t avoid the sun completely, and you probably don’t want to. The sun is essential for your emotional well-being, as it helps with the production of vitamin D. When you don’t get enough vitamin D, it can cause a chemical imbalance, manifested by depression and anxiety.
Wear sunscreen when you go outside, especially if you’re outside when the sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If nothing else, put sunscreen on your face. Look for a moisturizer with sunscreen built in so that it’s part of your daily skincare routine.
4. Use Over-the-Counter Creams
Although natural remedies can be extremely useful in diminishing wrinkles, there are many over-the-counter creams that show promising effects. Look for creams with the following ingredients for best results:
• Topical vitamin C
• Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs)
• Retinoids (Retin A)
• Idebenone
These antioxidants and other natural chemicals can promote collagen production in your skin. The more elastic your skin is, the less prone you’ll be to wrinkles.
5. Get a Face Lift Consultation
Although a face lift procedure seems like a major thing, it’s actually one of the most low-maintenance solutions on this list. The recovery time can take up to two weeks, but after it’s done, your skin will be tighter and you’ll have longer lasting effects than any over-the-counter cream can offer.
6. Sleep Better
A good night’s sleep is the secret to many health problems, and fighting wrinkles is included in that long list. According to Yale dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, MD, getting adequate sleep is the secret to more elastic skin. When you fail to get your full 8-10 hours each night, your body produces too much cortisol, which breaks down skin cells.
When you manage your full eight hours, your body will produce more human growth hormone (HGH), which thickens your skin and gives it the elasticity it needs to avoid wrinkles. What’s more, you’ll avoid unsightly bags under your eyes that can quicken the effects of aging.
7. Eat Better
If you’re not including the right foods in your diet, you’ll struggle to maintain the thick, elastic skin that will keep you looking young. To begin with, you need more fish, namely salmon, to increase your consumption of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are good fats that plump your skin and keep you looking youthful.
Soy is another great food for your skin because of its ability to repair damage. The sun and other bad habits can lead to increased wrinkles, and soy has been known to improve the structure and firmness of the skin.
Fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants can also prevent the onset of wrinkles. The antioxidants common in berries and leafy greens fight free radicals on the skin. In turn, your skin will look younger and healthier.
In this case, you really are what you eat. A healthy diet will help to return some of the firmness, radiance, and elasticity, while a fatty, unhealthy diet will strip it of essential nutrients.
8. Stay Moisturized
Hydration of the skin is one of the simplest, but most effective anti-aging solutions around. We often put a lot of stock into anti-aging creams, but if you simply moisturize your skin daily, you’ll see incredible results.
Apply moisturizer liberally to the neck and face morning and night. Avoid harsh cleansers that will dry out your skin and make it peel. The more hydration you allow to enter your skin, the easier it will repair itself and retain its natural, effervescent glow.