Do you want to learn how to fight facial wrinkles and lines? Aging is a natural part of life, but that doesn’t mean you have to look older than you are! These nine secrets to younger-looking skin can be used by anyone looking to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles without resorting to surgery or Botox injections. Follow these simple steps to keep your skin looking young and vibrant well into your golden years!
1) Protect your skin from the sun.
Facial wrinkles and lines aren’t inevitable, and you can avoid them—or at least delay their appearance—by protecting your skin from UV rays. Many people don’t wear sunscreen because they hate how it feels or because they think they don’t need it since they live in a relatively cool climate. These are big mistakes. The sun is almost always harmful to your skin, regardless of its temperature, so every day wears a moisturizer with an SPF of 30 or higher. When you go out in direct sunlight, make sure to put on a high-SPF sunscreen—at least SPF 50 for face and neck protection; also consider wearing long sleeves when possible. A hat with a brim that shades your face completely is also essential for cutting down on UV exposure.
2) Use a moisturizer every day
Using a moisturizer every day helps your skin stay soft and smooth. Look for a daily moisturizer with SPF to help protect your skin from UV rays, pollution, and other damaging environmental factors. Also, make sure you’re drinking enough water; dehydration dries out your skin quickly. If you notice new wrinkles or lines appearing on your face, consult with a professional—some are caused by underlying medical conditions like dehydration and others are early signs of aging that need specific treatments.
3) Reduce sugar intake
Sugar makes our hunger cravings fluctuate quickly, meaning we end up consuming even more calories over the course of the day. If you’re trying to lose weight, it’s a good idea to monitor your intake of sugar and refined carbs. To drop these extra pounds safely but quickly, switch to a sugar-free diet. It is said that people who do so see results in just two weeks or less! Studies suggest that when people decrease their consumption of high fructose corn syrup (found in sweetened sodas), they experience an average loss of 1.1 lb per week; those following a low glycemic index plan lost about 2 lbs per week. Many experts believe that cutting out processed foods with added sugars can help you reach your ideal weight faster than other diets.
4) Stay hydrated
Keeping your skin hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your complexion. When it comes to taking care of your skin, drinking water should be at or near the top of your list. Water helps flush out toxins from your body, which can help diminish inflammation and improve moisture levels in your skin—two factors that make it look younger. To stay hydrated, try carrying a reusable water bottle with you throughout your day (at work, while running errands). Keep track of how much you drink! A good rule of thumb: Drink half your weight in ounces every day (in pounds, that’s about 11 cups). If the glass isn’t enough, count your sips!
5) Lower alcohol consumption
The first and most important thing you can do for your skin is eliminated all alcohol from your diet. It dehydrates your body and speeds up aging. In addition, it loosens skin cells and causes them to fall off—revealing even more wrinkles. If you drink, commit to cutting out booze until you get a handle on wrinkles; after that...well, a glass of wine won’t kill you!
6) Don’t smoke
Cigarette smoke is one of your skin’s biggest enemies. Not only does it age your skin by prematurely hardening it, but it also deprives your body of oxygen and creates free radicals. To get healthier and look younger, quit smoking now. Just a few weeks or months off cigarettes can make a difference in how tight and toned your skin looks when you smile.
7) Exercise
To get a toned, young body, you need to make sure that you’re eating right and exercising regularly. Start off with a 10-minute walk every day. Work your way up to jogging or running for 30 minutes at least 4 times per week. Don’t forget to stretch after a workout! Stretching helps increase flexibility which is vital as we age. You can do some simple stretching exercises while watching TV in your evening routine (get comfy on your couch with some pillows around you). After each exercise session, be sure to drink lots of water. Keep hydrated to keep wrinkles away!
8) Rest up
If you’re working hard to fight facial wrinkles and lines, you must get enough sleep. Lack of sleep can cause premature aging, along with breakouts and dark circles under your eyes. Make sure you get at least seven hours of shuteye a night to boost your skin’s health. This can help smooth out fine lines and give your face a fresher appearance.
9) Reduce stress
Stress can take a toll on your skin, as it prompts a flood of stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) that cause us to lose sleep, gorge on fatty foods, and get rashes and breakouts. Though it’s not necessarily always possible or practical to eliminate stress from our lives completely, we can make small adjustments—like getting more sleep or de-stressing with a hobby or two—that might go a long way toward improving how we look.
10) Use moisturizers once or twice a day
These products help lock in moisture and protect your skin. Your skin naturally produces less oil and water as you age, so it’s important to replenish these resources. Look for a moisturizer that includes SPF during the summer months when you are more exposed to sunlight. Over time, if you apply a high-quality product regularly and continue to take care of your body by avoiding sun exposure and eating well (whole foods only), wrinkles will be less noticeable.
Using a facial serum or eye cream can also be beneficial; look for products with peptides or retinol—these ingredients boost collagen production in addition to helping reduce lines and wrinkles. Most serums can be applied under moisturizers once or twice daily depending on brand recommendations.
Best Face Serums, Creams, and Gels to fight facial wrinkles and lines.
So which one of the anti-wrinkle serums, anti-wrinkle creams, and gels are the best serum? That all depends on what you want your serum, cream, or gel to do.
Vitamin C
Unlike some anti-aging ingredients which cause irritation and redness, vitamin C creams are gentle enough for all skin types. According to Dr. Dendy Engelman of Manhattan Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery (who was featured in New York Magazine’s Ultimate Guide to a Facelift), topicals with vitamin C can potentially benefit all ages as it has benefits for photo-damage repair.
Retinoids
The Best Anti-Aging Ingredients for Your Skin: Retinoids are one of the most potent anti-aging ingredients you can add to your skincare routine. They’re very effective in combating wrinkles by increasing collagen production, speeding up cell turnover, and protecting against free radical damage. Best of all? You can buy retinoids over-the-counter or even make them at home!
Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies. This ingredient works by increasing moisture levels in your skin. Hyaluronic acid also plumps up fine lines and wrinkles. You can find hyaluronic acid in many anti-aging creams including brands like Renova, Olay Total Effects, or RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Daily Moisturizer for sensitive skin.
Hydroxy acids
So what’s all of that jargon mean? Hydroxy acids are a mild chemical exfoliant. When it comes to your skin-care routine, there are several you can choose from—salicylic acid (from willow bark), lactic acid (from milk or sugar cane), glycolic acid (derived from sugar cane), and citric acid (from citrus fruits). Hydroxy acids remove dead skin cells that can clog pores—one reason why they help with acne.
Coenzyme Q10
One study on 15 women who used a cream containing coenzyme Q10 for 10 weeks found that it helped improve skin elasticity by 14.8% after four weeks and by 19.4% after eight weeks. Another small study showed that coenzyme Q10 worked as well as topical retinol in improving wrinkle depth after three months of treatment.
Peptides
As aging starts to take its toll on our faces, it’s important to find ways to mitigate it. Thankfully, today’s beauty brands offer an array of peptides—powerful fragments of protein that help prevent collagen breakdown by boosting its production. Look for serums or creams containing these specific peptides: acetyl hexapeptide-3, pentapeptide-18, and palmitoyl oligopeptide.
Niacinamide
The gold standard when it comes to topical anti-aging ingredients, niacinamide (vitamin B3) improves skin elasticity and increases skin hydration. Research shows that it can also reduce hyperpigmentation spots caused by sun damage or acne scarring. Find an effective niacinamide product that doesn’t irritate your skin. Also, be sure to follow up with sunscreen each morning.
Tea extracts
Although tea contains caffeine, it also has a substance called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which is a potent antioxidant. A study conducted by researchers from Yale University School of Medicine found that when applied to skin cells, EGCG can help skin recover from environmental stressors like ultraviolet light exposure and air pollution. Also effective is a green tea serum. The antioxidants in green tea help protect against free radical damage caused by UVA rays, one of several types of UV radiation emitted by sunlight.