15 Anti-Aging Skincare Tips That Really Work
The gift of growing older is an amazing one
Photo: Unsplash/@christinhumephoto
The gift of growing older is an amazing one. We are grateful for each and every day we are given, and don’t take getting older for granted. But that doesn’t necessarily mean we want to look older. While we aren’t trying to look like teenagers forever, who doesn’t want a youthful and healthy glow? It’s probably safe to say that most of us would prefer not to have years of late night partying and drinking to show up on our faces.
What’s the trick to aging gracefully? Is it too late to correct any careless lifestyle decision that might show up on your skin? Definitely not. Each and every day is a chance and an opportunity to change and do better — in all aspects of life. That also applies when to anti-aging and keeping your skin youthful-looking. Here’s a look at a few tips that keep those wrinkles at bay and have your skin looking its best.
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Drink water
Telling folks that drinking water helps makes skin look healthier and younger, seems so obvious to some, that they have a hard time taking this tip seriously. What can the recommended eight glasses of water really do for your skin? Turns out that it can do plenty! We have seen some impressive before and after photos of women who decided to drink the recommended daily amount of water and nothing else — and the change was major! Water will obviously hydrate the skin, but will also help minimize fine lines, dark eye circles, increase elasticity, and address a number of other things that make us look older. It won’t exactly turn the clock all the way back and undo all fine lines and wrinkles, but it will keep your skin looking hydrated, healthy, and plump while reducing some of the damage we have done to it. And it will help your entire system —including your digestion, joints, and immune system — work at its best.
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Maintain a good skincare routine
Next on our list of things you can do right now to get your skin looking great and avoid pressing the fast forward button on aging, is adhering to a solid skincare routine. It’s important to wash your face every morning and night to rid your skin of dirt, access oil, makeup, and other impurities that can result in wrinkles or breakouts. You also want to make sure you incorporate a toner, moisturizer, serums, eye cream, and sunscreen to your daily regimen. Korean skincare has been on the beauty radar for a while now and is a great way to start.
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Cut back on, or eliminate sugar
It’s not easy to hear that cutting back or eliminating sugar from your diet can contribute to aging better. But the truth is, consuming too much processed sugar causes wrinkles, dark circles, acne, rosacea, makes collagen lose its elasticity, and more. That doesn’t take into consideration how bad too much sugar, especially processed or refined sugar is for your entire system. While the occasional dessert or sweet beverage is a fun treat, we recommend really laying low on the sugar as much as you can, or your body and skin will pay the price for your sweet tooth.
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Get enough sleep
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This is a belleza tip we can truly get behind. Getting more rest will allow your skin, as well as the rest of your body, to rest, rejuvenate, and regenerate. You also produce the antioxidant melatonin at night, which contributes to great-looking skin. They call it beauty sleep for a reason. Try to get those eight hours of sleep each night. If you find you get less than that, try to squeeze in a short nap or two (if possible) in during the day. You will start to feel, and look a lot more rested, and it will show in your skin! Speaking of sleep, we’ll BRB — we’re off to take a nap!
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Don’t drink too Much, or at all
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Drinking a tasty glass of wine, beer, or cocktail could be relaxing — even fun. However, too much of anything — alcohol especially — is not good for you. Alcohol can be very damaging to the body and it also wreaks havoc on your face. It dries out the skin, causes premature wrinkles, depletes the vitamin A in your body, causes a depletion of collagen, and more. Just think about rockstars or even folks you may know, that partied hard in their day and always look exhausted today. Then think about stars like Jennifer Lopez, who swear off drinking all together. Granted, she has a lot of help in terms of facialists, dermatologists, and nutritionists (not to mention great genes), but not drinking is a definite factor as to why she looks so youthful at almost 50.
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Don’t Stay in the Sun For Too Long
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Basking in the summer sun is part of being young. How many times have you gone to the beach or pool and laid out in the sun until you got a deep bronzey tan? If we only we knew back then what we know now — that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging. In fact, too much sun exposure will cause the skin to dry out, will trigger sun spots and dark spots to form, and will eventually lead to fine lines and wrinkles. A lifetime of tanning on a regular basis can leave you looking years older than you actually are. Not to mention, it can increase your risk of getting skin cancer. For better skin and overall health, enjoy the sunshine, but not for too long, and make sure to always wear sunscreen and protective clothing — no matter what!
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Wear Sunscreen
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We touched on this earlier, but it’s imperative to always wear sunscreen when you’re out in the sun. Aim to get one that is non-toxic, and free from funky chemicals. There should be a sunscreen in your daily moisturizer, so that your face is always protected from the sun’s rays. This will protect you from UVA and UVB damage, premature aging, and skin cancer.
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Stop Smoking
Smoking isn’t just bad for your health, it will make you look older faster! According to the Mayo Clinic, the nicotine in cigarettes causes the blood vessels to narrow, in the outermost layers of the skin. This keeps blood, oxygen, and Vitamin A from getting to the skin. The other chemicals damage the elastin and collagen in your skin, making things even worse. Finally, the action of smoking, where you purse your lips, will cause those pesky lines around your mouth. In other words, smoking is one of the worst things you can do to your body — period.
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Consume Antioxidants
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Antioxidants will help your skin stay youthful longer. They will protect your body, and skin, from free radicals, and have various other health benefits. Some of the best food sources of antioxidants (you should also include these in your skin moisturizers and other skin care products) are wild blueberries, goji berries, spinach, cilantro, garlic, green tea, parsley, dark chocolate, and tomatoes.
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Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase
Sleep creases and wrinkles can lead to permanent wrinkles. One way to help combat face lines is to get a silk or satin pillowcase. It will provide a luxurious and smooth surface for your face. Added bonus? It also helps prevent hair breakage! A silk or satin pillowcase will also add a luxe, Old Hollywood touch to your room decor.
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Stop Stressing
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Get Your Vision Checked
This health and beauty suggestion is easier said than done. Stop stressing yourself out! Or, more feasible, help get yourself to the point where stress doesn’t affect you as much as it does now. Find ways to cope with stress and get yourself back to center quickly and easily. Stress will wreak havoc on your skin. It produces cortisol, which damages collagen, causes rashes, acne, wrinkles, and other skin issues. And think of all the faces you make when you’re stressed! Furrowed brow, pursed lips, and facial expressions that eventually lead to wrinkles!
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Consume Omega-3s
Before you resort to getting Botox or fillers (not that there’s anything wrong with those things), why not try improving your skin the natural way? Omega-3 fatty acids are key to great skin, as they may actually slow the aging process, hydrate the skin, and reduce acne risk. You can choose to take Omega-3 supplements, or can find omega-3 fatty acids in foods such as salmon, extra virgin olive oil, chia seeds, spinach, and avocados.
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Exercise
It is recommended to get at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times a week. Doing so will do wonders for your body, mental health, and skin. When you work out, it detoxifies the body, helps you maintain normal levels of cortisol, and may help your body to repair itself quicker, among other benefits. Your skin will look better, and you’ll feel better too!
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Be Nice to Your Face
If you want your face to be nice to you, be nice to your face! Eat and drink well, and find ways to manage stress. Be gentle with your skin. Don’t scratch or pick at, don’t rub your eyes when you’re tired or have itchy eyes due to allergies. Don’t scrub your face too hard when you’re exfoliating. Pat your skin dry instead of dragging the towel all over your face. Treat your face like a unique work of art worth preserving because it is!
