You are what you eat, and the type of foods you consume plays a major role in your skin’s appearance. Consuming a healthy diet rich in green veggies, fruits, and fatty fish can help keep your skin plump, radiant, and youthful.
Snoozing on your side causes your face to rub against your pillow and over time can lead to wrinkles. Sleeping on your back can help prevent these lines and creases from forming.
1. Eat a Healthy Diet
As we get older, our skin’s natural chemicals that help to keep it pliable and supple begin to deplete. This loss of hydration can contribute to fine lines and wrinkles, so it’s important to maintain a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein.
It is suggested to focus on foods that are rich in water-soluble vitamins and minerals, like citrus-based fruits (oranges, lemons), leafy green veggies (broccoli, kale) and avocados. Also, try to limit the amount of caffeine and alcohol you consume, as these can decrease your skin’s hydration levels.
You’ve heard the old adage that drinking a gallon of water a day will keep the wrinkles away, and it’s true! If you read more about it, drinking plenty of water is one of the most important things you can do for your skin. Water not only keeps your body hydrated, but it helps to flush out toxins that can cause your complexion to look dull and prematurely aged. To achieve glowing, younger-looking skin, aim to drink about eight glasses of water a day.
2. Get Enough Sleep
While genes play a large role in aging, your environment also plays an important part in maintaining youthful skin. By eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of sleep, and exercising regularly, you can help to keep your skin looking younger for longer.
Getting enough sleep is essential for maintaining youthful-looking skin because during sleep your body and skin repair and regenerate themselves. Sleep deprivation can cause dark circles, puffy eyes and dull skin, so aim to get at least eight hours of sleep each night.
Another way to keep your skin young is to avoid exposing it to too much stress. Stress can cause your body to release cortisol, a hormone that can break down collagen and lead to wrinkles. Try to practice relaxation techniques like meditation and mindfulness to reduce your stress levels.
It’s also important to wash your face before bed and avoid sleeping in makeup. Wearing makeup, especially if it’s a heavy foundation, can clog pores and make your skin look older over time. Instead, try wearing Beauty patches that work while you sleep to visibly reduce wrinkles and fine lines. It’s also a good idea to sleep on your back rather than your side because pushing your face into your pillow for long periods of time can create wrinkles over time.
3. Exercise Regularly
A healthy lifestyle is the key to beautiful skin. While genes play a big role in how your skin ages, many other factors can accelerate damage and speed up the aging process—factors that you can easily control.
Getting a good night’s sleep, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly are just a few of the things you can do to maintain a healthy glow. A healthy lifestyle will also help reduce stress, which can cause your skin to appear older and duller.
Regular exercise increases blood flow and brings vital oxygen and nutrients to the skin, helping you achieve a more youthful appearance. In addition, it is important to avoid picking at your face or rubbing it, as this can lead to inflammation and scarring.
In a TikTok video, a 70-year-old woman shared her anti-aging secrets, including three daily practices that keep her looking 20 years younger. Her first tip was to pat her face gently instead of rubbing it. She also wore light makeup and avoided excessive exfoliation and professional peels. Finally, she did not rub her eyes, as this can cause wrinkles. Instead, she used makeup remover wipes to gently pat her skin. She also drank lots of water and avoided consuming alcohol.
4. Wear Sunscreen
Sunscreen is one of the most important steps in any skin care routine. It prevents sunburn and protects against skin cancer, which is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. It also helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, discoloration, and uneven skin tone caused by sun damage. In fact, studies show that people who wear sunscreen regularly are 24 percent less likely to develop these signs of aging than those who don’t.
Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and make sure to apply it frequently, especially after sweating, swimming or toweling off. You should also consider wearing protective clothing like hats, sunglasses and long sleeves. It is also a good idea to avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the UV rays are most intense.
You should never put on makeup or moisturizer before applying sunscreen, as the chemicals in these products can interfere with its effectiveness. When choosing a sunscreen, be sure it is labeled as “broad spectrum,” which means that it protects against both UVB and UVA rays.
Some dermatologists recommend using a physical sunscreen, which contains ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to create a barrier between the sun and your skin. However, many people find these products to be oily or irritating, so you may want to try a chemical sunscreen instead.
It is possible to get enough vitamin D from the sun, but you will need to protect yourself by wearing sunscreen, seeking shade and drinking lots of water. It’s also a good idea to take a daily supplement of 800 IU of vitamin D3 for additional protection from the sun’s harmful rays.
5. Stay Hydrated
The skin is essentially made up of water, which is why it’s so important to stay well hydrated-both from the inside out through adequate consumption of liquids (think: lots of water and herbal teas without added sugar), as well as from the outside through cosmetics with moisturizing action. A facial oil is a great way to restore your complexion and help lock in moisture for that youthful glow.
The same goes for the food you eat-try to eat a variety of brightly colored fruits, green vegetables, and fatty fish, such as salmon and trout. A diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids is also good for the skin. Avoid foods with added sugars and processed flour, as these can cause inflammation that leads to blemishes and premature aging.
Another thing that can contribute to aging skin is alcohol, which dehydrates the body and causes a dull complexion. Try to limit your alcohol intake or even cut it out altogether.
A great tip that beauty, health and lifestyle experts often recommend is to drink eight glasses of filtered water every day for a hydrated, healthy, and glowing complexion. Drinking plenty of fluids also helps the skin function properly and flushes out toxins.
One of the most important things you can do for your complexion is to get plenty of beauty sleep, as this is when the skin is able to repair itself and renew its cells to create that gorgeous, youthful appearance we all want. To further aid the skin in its natural regeneration process, you can also slather on some retinoids or AHA products, which are great wrinkle fighters and exfoliators, before your bedtime.
