As you age, your skin ages and becomes thinner and more wrinkled due to the reduced elastin and collagen. Your skin also has less moisture due to decreased sebum production, which means it feels and looks drier. There are other factors at play, of course, but the good news is preserving and revitalizing your skin doesn’t have to be complicated.
Although aging is a natural part of life, keeping up your appearance should be done naturally, too. Although cosmetic surgery or med spa treatments may be a good fit for some, only some people want to intervene with the aging process so aggressively.
You can care for yourself and uplift your appearance without breaking the bank. In fact, some of these steps are lifestyle changes that could offer additional benefits to your health and well-being. If you’re looking for ways to reduce signs of aging and “turn back the clock” without all the toxins, you’re in the right place.
1. Wear Sunscreen Everyday
Are you worried about wrinkles, lines, or skin damage? Much of premature skin aging results from exposure to the sun and UV rays.
Protecting yourself from harmful UV rays is important for your health and safety and your skin’s appearance.
2. Take Steps to Reduce Stress
It’s much easier said than done, but reducing the stressors you have in your life can help improve your overall health. Some healthcare professionals believe that added stress can lead to a higher risk of developing diseases like Alzheimer’s and heart disease.
Because stress can cause more visible signs of aging, like wrinkles and lines, an extra bonus to having less stress in your life is that you can reduce these signs.
3. Quit Smoking
Smoking affects your health and well-being and is known to speed up the aging process. If you were to look at two pictures of older individuals, one who smoked and one who didn’t, you are likely to see a big difference in signs of aging.
You should always consult with your doctor before making significant lifestyle changes. However, if you smoke cigarettes or other tobacco products, your doctor has likely already discussed or recommended quitting smoking.
4. Reduce Alcohol Consumption
Like smoking, drinking in excess causes significant harm to your overall health. Alcohol consumption affects your organ function, the cells throughout your body, and even your appearance.
Drinking frequently can cause more swelling of the face, as well as increased wrinkles and lines. Drinking in moderation or quitting altogether is likely to have several health benefits, including reducing signs of aging in your appearance.
5. Increase Omega-3 Fats in Your Diet
Did you know that foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids can help improve not only your health but the appearance of your skin? Some people with a deficiency of omega-3 fats suffer from rashes or scaly skin.
Even if you do not have these specific symptoms, your skin may suffer if you have such a deficiency. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids help to support your heart health, your mental health, and your brain health.
A few foods with high omega-3 fat content include anchovies, sardines, salmon, and cod liver oil. Be sure to stay aware of the toxins or high levels of mercury in the fish you choose to eat.
6. Get More Sleep
Increasing how much sleep you get and improving the quality of your sleep is one of the easiest ways to improve your health. Regular sleep allows your body to recover and feel rejuvenated, including “reversing” the aging process. A lack of sleep is often visible in dark circles or eye bags.
If you have a condition or personal circumstances that affect your ability to get regular sleep, it may be easier said than done. However, it is recommended that you do everything in your power to spend more time resting or sleeping.
7. Discuss Supplements with Your Doctor
We can’t promise you eternal youth or magically reverse any signs of aging with the wave of a wand. However, certain supplements can help you meet your individual health goals, including products that claim to offer anti-aging effects.
You should always research the ingredients in any supplement before taking it, as many products will make false claims they can’t break up. Adding or changing your vitamin and supplement regimen should always be discussed with your doctor.
8. Stay Physically Active
Start now if you can engage in a workout routine or movement practice. Staying active or having an active lifestyle is one of the best ways to improve your health.
Even if you aren’t trying to lose weight, creating habits that combat a sedentary lifestyle will offer many benefits, including improving your balance and strength. Staying physically active in whatever way is accessible can only benefit your appearance and signs of aging.
9. Make Your Own Skincare Products
If you’re buying anti-aging skincare products or any number of store-bought skincare and beauty products, you may not be getting the results you want. These store-bought products are typically expensive and make big claims, such as reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles, but rarely deliver. Plus, most are full of toxins and chemicals polluting the body and environment.
Consider switching to making your own DIY recipes, which don’t have to be as complicated as they seem. Even if you only make one or two of your own products and don’t commit to an entire overhaul of your cabinet, you will likely see and feel the difference.
Heres 22 Luxury Anti-Aging Skincare Recipes You Can Make At Home
10. Use Lotion Frequently
You might be surprised to know just how much moisture your skin craves, and you may not be giving it enough. By keeping your skin properly hydrated, you may notice more significant results than you’d expect.
It’s also recommended to use gentle, natural lotions, such as a lotion or one free of additives and toxins. Your skin is the biggest organ in your body, and what you put on your skin matters.
11. Eat Vitamin-Rich Foods
Plenty of people, including some medical professionals, believe that improving your diet can have a major impact on your health in a number of ways. And this goes beyond the “obvious,” such as reducing the amount of fat in your diet or not eating as much sugar.
If you want to improve the appearance of your skin and reduce signs of aging, there are some vitamin-rich foods to consider adding to your diet. Eating foods rich in vitamins, such as B3 and B5 (vegetables, fruits like avocados and oranges, lean meat, and cow’s milk) are a good place to start.
Try To Eat More Of These 15 Skincare Superfoods You Need For Healthy Glowing Skin
12. Consider Vitamin C & Retinoid Products
Retinoids, including retinol and tretinoin, are often used to improve the appearance of the skin by helping your body make new layers of skin and shed the old cells. These products can be used to treat a variety of skin conditions or to help make skin look younger for those who are interested in anti-aging effects. Likewise, Vitamin C is often used in a supplemental or topical form to help reverse signs of aging.
These two products can be used on their own or together to help improve wrinkles, fine lines, and skin elasticity. Of course, you should always consult your doctor when adding a supplement or product to your routine.
13. Talk to Your Dermatologist About Collagen Supplements
In addition to purchasing topical products like a retinol serum or a vitamin C cream, supplements are also a great way to help reduce signs of aging. Whether or not you are on medication, talking to your dermatologist or doctor about your supplement use is important. They can help you select which supplements can help with your specific goals.
One specific supplement you may want to ask your doctor about is collagen peptides. Collagen peptides are typically safe for consumption and offer many more benefits than just helping improve the appearance of your skin.
14. Take Care of Your Mental Health
Regardless of what your personal beliefs are about mental health, there is plenty of evidence that shows that stress management and taking care of yourself has a positive result on the aging process.
Whether you actively see a therapist or choose to spend time in nature and around loved ones, investing in yourself is vital to your well-being. Spend time doing the activities that you enjoy as much as possible and work to accept the changes you notice in your body and appearance.
