Many people want to look young for as long as possible. Thankfully, doing so has never been easier than it is today. Anti-aging technology and skincare products and techniques are more advanced than ever before. While some reactive technologies are out there, being proactive is the key to keeping a youthful visage. Here are eight tips to help you look and feel younger than you are.
1. Drink Plenty of Water
One of the easiest things you can do to keep yourself looking young is regularly drinking water. When you’re dehydrated, your skin cells lose some elasticity and wrinkle. Dehydration also makes it harder for those cells to repair damaged tissue, leading to more scarring and pigmentation.
Thankfully, this is incredibly easy to address by simply drinking water throughout your day. Set up objects in your environment to remind you if you can’t seem to remember. Carry around a water bottle, keep a clean cup by the sink, and always take a glass of water to bed with you.
2. Use Anti-Aging Cream
Magical anti-aging cream may sound like a storybook remedy that’s too good to be true. But there are some fantastic products available that seem to turn back time as they erase wrinkles.
While it’s no fountain of youth, tretinoin is about as close as you’ll get to one. Usually applied as a cream, this is the active ingredient most often prescribed by dermatologists. It’s great at treating wrinkles, pigmentation, fine lines, and other signs of aging.
‘Collagen boosters, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid could also help reduce dark spots and fine lines. However, they aren’t as strong of products, which risks less noticeable results. If that product doesn’t work, you might need to use retinol at a smaller dosage.
3. Get Your Beauty Sleep
Even though the idea of beauty sleep is often said jokingly, it’s actually quite real. Sleep is your body’s primary source of healing. This includes repairing damaged cells and shedding dead ones throughout the night.
The quality of your sleep affects the quality and appearance of your skin. So every time you miss a good night’s sleep, you age your arrival a little bit more. Knowing this will help you feel more confident about going out less and getting those precious zzzs instead.
4. Use a Moisturizer
If full-on prescription tretinoin seems too much for you, at least make sure you use a moisturizer daily. Preferably one that’s chock full of vitamins, has an SPF of 15 or more and won’t clog up your pores. Vitamins A and B5 in moisturizers will increase the firmness of your skin, while vitamins C and E will help protect it.
Moisturizing is an incredibly easy way to help fight off an aged appearance and is something you can start doing today. Moisturizers work best if you can use them often and consistently. Hot water dries and can damage your skin, so you could use your moisturizer after a bath or shower. You might also lower the temperature of the water you bathe in if you can help it.
5. Exercise Often and Consistently
Here’s a great way to make sure you look as old as possible: spend your whole day sitting. Unfortunately, the modern world has incentivized most people to do that, rating your skin. (Not to mention your back, waistline, and blood pressure.)
Habitual exercise can greatly increase the quality of your skin. It de-stresses your body, regulates your immune system, and increases blood flow to areas that need it, like your face. Just make sure you take a (not too hot) shower afterward to stop all that sweat from blocking your pores.
6. Limit Alcohol and Coffee Consumption
When considering how you can improve your skin’s youthful appearance, you should also consider what to avoid. Both alcohol and coffee, while fun and delicious, can have detrimental effects on your skin’s overall health. That’s because they dehydrate you, which, as you read before, can increase how old and wrinkly you appear. While you don’t have to eliminate them entirely, limiting your intake will help the water you drink go further.
The Federal Drug Administration recommends no more than 400 mg of caffeine daily, the equivalent of four cups of brewed coffee. The amount of caffeine can change if you’re drinking soda, espresso, or other caffeinated beverages. For alcohol, you probably want to just stick to one or two drinks. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that “heavy drinking is more than three or four drinks a day.” Cutting these beverages is a pretty easy way to start looking younger much quicker.
Don’t Lose Hair Over Skin Care
Developing a simple but consistent skincare routine, like building healthy habits and using clean products, will improve your skin’s appearance. These are just a few simple life changes that will make a lasting impact. Incorporating these changes will take a few years off your face and help you feel better regardless of age.