Let's face the ultimate fact about wrinkles; no one wants them and everyone gets them! Aging is unavoidable and it seems to happen all at once. One morning you wake up and see a youthful complexion and then, in the blink of an eye, you wake up and see your mother or grandmother staring back at you in the mirror. Now don't get me wrong here, beauty is for any age, but soon enough you begin to notice the early signs of aging happening on the surface.
As we age, our skin produces less collagen and elastin. These are vital proteins responsible for strengthening skin and giving us that plump, youthful look. Most people start to notice wrinkles developing on the surface of their skin between the ages of 40 and 50. However, since gravity and genetics dictate some of what happens to our facial bones, muscles and fat as we grow older, there is no exact age (like 40) when the first signs of aging start to become apparent. In addition to these factors, two other significant influences that speed up facial aging are lifestyle and environment.
Although wrinkles are an inevitable part of getting older, here's what you can naturally do to slow the signs of aging and possibly prevent new ones from forming.
Not only does sunscreen help prevent skin cancer, but it can also help delay the signs of aging. To create an effective anti-aging routine, dermatologists suggest using a broad-spectrum sunscreen moisturizer with a sun protection factor (SPF) over 30 on exposed skin year-round. Sunscreen protects against wrinkling, spotting and loss of elasticity by shielding against wrinkle causing UV damage.
When you sleep on your side or stomach, your face is pressed against the pillow all night. This compression can weaken the skin causing it to fold up and form wrinkles. In order to avoid this compression try adjusting to sleeping on your back.
Take the time to wash your face. Before going to bed, use a gentle cleanser to get rid of all of the build-up from the day like pollution, sweat and makeup. During sleep your skin is in repair mode and is secreting toxins and oils. Be sure to wash away all of that build-up in the morning and have a clean slate for the day.
Sugar damages your skin through a natural process called glycation. The sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins and produces harmful free radicals called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). As AGEs accumulate, they damage the proteins, collagen and elastin, that serve as building blocks for your skin giving its youthful look.
This ‘natural face lift' technique can increase circulation to the face. Massaging our face promotes oxygen and blood flow to that area. This results in an increase of collagen production, reduced puffiness and a brighter skin tone and appearance.
