You can not avoid aging but you can prevent the early onset of wrinkles. Wrinkles are a part of life and it’s never too early or too late to start preventing their appearance. Aside from moisturizing, hydrating and nourishing your skin, the following seven tips can help you avoid wrinkles and keep your complexion healthy, YEOUTHful and vibrant!

1. ALWAYS USE SUNSCREEN

The best way to prevent the onset of wrinkles and keep skin healthy and youthful longer is to always use sun protection in your daily skincare routine.

Too much exposure to UV radiation damages our skin cells and this cumulative damage results in early signs of aging and also increases our risk of skin cancer. Just imagine a piece of furniture exposed to sunlight, it fades and ages faster. The same happens to your skin when it is overexposed to sun.

APPLY SPF EVEN DURING CLOUDY DAYS

Apply sunscreen rated SPF 30 or higher generously over your face, neck and chest area after moisturizing every morning to prevent premature skin aging. Do this daily even when it is cloudy or snowing outside. UV rays permeate through the clouds and can reflect these rays on your face, increasing your risk of skin damage by up to 80 percent.

2. STOP SMOKING

One of the many negative effects of smoking is that it makes our skin look years older. 

TOBACCO SMOKE DESTROYS SKIN FIBERS

There are more than 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke and many of them destroy collagen and elastin, the fibers that give our skin structure and elasticity.  Smoking or inhaling secondhand smoke causes the skin’s fibers to deteriorate and ruins your complexion. It visibly accelerates the aging process and makes age spots and wrinkles more pronounced, especially around the eyes and lips. 

Still not convinced that smoking is a big factor when it comes to wrinkles? A WebMD article has featured two identical twins to illustrate the complexion difference between a smoker and a non-smoker. The smokers showed deeper wrinkles, more age spots, loose skin under the eyes and more vertical lines around the lips.

The difference between the smoker and their twin, who does not smoke, is very eye-opening. You will really want to avoid inhaling even the smallest puff of cigarette smoke. This study also teaches us that we need to be cautious of coming in contact with secondhand smoke as well.

3. GET ENOUGH SLEEP EVERY NIGHT

The amount of sleep you get plays a big factor on how your skin looks the next morning. Recent research proves that this can also affect your skin in the long run.

A research study observed 60 women between the ages of 30 and 49. Half of the participants were categorized as poor sleepers, while the other half were all good, sound sleepers. They logged their sleeping schedule and results showed that there is a significant difference between the skin health of the good, sound sleepers to that of the poor quality sleepers.

SLEEP DEPRIVATION RESULTS IN EARLIER SIGNS OF AGING

Sleep-deprived women showed more signs of skin aging including fine lines, uneven skin tone, loose skin, and dull complexions. The study also found that their recovery from environmental stressors, such as sunburn, was slower compared to the women who were getting adequate sleep.

Adults require at least 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. As you sleep, growth hormones increase and repair damaged cells. When the accumulation of daily cell damage does not repair overnight, signs of aging such as wrinkles and fine lines start to form and become more prominent over time.

4. SLEEP ON YOUR BACK

Speaking of sleeping, it is important to try and sleep on your back and not on your stomach or face down. Evidence suggests that sleeping in these positions over a period of many years can cause permanent wrinkles on your face.

A research study stated that during side or stomach sleeping, the skin on our face is stretched, tugged and pulled in different directions. Considering the amount of time we spend sleeping daily, these forces become a big factor in creating wrinkles that are referred to as “sleep lines.”

Always check your sleeping position to make sure your face is not on the pillow. If you find it hard to stay on your back, look into pillows designed to keep your head in one position all night. You should also invest in high thread count pillowcases to minimize friction that results in unwanted sleep lines.

5. EAT A HEALTHY DIET

Fruits and vegetables contain many of the vitamins and minerals that your skin needs in order to stay healthy. Make sure to get your daily fill of the following to keep your skin firm and wrinkle-free: 

COLLAGEN-BOOSTING FOODS

Collagen is the protein that gives structure to the skin. It helps with the growth of cells and blood vessels in our skin, which gives skin strength and firmness. However, our collagen levels deplete as we age. This leads to sagging skin, wrinkles and fine lines. Boost your skin’s collagen levels by including the following foods in your diet:

• Bone broth
• Dark green veggies
• Red meat
• Egg whites
• Beans
• Cheese

You can also give your collagen levels a boost with a supplement like YEOUTH Regenotin Advanced Collagen Generator. This daily supplement is formulated with vital anti-aging nutrients, minerals and vitamins that our body needs to support not just youthful, firm skin, but also healthy hair and nails. It encourages the growth, development and regeneration of connective tissues so that your skin stays supple, nails become stronger and hair looks fuller.

 Regenotin Advanced Collagen Generator 60 capsules ($59.99)

ANTIOXIDANT-RICH FOODS

Foods rich in antioxidants are also very important for skin health. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are toxic compounds that come from cigarette smoke, pollution, pesticides and sun exposure.

Read more: Why Are Antioxidants Essential for Anti-Aging?

To put it simply, antioxidants protect your skin from these toxins and help prevent early signs of aging. They are very good at protecting our body in general from cellular damage. The National Cancer Institute highly recommends and encourages antioxidant-rich foods to help lower the risk of cancer.

Antioxidant-rich foods are colorful. Include the following in your diet to fend off free radical damage:

• Sweet potatoes
• Pumpkins
• Sunflower seeds
• Carrots
• Tomatoes
• Grapefruits
• Blood oranges
• Apricots
• Mangoes
• Dark leafy greens like spinach and kale

VITAMIN C

Vitamin C is very good for keeping your skin firm and younger-looking since it is an antioxidant that also boosts collagen levels. This essential vitamin is needed in the production of collagen and getting your required amount of Vitamin C daily will increase your collagen naturally.

Take a daily Vitamin C supplement or include foods rich in Vitamin C like the following in your regular diet:

• Oranges
• Grapefruit
• Strawberries
• Red and green peppers
• Pineapples
• Guavas

FOODS RICH IN OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS

Adding foods containing omega-3 fatty acids can keep skin moisturized and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Studies have found that the skin of people lacking in omega-3 fatty acids become dry, scaly and overall, encounter more skin problems.

You can boost your omega-3 intake by eating the following:

• Fatty fish such as tuna, sardines and salmon
• Nuts and seeds such as walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseed and pumpkin seeds
• Plant oils such as soybean oil, canola oil and olive oil

 6. RELAX AND DE-STRESS

Stress is horrible for your skin. If you are always in distress, your fight-or-flight response never shuts off which causes your cortisol levels to remain elevated.

Too much cortisol in our system causes collagen breakdown, skin dehydration and slow cell turnover. It triggers inflammation and increased sebum production as well. The result is dry skin, more wrinkles, redness, dullness and breakouts. You are stressed out of your mind and are very much looking the part!

Avoid stress and prevent wrinkles from permanently forming on your face by doing relaxing activities daily. Regularly meditate, take a quick run, do yoga or read a book — find your joy in life and do activities that help you relax.

YEOUTH Retinol Serum, a gentle retinol serum that lightly exfoliates to reveal healthy, new skin. Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe Vera help soothe, balance and replenish skin hydration and moisture levels from retinol’s sometimes drying effects, while Vitamin E helps to protect and defend the skin from future damage.

OUR PICK: RETINOL SERUM with Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E & Aloe Vera ($21.95)

7. INVEST IN ANTI-AGING SKINCARE

A lot of changes happen to our bodies as we age and this can take its toll on our appearance. This is why your skincare routine is very important if you want to reduce and prevent wrinkles.

Aside from cleansing, moisturizing and nourishing your skin, take your skincare up a notch and include the following skincare ingredients in your beauty regimen to keep that youthful glow longer. 

ALPHA-HYDROXY ACIDS (AHAS)

Although the word “acid” makes it sound a little scary, AHAs are natural fruit acids that mainly help in exfoliating the topmost layers of the skin. This helps clear away dead skin cells and erase signs of skin-aging for clearer, smoother skin.

Read more: AHA vs. BHA: Everything You Need To Know About Chemical Exfoliants

We recommend the use of Glycolic acid, a type of AHA that occurs naturally in beets, sugarcane, and pineapples. Out of all other AHAs, Glycolic Acid has the smallest molecules that penetrate your skin at a much deeper level.

OUR PICKS: 

Glycolic Acid 30% Gel Peel with Retinol and Green Tea ($27.49)

Salicylic Acid 20% Gel Peel with Tea Tree Oil and Green Tea ($27.49)

YEOUTH’s 30% Glycolic Acid Gel Peel exfoliates dead skin cells to reveal a brighter, more even and smoother skin surface. Formulated with 30% glycolic acid, Retinol, and Green Tea to fortify skin and promote clarity.

YEOUTH’s Salicylic Acid Gel Peel 20% Peel can help regulate problematic skin by decongesting pores to achieve overall skin clarity. Formulated with 20% salicylic acid, this peel effectively dissolves dirt and oil trapped in the pores that cause acne, whiteheads, and blackheads. 

 This powerful exfoliation process promotes skin cell turnover resulting in overall better skin texture. Scars and hyperpigmentation will fade and surface wrinkles and fine lines will be fended off with the constant production of new skin cells.

RETINOL

As you reach your 40s, your skin cells will not renew as quickly as before. Retinol can help by speeding up your skin’s regeneration cycle. When applied regularly, retinol will help break down dead skin cells to promote new regrowth. This keeps skin looking fresh, young and vibrant. 

Retinol also boosts your skin’s collagen levels resulting in a firmer, plumper and smoother complexion. It is one of the best anti-aging ingredients on the market so if you want to effectively diminish the look of wrinkles and fine lines, it is time to add this anti-aging secret to your skincare routine.

TOPICAL VITAMIN C

Besides combating free radicals and boosting collagen levels, Vitamin C also has the natural ability to slow down melanin production to help lighten skin discolorations such as acne scars and age spots.

Because of all these excellent benefits, Vitamin C is proven to diminish the appearance of wrinkles, crow’s feet, sagging skin, fine lines and other signs of skin aging. In addition to consuming Vitamin C rich foods, using skincare products packed full of Vitamin C will deliver its anti-aging, damage-repairing and skin-brightening benefits directly to your skin cells so that you are sure to achieve youthful, vibrant skin.

THE TAKEAWAY 

Genetics certainly play a role in how your skin ages, but other factors such as your environment, diet, and habits can also affect how you will look ten years from now. Honor your skin by taking great care of it so that you will look and feel your best as you age gracefully 

YEOUTH Vitamin C & E Serum with Hyaluronic Acid ($17.49)

This serum enhances the appearance of skin tone and texture while deeply nourishing and quenching dry, thirsty skin. Made of medical grade Vitamin C to brighten and help fade the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots, Vitamin E to help protect and defend the skin from future damage, and Hyaluronic Acid to deeply penetrate the skin to restore hydration and suppleness. 

Do you have beauty secrets to ward off wrinkles? Please share with us!