Blowing out the candles on your 22nd birthday for the 22nd time has got to be convincing, hasn’t it? A common ritual for most women as they get older is to go online and hunt for ways to get rid of those signs of long-past youth. Some even choose to walk through aisles and aisles of products with confusing names and fancy ingredients that promise flawless and fairer skin in just three weeks, but fail to fulfill any of its promises. If you’re sick of the constant pop-ups that scream ‘Shocker! Doctors discover new pill to make you look 10 years younger!’ and don’t amount to anything, or if you’re tired of memorizing ingredients that help ‘reduce fine lines and wrinkles’ then read on.
1. Citrus Is Your New Best Friend
Yes, it’s all about the bioflavonoids and phytochemicals packed in citrus fruits and foods that help your skin detox. Citrus helps increase cell turnover; a process where older cells are replaced by newer ones; which tends to slow down as one’s age increases. The beauty of this is that it works both from within and from the outside. Citrus juices contain alpha hydroxy which have collagen boosting properties that make your skin firm.
Add citrus to your diet as well as your face-masks to help your skin get rid of wrinkles, dark spots and sagginess.
2. Stress Less
If you frown too much, it won’t be long until there’s a permanent mark right in the centre of your forehead. There’s a reason why most anti-ageing creams are called ‘Stress Cream’. Chronic stress not only causes those lines in your skin to deepen, but also causes severe health issues such as heart disease, breast cancer and diabetes. Stress releases free radicals that damage cells. This includes, multitasking. Doing too many things at the same time can make one flustered and stressed-out.
Once you’re conscious of smiling and alleviating stress, your skin will thank you.
Image Source: Green Bank Yoga
3. Work, Work, Work (Out)
Regular exercise doesn’t just help one stay fit, but also reduces inflammation which helps the body stay young. Sweat out those toxins and build your immunity, but make sure you do so gradually. Look up interval training and chart out a plan that would work best for you and your body.
4. Dodge The Sun
If you’re not a regular sunscreen user, you need to convert! Sun damage causes wrinkles, pigmentation, reduced skin elasticity, degradation of skin texture and the worst skin cancer. Slather on some sunscreen and avoid the sun when its rays are at its hottest to ensure that you’re shielding your skin from damage.
Image Source: Imperfectly Natural
5. Cleansing-Toning-Moisturising
This isn’t just a marketing ploy to get you to buy expensive products. Keeping your skin clean and dirt-free, and maintaining healthy levels of Ph and acidity makes it healthy and glowing. Find a mild cleanser and toner that will help get you rid of that stubborn make-up and tighten pores. Older skin corresponds with lesser natural moisturizing capabilities of the skin, and so you cannot miss out on the last step, either.
6. Sleep More
REM sleep is a critical step of the anti-ageing process. During sleep, your body has ample time to repair and rejuvenate. Not to mention, it’s a great stress-buster and keeps you going. Ensure a minimum of 5 hours of sleep a day, to keep your skin glowing.
But, beware. Sleeping with your face in the pillow causes puffiness, wrinkles and speeds up ageing by making those lines on your face that appear once you wake up, permanent.
7. Desert the Desserts
People with a sweet-tooth, beware of glycation. This reduces radiance, causes dark circles, loss of tone and increases puffiness, not to mention wrinkles and loss of facial contours. Opt for healthier options like fruits and juices, instead.
8. Birds Of A Feather Flock Together
Surround yourself with people who keep you motivated and happy. Good company helps one stay positive and the effects of that reflect on one’s skin. Find something you’re passionate about and keep to it, to help stay driven. A good friend circle ensures engaging in good habits that help your body.
Maybe join a yoga class with your friend? Maybe take up that very interesting art workshop you’d been thinking of lately.
If it makes you happy, do it.
9. All About The Pores
Clogged pores translate to unhealthy skin and uneven skin tone. Find pore strips that will help you keep your pores clean and your face, free of dead skin. Steam before you do, for the best results.
10. Ease Up On Products
Testing product after product on your skin will not help it rejuvenate. Don’t stress out your skin by experimentation and keep it simple with the products you use on it. Start with eye creams that have Retin-A and make sure you cleanse, tone and moisturize. Too much make up clogs pores and causes break outs as well. In-fact, too much make up can strip your skin of its natural oils.