At the end of the day, no matter who you are, your skin is bound to show signs of age. This is just a natural part of life; as you move up in age, your skin loses its firmness and elasticity and begins to show lines and looseness. This is called intrinsic aging, or aging that occurs due to internal and natural causes. However, there are still many ways to prevent or at least slow down the skin’s aging process.
Aside from aging and genetics, which are two factors we have zero control over, our environment and lifestyle choices play a major role in our skin’s health and appearance. This is called extrinsic aging, or aging that occurs due to external factors. Smoking cigarettes, for example, is a poor lifestyle choice that can cause your skin to age prematurely.
But the great thing about extrinsic aging is that these external factors can be minimized or controlled. All it takes is living a better lifestyle, practicing a healthy level of self-care, and eating your veggies as mom told you to. To help you get started on this journey to more youthful skin, let’s take a look at ten life hacks to prevent your skin from aging too fast.
Make green tea your best friend.
Green tea is easily considered one of the healthiest drinks on the planet, if not the healthiest. Like blueberries, it’s rich in antioxidants, helping to repair your skin cells to keep your skin tight and youthful. It also has amazing anti-inflammatory properties, which helps to reduce skin irritation and redness.
Limit your sugar intake.
A recent study found that consumption of sugar speeds up the aging process in human bodies and leads to dark circles, dehydration, and wrinkles. In order to fight aging, experts advise that people should limit their sugar intake and avoid sweet foods and drinks as much as they can. Stick to drinking water.
Stop sleeping on your stomach
If you sleep on your stomach, you most likely sleep with your face buried in your pillow. In addition to being overall unhealthy and increasing your risk of suffocation, sleeping on your stomach actually causes wrinkles on your face––which just might become permanent if you sleep this way for too long.
Start eating blueberries
As we move up in age, our skin begins to show it due to what is called oxidative DNA damage. Although unbeatable, eating blueberries has been shown to slow down this process. This is because blueberries contain a high dose of antioxidants, which help to fight the effects of aging.
Keep your calcium levels in check.
Everyone knows that calcium is good for our bones, but not many are aware that it plays a vital role in protecting us from early aging. In addition to all the good the nutrient does to our body, an adequate calcium level can reduce signs of aging and help us age more gracefully with a strong bone structure.
Shorten your shower time
Let’s face it––hopping in the shower is probably the best part of the day for most of us. But while it might be tempting to stay in the shower for as long as you can, doing so actually causes damage to your skin and dries it out. This is because the shower robs your skin of essential oils that keep it naturally lubricated. Shorten your shower time and you’ll save your skin.
Protect your skin from sun damage
The sun is necessary for good health in small doses, but excessive sun exposure can dramatically accelerate the skin aging process and pose other serious health concerns. If you know you’ll be out in the sun for a long period of time, make sure to wear sunscreen that provides enough protection.
Exercise more often
Especially if you don’t currently exercise, starting a habit of exercising for even fifteen minutes a day can make a world of difference for your skin by improving circulation and boosting your immunity. If you’re new to fitness or short on time, try taking a walk in the morning, on your lunch break, or after work. Your body will thank you for it.
Stop smoking if you currently smoke
This one should go without saying, to be honest. For your skin and your overall health, it’s overdue for you to stop smoking. Tobacco is addictive, so this is not to say it will be easy to quit. However, quitting tobacco can improve your skin and your overall health. In fact, it can quite literally save your life.
Reduce your overall alcohol consumption
Having a glass or two of wine a day is not going to harm you. In fact, it could actually be good for you. But if you know that you drink in excess throughout the week, it may be time to slow it down. In addition to others causing other health problems, drinking too much alcohol dehydrates and ultimately damages the skin.
