Brain Power

Wrinkles are a natural part of aging, which is simply part of life. Thankfully, there are a number of things you can do without medical or drastic cosmetic intervention to combat wrinkles and give your skin a more youthful look!

Watch out for the sun. Always use a substantial sunblock when you’re planning time outdoors, such as SPF 30. (Choose an SPF that’s right for your skin type.) Even when you’re just going to be walking to and from your car, the sun can damage your skin. Many make-up foundations or facial moisturizers offer the additional bonus of a small SPF, like SPF 15, in their formula. It’s a great idea to switch to one of these products to kill two birds with one stone!

Stay moisturized, inside and out. Drink plenty of water. Being hydrated plumps your skin naturally, so fine lines will be minimized. And on the outside, apply moisturizer as part of your daily beauty routine and never leave home without it. The more moist you keep your skin the more supple it will be.

Stop smoking. Smoking can accelerate aging. This is due to free radicals and toxins that smoking releases into your blood stream. Free radicals are your skin’s enemy – as well as the enemy of key organs like your brain!

Lose weight responsibly. Don’t starve yourself into a rapid weight loss, as it will make your skin sag. If you’re dieting, do so slowly and steadily. The end result will be weight loss that doesn’t damage your skin, and weight loss that stays – as the quicker you lose weight the more likely you are to gain it back. If you can’t help but lose weight rapidly, such as after bariatric surgery, rub cocoa butter into your skin to fight sagging and stretch marks.

Avoid stress. Meditate, take long walks, enjoy hot baths, or otherwise engage in relaxing activities to help you avoid the effects of stress on your body. Stress can exacerbate all sorts of wrinkles on your face, and it takes a holistic toll on your body.

Give your skin vitamin E. One great way to ensure your skin is getting enough vitamin E is to break up 3 vitamin E capsules into a bowl with 2 tsps yogurt. This creates a quick and simple yogurt mask that you can apply to your skin with a cotton ball and leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing to treat your skin to what it needs.

Apply coconut oil. Coconut oil can be a great way to alleviate wrinkles when massaged into problem areas before sleep.

Apply pineapple. Rub the core of a pineapple on problem areas, careful to avoid your eyes, and leave the juice on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse.

Up your antioxidant intake. Research the fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants – like grapes – and add them to your daily diet. This will fight the toxins that damage skin and other organs. Furthermore, you can talk to your doctor about which supplements you can add to your health regimen to help fight free radicals.

Image c/o Tomáš Obšíva?.