My best friend is only 29 and she’s already stressing about wrinkles. Although she’s one of the lucky ones who was spared from teenage acne and has itty-bitty pores, she complains a lot about the visible horizontal lines on her forehead. So, whenever we hang out, our wide range of topics often includes skin care and wrinkles. And she almost always wraps up that subject with the big “WHY?”
It’s obvious that, as a person ages, the skin undergoes some, ahem, unfavorable changes. That’s not news. Being mere mortals, we unfortunately don’t have the power to stop the passage of time. However, we can still reduce the signs of aging – and wrinkles, for that matter.
So I’ll start with this: don’t stress too much about wrinkles. It won’t do you any good since stress is a major cause of aging. Take good care of your skin in order to minimize the damage, but stop obsessing about youth. After all, wrinkles also indicate the sincerity of a smile and can even signify wisdom.
Anyone who matters doesn’t care about your wrinkles.
Don’t do Botox. It looks unnatural, and besides the horrors of a procedure going wrong, we don’t know the side effects of injecting a toxin into our faces yet. There are many effective alternatives to injecting poison into your face.
Throw out your skin care products if they have chemicals in them. Lots of anti-aging products cause inflammation to trick you into thinking they’re working. What they really do is temporarily puff up your skin to smooth lines, but cause cellular damage and more wrinkles in the process. Sneaky! Make your own using certified organic essential oils instead.
Wait, as you’re reading this, are you squinting? I bet you are! Stop that! Don’t squint your eyes! If you can’t clearly read the fine print, go get your vision checked. Then, wear your new reading glasses (blue light filtering ones) and that will help you relax your facial lines.
And speaking of blue light filtering, one of the simplest ways to reduce skin aging is to get enough Zs. We have been reminded over and over again about the importance of adequate sleep and how it spurs healing and regenerative hormones to create thicker and healthier skin. Here are 10 hacks to help you get better sleep.
What you may not realize, however, is that even sleeping can cause wrinkles. When you constantly press your face into the pillow, it pulls and folds your face and etches sleep lines that slowly become permanent. So, what now? The technique is to sleep on your back. Also tuck an extra pillow under your head. As your head is elevated, the fluid is prevented from settling under the skin around your eyes.
An inflammatory diet also plays a big role in wrinkle formation. Sugar, animal products, and gluten all cause inflammation, which not only ruins your organs and is pretty much the root of most diseases, but it damages your skin in a big way. The less of these you consume, the younger you’ll look. A plant-based, low-sugar diet can rewind the clock. Just ask Michelle Pfeiffer.
By eating a whole-food, plant-based diet, you’re also giving your body the antioxidants and nutrients it needs to repair your cells. Amplify that by eating raw veggies and fruits as often as possible. There are loads of great raw cookbooks out there. Try one!
Skip your daily dose of inflammatory coffee and opt for a organic caffeine-free herbal tea.
And I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that drugs, smoking, and boozing are bad habits that have to be curtailed. ‘Nuff talking about this. Just Google the photos of the infamous cocaine-snorting celebrities and boozers in Hollywood. The dramatic changes in their physical appearance will help you understand how important it is to avoid this stuff.
While my brother seldom drinks alcohol and coffee, he’s always outdoors and forgets to put on sunscreen and sunglasses. He gave me the most ridiculous excuse! He says he can’t be bothered!
Although he can’t handle the fuss of putting on a simple cream or sunglasses, he needs to know that UV radiation does major damage to the skin. He should be using broad-spectrum zinc-oxide SPF 30 sunscreen every day. Here’s our list of safe sunscreens.
Have you ever used Botox? Do you put on sunscreen every day? Are you bothered by wrinkles?
If you are stressing about your wrinkles, you will get wrinkles on that too, right? Wrinkles mean you are getting old, and that is just normal. There’s a lot of medical treatments for removing wrinkles, but you will look kind of weird after that.
Totally! I am not bothered by wrinkles because I am ready for them. It’s part up, and you can’t avoid them. I see people who tried avoiding them, and the result is unbelievable. Nasty. Lol
I’m only 30 years old and I already have a few fine lines around my mouth and eyes. No deep wrinkles as of yet, thank goodness, but I really rue the day when I’ll wake up and find a wrinkly face in the mirror to meet me in the mornings.
VEGETABLES!!! They give you a lot of benefits for your body, inside, and out!
Stress is number one cause of wrinkles, and smoking reduces stress, but it can cause wrinkles too. Lol, Let us accept the fact that we are going to have wrinkles in the future no matter what.
HAHA! I agree with you. Whatever you do in your face, you will get those wrinkles too.
For me having wrinkles is a sign that we already old..but there many preventions to avoid wrinkles..we should have a proper diet…and try not to expose our skin to the sun..and don’t think too much about your problems….be happy always…
Sleeping late is part of my job, I guess I should deal with it. I can see lines near my lips, and my girlfriend told me that I look old that before. I’m just 30, and I don’t want to look like 40-ish lol.
From now on, I will put protection to my face. Is it okay to use beauty products? Are they safe? I’m not using anything on my face because I am afraid to use something harmful, but what do you think?
I’m a hard drinker, and I am aware of the consequences that I will face when I get old. The thing for me is that to enjoy my life while I am young. We will all have that lines in our face soon, but the happiness you have right now is more important. After all, I could get hit by a bus tomorrow!
Fine lines and wrinkles commonly happen as you age, though they can start to make an appearance at a relatively young age. Attributed partly to genetics, wrinkles also often reflect your lifestyle, especially when you spend a lot of time in the sun. Topical skincare treatments can smooth and firm your skin for a more rejuvenated, youthful complexion. But the most effective wrinkle reduction plan limits sun exposure, prohibits smoking, and includes a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
I see a comment about Matthew of F.R.I.E.N.D.S, have you seen Courtney? I guess that’s the result of being afraid to age, look at her now. Too much Botox — she looks so fake. Sorry for her fans, but she WAS beautiful.
OMG – I noticed that too!!! Courtney Cox’s face is SO different from her face in FRIENDS.