Natural Ways to Prevent Wrinkles

            Billions of dollars are spent yearly on cosmetic surgeries and 85 percent of women apply an average of 16 cosmetic skin care items daily such as serums, toners, highlighters, and foundations to enhance the appearance of their skin. Hardly do we despise the wisdom, knowledge, experience, or memories that accompany aging, but wrinkles are without a doubt, one of the most unwelcome inheritances to our increasing age. Everyone is searching for the fountain of youth to wipe away or prevent wrinkles that occur in the thinner second layer of our skin called the dermis. Our dermis is made up of a combination of water, proteins, and fat. The primary protein that creates a taut, wrinkle-free appearance is collagen. So what can we do to prevent or slow down these often genetically passed-down wrinkles? Explore these time-tested tips to not only feel more confident but also comfortable in your own dermis.

            As with any organ of the body, there are things we should avoid that cause injury to the skin. The lungs are protected by the ribs, the hips protect the reproductive organs, the skull surrounds the brain, but the skin is completely vulnerable to the effects of our environment. Protecting the skin from damage will decrease our chances for wrinkles. Avoiding overexposure to the sun and refraining from smoking, which ages and dries out the water element in the dermis, can be beneficial in protecting and keeping our skin from aging and wrinkling. If you do spend time in the sun, be sure to apply a safe mineral-based sunblock. This will not only feed your skin, but reflect sunlight and protect it from UV damage.

            Have you ever heard the phrase,  “you are what you eat”? Our skin knows all too well the reality of this statement! Internal nutrition surely has a vital role to play in preventing wrinkles. Eating a diet balanced with healthy saturated fats such as almonds and salmon will replenish the skin and keep it from thinning. Keeping hydrated and drinking plenty of water will ensure healthy, wrinkle-free skin, and foods high in lycopene, such as tomatoes, improve blood circulation and oxygenate the skin as well as protect the skin from sun damage. High antioxidant foods like blueberries contain vitamin E, fighting off free radicals, reducing wrinkles and keeping the skin looking youthful. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and skin-boosting antioxidants, so never underestimate the power of their ability to fight not just health problems, but wrinkles, too.

            Not only is internal nutrition vital for preventing wrinkles, but topical nutrition can directly impact the decrease of wrinkles, too. Coconut oil and olive oil applied directly to the skin morning and night moisturize the skin with vitamin A and repels skin-damaging radicals. A banana peel mask (a blend of banana, orange juice and yogurt) is a great option to deposit vitamin A which helps fade dark spots and blemishes, the vitamin c repairs fine lines, while the vitamin B will help prevent aging. Egg white masks (a blend of egg whites and lemon juice) can shrink pores, deposit potassium to preserve skin moisture and add magnesium, which gives skin its radiant appearance. Pamper that dermis not just internally, but also topically and fight those unwanted wrinkles.

            Nutrition plays a vital role in combating wrinkles naturally but you can also try other natural practices too. Massage the skin to improve circulation, exfoliating to remove dead cells, which builds collagen keeping the skin tight. Be sure to get plenty of sleep, and find other ways to help remove stress. These are proven habits to assist in the fight against wrinkles. We will never be able to completely ward off the natural degeneration of our aging skin, but we can be confident at any age that our skin is at its healthiest when we use nature’s remedies.

What are your tips for tightening skin?  Feel free to share your go-to grabs for skin that stays put!