How much do you spend each month on anti-aging?
With an anti-aging industry that’s forecast to be worth over $191.7 billion globally by 2019, chances are you spend at least some of your paycheck on products that promise to keep you looking young.
However, many techniques to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots are free or cost very little.
We’re sharing ten top tips that will keep you looking young without draining your bank account.
Anti-aging tips are everywhere, from things that do work to things that are questionable. How do you decide? Read this list for the 10 tips you really need.
Ready to take years off your age?
Let’s do this.
1. Quit Smoking
Want to see the biggest improvement possible? Quit smoking now.
Smokers are more likely to sleep poorly, resulting in unattractive bags under the eyes which make you look older. Nicotine stains the teeth and skin, quickly adding years to your age.
Smoking also limits the blood supply to your skin and decreases oxygen levels, which speeds up the aging process and increases the number of wrinkles and fine lines you’ll see.
Smoking makes you look older – fact.
2. Don’t Drink Through a Straw
Sounds silly?
It’s a small thing, but think about the way your mouth puckers up when you drink through a straw.
If you make a habit of it, you’ll develop wrinkles around the mouth more quickly than if you’d used a glass or bottle instead.
3. Stop Eating Refined Sugar
We all know that too much sugar isn’t good for us, but did you know that it can also cause you to age faster?
It’s been shown that eating sugar regularly degrades collagen and contributes to inflammation, making the skin appear less plump, elastic and full.
Refined sugar is the worst culprit, so try to reach for a piece of fruit rather than a donut the next time you’re craving something sweet.
4. Get Enough Sleep
Not sleeping well is a prime cause of premature aging.
One study showed that not getting enough sleep makes your skin less likely to recover from sun exposure, and more likely to age prematurely. Most adults need around 7 – 10 hours of sleep per night, but many get far less.
To get better sleep, try avoiding screens before bed, drinking chamomile tea, investing in blackout curtains and meditating to reduce stress.
5. Use a Silk Pillowcase
On the topic of sleep, did you know that the wrong pillowcase could be aging your skin faster?
That’s right – swapping your cotton pillowcase for silk has been shown to have many benefits to your appearance.
Because silk is better at retaining moisture than cotton, it helps remedy dry skin, which slows down aging. It also reduces the chance that you’ll wake up with lines or creases in your face, which over time can become permanent.
Silk also harbors lower levels of bacteria, stopping your pores from becoming clogged.
6. Drink More Water
Staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do for your skin.
Skin that’s properly hydrated will stay supple and strong, making it less susceptible to wrinkles and lines.
If you struggle to drink enough water, try investing in a large bottle you can take everywhere with you, swapping tea and coffee for plain water, and setting up daily reminders on your phone.
7. Don’t Over-Cleanse Skin
Do you feel like cleansing as often as possible will keep your skin looking young?
Sadly, that’s not true.
Using too many harsh cleansing products, rough brushes, and exfoliators strips your skin of the natural oils that keep it healthy and strong.
Stick to a simple skincare routine of cleansing and moisturizing, booking a professional exfoliation once in a while. Avoid aggressive products, and stick to natural ingredients.
When it comes to keeping skin young, less really is more.
8. Eat Fermented Foods
You probably know how important a healthy diet is if you want to stay young, but did you know about the benefits of fermented foods?
Fermented foods contain probiotics, healthy bacteria that help your body to better absorb nutrients.
Eating probiotics can reduce blemishes, prevent wrinkles from forming, improve your complexion, and help keep your hair healthy.
Try incorporating the following into your diet:
- Sauerkraut
- Kombucha
- Kimchi
- Tempeh
- Pickles
- Yoghurt
You get to eat delicious food and benefit from loads of anti-aging properties.
9. Exercise Regularly
It’s been shown that adults who exercise regularly are younger than those who don’t, on a cellular level.
This isn’t a quick trick to make you look younger – it literally makes your cells younger.
Telomeres are protective caps at the end of chromosomes, which get shorter every time a cell divides, eventually leading to aging. When you exercise regularly, telomeres stay longer, reducing the effects of aging.
It’s important that you exercise regularly, though, as a brisk walk once in a while won’t cut it. Try joining an exercise class, going for a weekly swim, taking up cycling, or entering a race to keep your motivation for exercise going.
Along with all its other well-known benefits, exercise actually keeps you young – what’s not to love?
10. Learn to Manage Stress
Stress levels have a massive role to play in the aging process.
When you’re stressed, your body triggers a ‘fight or flight’ response, which releases certain chemicals.
While this is useful during genuine life or death situations, it’s not helpful if you’re just worried about working or stressing about money. Too many stress chemicals can gradually wear your body down, making you look and feel older.
We all experience stress from time to time, and that’s okay – it’s the way we deal with it that’s important.
To reduce stress, try using positive thinking techniques, practicing regular meditation, writing in a gratitude journal, getting regular exercise, taking up relaxing hobbies, and spending more time in nature.
Not only will you look younger, you’ll also feel calmer and happier.
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Why Bother with Anti-Aging Tips?
As well as making you look younger, most anti-aging tips also benefit your overall health and wellbeing.
Even if you’re not worried about your appearance as you age, following the tips above will improve your energy levels, decrease your risk of many health problems, and boost your mental health.
Want to get some expert anti-aging advice? Contact a local beauty spa today.
