How Can I Prevent Wrinkles?

No smoking

Cigarettes are bad news. Not only do they wreak havoc on the inside of your body, but on the outside too. The chemicals in cigarette smoke contribute to the loss of skin collagen. Seriously! To add insult to injury, all that puckering etches in lines around your lips over time. All in all, not worth it…time to quit now if you already haven’t!

Wear sunscreen

Although this one sounds like a broken record and seems like a no-brainer, you’d be surprised how many people still don’t put it on every day because they don’t “go outside”. Do you leave your house during the day? Do you lift the window shades? Do you see the sun outside? Then you’re getting sun exposure. “It’s only 15 minutes a day”. Guess what? That’s an hour and a half a week or about 90 hours a year. Yep, better start tomorrow morning. Try to use at least an SPF 30 and avoid the “it’s in my makeup” sunscreen that gets wiped, rubbed, and licked off all too easily.

Take extra precautions when outside/driving in the sun

We know. You were feeling all good about yourself after reading #2 because you always put your sunscreen on every morning, and now we’re telling you it’s not enough!? Well, when it comes to preventing wrinkles, no it’s not! Make sure you wear protective clothing when at the beach or for extended outdoor activities. Get your windows tinted or use your visor to block the sun on your face in the car and always, and always reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours when you’re outdoors.

Moisturize

Keeping your skin hydrated is essential if it’s to function properly. Each day, our skin cells regenerate or turnover. Dead ones fall or are showered off and replaced by new, healthier ones. This process depends heavily upon the water. Using a good moisturizer is one way to deliver the necessary hydration directly to the skin, but also remember to hydrate from the inside too. Drinking the proper amount of water helps every one of our body’s organs function at its best.

Exfoliate

What do you do if you want better muscles? You exercise, right? Well, if you want better skin, then you need to exfoliate. Exfoliation (if properly done) can help speed skin turnover, which helps your skin look brighter and fresher and lessens the look of fine lines and wrinkles. And we’re not just talking about scrubbing here; products such as those that contain glycolic acid, tretinoin, or retinol and procedures such as microdermabrasion or light chemical peels can all help get the job done. Remember, our skin’s natural ability to regenerate slows with age, so just like a workout to keep your body in shape, you need to exfoliate to help your skin look its best as time goes on too!